In late 2024, Health Equity Matters and Key Populations Advocacy Consortium PNG commenced a new three-year partnership focused on strengthening KPAC’s organisational capacity and long-term sustainability as a national, community-led consortium.
The partnership builds on a long history of collaboration between KPAC and Health Equity Matters, formerly AFAO, and reflects a shared commitment to strengthening community leadership within Papua New Guinea’s HIV response. The program is funded under the Indo-Pacific HIV Partnership, delivered in partnership between Health Equity Matters and UNAIDS, and funded by Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The three-year partnership is grounded in a baseline Organisational Capacity Assessment completed by KPAC in 2024. The assessment identified strengths and priority areas for development across seven core capacity areas, including governance and leadership, financial management, safeguarding, human resources, policies and systems, monitoring and learning, and strategic planning.
Through this partnership, Health Equity Matters will work alongside KPAC to deliver tailored capacity strengthening activities. These include board development and mentoring, policy and system development, compliance and financial strengthening, leadership support for the Secretariat, and ongoing organisational coaching. The approach is designed to be practical, responsive, and embedded in KPAC’s day-to-day operations.
Year one priorities focus on consolidating governance and compliance foundations, supporting the operationalisation of endorsed policies, strengthening financial and safeguarding systems, and building the confidence and capability of KPAC’s leadership and Secretariat team.
“This partnership is about backing strong community leadership with the systems and support needed to sustain it,” said Jessica Hill from Health Equity Matters. “KPAC plays a critical role in PNG’s HIV response, and this investment is about ensuring that role is durable and effective over the long term.”
KPAC Executive Director Lesley Bola welcomed the partnership, noting that “this support comes at a crucial time. It strengthens our ability to lead, to be accountable to our members, and to advocate effectively for the communities we represent.”
The partnership reflects a shared belief that strong, well-governed community organisations are essential to an effective and equitable HIV response in Papua New Guinea.
