President Toroama and Deputy PM Rosso emphasizes aid reform for Bougainville
The Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) has called for a distinct and dynamic approach to development cooperation that recognizes Bougainville’s unique challenges and history.
ABG President His Excellency Ishmael Toroama made this statement in his keynote address at the recent Bougainville Development Cooperation Conference.
President Toroama described the conference as a pivotal moment to reshape Bougainville’s development agenda after decades of rebuilding from the devastation of a decade-long civil war.
“Bougainville is a unique region within Papua New Guinea, having endured three decades of restoration and nation-building following a devastating decade-long civil war that ravaged our public services, infrastructure, institutions, and economy,” he said.
He stressed the severe regression caused by the conflict, which set the region back by four decades and isolated it from the nation’s broader development.
“This has left us with nothing but the basics of human existence,” President Toroama said, “and demands a distinctive and dynamic development cooperation approach from both the Government of Papua New Guinea and our development partners.”
The President urged the PNG government and international donors to acknowledge Bougainville’s specific needs and to provide targeted assistance under current governance arrangements to help prepare Bougainville for eventual nationhood.
“We are seeking the Government of Papua New Guinea and development partners to recognise Bougainville’s unique development challenges as distinct from the rest of Papua New Guinea,” he said.
President Toroama also highlighted the timing of the conference following recent moderation talks and the signing of the Melanesian Agreement, which advance Bougainville’s pursuit of independence. He welcomed emerging development partners in the spirit of “friends to all, enemies to none.”
Supporting the President’s vision, Papua New Guinea Deputy Prime Minister John Rosso committed to walking alongside Bougainville in shaping its future and improving aid effectiveness.
“Papua New Guinea must walk with the people of Bougainville as they carve out a self-determined future,” Rosso said, calling for aid to be not only generous but also aligned and transformational.
He acknowledged the ongoing challenges of fragmented aid and coordination gaps, which he said represent obstacles to peace and self-reliance. Rosso proposed establishing a Bougainville Development Cooperation policy reflecting local ownership and international partnership.
“Bougainville’s post referendum era calls for a new way of working — one that places its people, its institutions, and its priorities at the centre of our collective efforts,” he said.
The conference brought together government leaders, development partners, and stakeholders committed to supporting Bougainville’s journey towards peace, stability, and sustainable development.
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