A master-planned mixed-use community located near the central business district of Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea, Paga Hill Estate plans to project a modern and progressive image of the country to the international community. Since 2002, Paga Hill Development Company (PHDC) has engaged with members of the informal Paga Hill settlement community to develop a resettlement solution.
PHDC’s comprehensive relocation plan for the informal settlement community, informed by extensive community consultations and detailed social mapping, was endorsed by the United Nations as setting a positive precedent in Papua New Guinea. In addition to offering relocation financial support, manpower and logistical assistance to the settlers, local NGOs were also engaged to provide early childhood and adult literacy programs, financial literacy and business training as well as basic first aid.
Settlers from Paga Hill and the host community were employed, where possible, to undertake the necessary civil and construction work involved in establishing the new community at Tagua in the Six Mile region. PHDC also worked with local authorities to develop new mechanisms for the provision of infrastructure and services at Tagua. Residents of Tagua now enjoy rights to their own block of land via a Land Use Agreement.
Following the completion of the resettlement to Tagua, PHDC provided financial and mentoring support to the Tagua Community Development Committee for the first twelve months of its operations. The resettlement was the subject of the documentary film Humanitarian Resettlement in Papua New Guinea, which was screened at the PNG Human Rights Film Festival in 2014.
