Mobilizing Sustainable Funding for Rural Water Infrastructure: A Strategic Framework for the Kesu Water Pump Project in Papua New Guinea

Abstract

Access to safe drinking water remains a pressing challenge in Papua New Guinea, where only 40% of the population can count on safely managed water services. This study develops a strategic funding framework for the Kesu Water Pump Project, drawing on an examination of the development finance landscape, an analysis of funding mechanisms, and an exploration of what makes rural water infrastructure sustainable over time. Through a qualitative desk-based approach that combines secondary data analysis with comparative case studies, the research brings together evidence from academic literature, multilateral organization reports, and project documentation. What emerges is a picture of significant global funding gaps—61% short of what is needed to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6—alongside heavy reliance on public financing, with private sources contributing a mere 1.7% of water sector spending. Perhaps most striking is the finding that community-level factors matter more for sustainability than the infrastructure itself. The framework proposed here encompasses five interconnected components: capital financing through grants and development assistance; operations and maintenance funding drawn from user fees with transitional subsidies; investment in capacity building; institutional support that works within existing village governance structures; and provisions for managing risk. A phased implementation strategy charts a course from initial mobilization through to independent community management. While this framework offers a foundation for stakeholder dialogue and project planning, its ultimate success will depend on community consultation, careful costing, and thoughtful adaptation to local realities.