Evaluation of Australia’s response to PNG El Nino drought 2015-2017

Summary of publication

This report presents the results of an evaluation of the Australian Government's response to the 2015 El Niño drought and frosts in PNG conducted by an independent consultant in August 2017. The evaluation focus is Australia's humanitarian investments in response from September 2015 to 30 June 2017. Three evaluation questions were agreed with the consultant:

Was Australia's humanitarian assistance to affected populations in the PNG El Niño drought appropriate, timely and effective?
Was Australia's humanitarian assistance to areas of protracted drought well planned and efficient?
How and to what extent did Australia's response to El Niño in PNG contribute to resilience and national and local leadership and capacity?

The methodology included a desktop review of documents, interviews with internal and external stakeholders involved in implementing Australia's response, and fieldwork in PNG including stakeholder interviews and meetings with implementing partners in Port Moresby, Lae, Mt Hagen, Goroka, Alotau and Kiunga, and visits to affected communities in Tambul (Western Highlands), Henganofi (Eastern Highlands) and Oksapmin (West Sepik).