Organised by the University of Papua New Guinea’s School of Business and Public Policy and the Australian National University’s Development Policy Centre, the annual PNG Update is the premier forum for the discussion of research and analysis relating to contemporary economic and public policy issues in PNG.

The 2023 PNG Update will be held at the University of Papua New Guinea Waigani campus on 17–18 August.

The call for papers and panels is now open.

This year’s theme is “resilient and diverse development”. We invite abstracts and panels that broadly address this theme, with potential topics including (but not limited to):

• Climate change and environmental sustainability
• Decentralisation and sub-national administration
• Education
• Elections
• Family and sexual violence
• Gender equality
• Governance and anti-corruption efforts
• Health and impacts of COVID-19
• PNG economy
• Regional cooperation and security
• Service delivery

Abstract

Abstracts should be no more than 250 words. Please submit an abstract and author details through the online abstract submission form.

Panel proposal

In addition to individual abstracts, organised panels of up to three presenters are also invited. Panel proposals should be no more than 400 words. Please submit a panel proposal and panellists/presenters details through the online panel submission form.

The deadline for all submissions is 11:59pm (AEST/UTC +10) Friday 2 June.

All authors will be advised whether their abstract or panel has been accepted no later than Wednesday 28 June.

Travel support

We will provide travel support to a limited number of PNG or Pacific Islands postgraduate students and female PNG researchers based in PNG who are accepted to present.

Please note that you must request this funding via the form when submitting your abstract/proposal for consideration.

Due to limited resources, receipt of travel support cannot be guaranteed. In the case of us receiving more requests for this support than can be met from our budget, selection will be made by convenors based on the strength of the abstract. Travel support will only be offered to one presenting author per abstract.

The conference program will be released on Friday 14 July.

The Update is free for all presenters and attendees.