In Module 2, we explore cross cutting themes at KTF. We will be focussing on Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion, Environment and Climate Change. This module will take you approximately 40 minutes to complete.

At the conclusion of all training modules, you will be directed to KTF’s Manual of Policies to sign which includes KTF’s cross-cutting policies.

  1. Gender Equality

We recognise that the equality of women and girls is a fundamental human right and necessary for a safe and prosperous community; however women are disproportionately represented amongst the poor, most marginalised, and most oppressed throughout the world.

Sustainable Development Goal 5 – Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls – recognises the importance of this issue and has a range of measures in place to improve the position of females, addressing discrimination, violence, harmful practices, participation in the workforce, sexual and reproductive health rights and the right to resources and property.

The socio-economic impacts of COVID-19 have also adversely affected progress made in recent years in relation to gender equality. Gender equality is a significant challenge in PNG and systemic violations of women’s rights exist throughout the country. In 2020, Papua New Guinea ranked 155 out of 189 countries of the Gender Inequality Index. It is critical to address gender equality - the absence of discrimination on the basis of sex or gender - directly in our programming to reduce this imbalance.

1.1 Understanding KTF’s Gender Equality Principles

KTF adopts and adheres to the following principles:

  • Gender equality and a lack of discrimination is an integral part of universal human rights;

  • All genders have the right to access information and participate in decision‐making processes that affect their lives. Programming and activities should be structured so as to ensure the equitable participation of all genders;

  • Societal norms have a significant impact on gender roles in PNG and root causes of inequality must be considered and addressed;

  • Gender equality is a cross cutting issue that must be included in the planning and implementation of all KTF’s programs, projects and activities;

  • A “Do No Harm” approach to gender equality requires that projects and programs conduct an analysis of the potential risks of unintentionally perpetuating or reinforcing gender inequalities in the context of the intervention, proactively monitor risks, and take corrective/compensatory measures if applicable;

  • Gender identities are diverse and gender is intersectional.

1.2 How does KTF implement its Gender Equality Policy?

KTF aims to promote equal opportunities for females and males in its programs in Papua New Guinea and administration in Australia. KTF recognises that sustainable development in PNG is only possible with the active participation of all members of the community. KTF will work to address gender-based inequalities and build the power of girls and women to enable equity. We are committed to implement inclusive projects to ensure that all genders have equitable opportunity to participate in, and benefit from, programs and projects we support. KTF will:

  • Ensure that its Strategic Plan, organisational and program policies, and project designs reflect the organisation’s understanding of and commitment to addressing gender inequality that keeps women and girls from achieving their full rights and potential through their childhood and later lives.

  • Ensure that a gender analysis is undertaken for all projects. This is needed to identify the different risks, barriers and strategies for responding to individuals’ vulnerability. Gender analysis should be holistic, and explore the system around girls and boys, men and women, including service providers and community groups, because of the impact they may have on children.

  • Put adequate time, budget and human resources in place to enable staff to understand the importance of gender equity and how to build the power of girls and women when implementing projects and programs.

  • Design projects and programs that reflect the ‘twin-track’ inclusive principles, enabling both gender specific projects and/or gender mainstreamed considerations, dependent on gender analysis and need. This includes collection of gender disaggregated data.

  • Explore and build on partners’ attitudes to and experience with gender programming and document this in partner capacity assessments and partner training.

  • Report to participants, donors and the public on progress on gender equality in KTF’s work, including program related advocacy and communications that uphold commitment to gender equality, including being respectful, using inclusive and positive language and images and avoiding stereotypes based on gender.

  • Take all measures to prevent and respond to all forms of sexual harassment and violence, and sexual exploitation and abuse of children and vulnerable adults, promote staff awareness and training, and effective systems for reporting and monitoring.

  • Ensure girls and women are consulted on the design, implementation and monitoring of feedback and complaints mechanisms.

1.3 What does Gender Equality look like at KTF - in Papua New Guinea?

Gender analysis will be conducted as a core element of planning, program design, monitoring and evaluation and learning to ensure that females and males have equitable opportunity for involvement in program and projects and contribute to project conception and planning;

  • KTF will seek to ensure that women and girls are not discriminated against and have equal access to all KTF programs in PNG i.e., education, health, equality and leadership; participation targets for mixed-gender programming are 50:50. KTF will actively develop programs that empower women and girls where relevant;

  • PNG programs will promote activities that enhance the self-esteem of women as well as their knowledge about their rights and their participation in activities and decisions that affect their lives;

  • KTF recognises that women and men have different socially-defined gender roles and responsibilities in PNG and as a result will seek to be aware of these differences and design appropriate activities in order to incorporate and respond to these needs;

  • Men and boys will be engaged as key stakeholders in promoting equality for grassroot change, including consultation and collaboration, to move community stereotypes and move norms about traditional gender roles;

  • KTF acknowledges the power of language and imagery in promoting gender stereotypes and will design programs, materials and communications that seek not to perpetuate harmful gender stereotypes;

  • Ensure our human resources policies and practices are developed with a gender lens. KTF will report on gender and diversity balance in staffing and governance structures and will implement targeted strategies to redress any evidence of gender inequality in gender and diversity balance and pay levels;

  • Equality, partnership, respect and cooperation across genders are values that will be promoted throughout KTF’s work at all times;

  • KTF will challenge all types of violence, including violence against women, girls, men and boys but also among boys and men, and among girls and women;

  • KTF will ensure that it works with PNG partner organisations and stakeholders who share its vision for gender equality;

  • Policy priorities will reflect partner’s experiences in working on gender equality and women’s rights and KTF will promote a stronger understanding of the links between gender and good governance with partners;

  • KTF will assist partners in building capacity in gender equality where opportunities arise;

  • Diverse gender identities will be supported in our work, taking into consideration cultural sensitivities and human rights;

  • KTF understands that issues faced by women and girls intersects with other factors of disadvantage, including but not limited to, disability, sexuality and tribe, and will be considered in program design and delivery;

  • Issue reporting and escalation mechanisms will be implemented and clearly communicated, taking into consideration cultural reticence due to ‘fear and favour’. Processes will be interrelated with PSEAH and Child protection reporting;

  • KTF will advocate against all forms of gender-based violence and will support victims and survivors of violence to access referral pathways;

  • KTF will not tolerate violence of any form against all genders. Breaches of this will result in immediate termination of employment of engagement with KTF;

  • KTF will advocate for gender equality in the communities where we work in a culturally sensitive way.

1.4 What does Gender Equality look like at KTF - in Australia?

The following commitments will be enacted across KTF’s administration, fundraising, marketing and communications Kokoda Track Foundation activities in Australia (and where relevant in PNG):

  • KTF will ensure that its principles for gender equality are mainstreamed within the organisation;

  • The principles will be applied to structures and practices within KTF’s administration and governing body and to its members;

  • KTF will foster an organisational culture that promotes the equitable participation and distribution of power between men and women within the organisation, including on decision-making bodies;

  • KTF will ensure that all staff, volunteers, and board directors are aware of and understand the importance of KTF’s Gender Equality policy and have appropriate tools to implement it in their sphere of work;

  • KTF will recruit and retain staff with a commitment to gender equality; build staff and partner capacity and skills in gender equality and diversity, and ensure all annual operating plans, job descriptions and performance plans reflect KTF’s commitment to gender equality

  • KTF will regularly report to program participants, donors and the public on the organisation’s progress on gender equality in KTF’s work;

  • KTF will take all measures to prevent and respond to all forms of sexual harassment and violence, and sexual exploitation and abuse of children and vulnerable adults, promote staff awareness and training, and effective systems for reporting and monitoring;

  • KTF will ensure external marketing, fundraising, advocacy and communications respect and uphold our commitment to social justice and gender equality including being respectful, using inclusive and positive language and images and avoiding stereotypes with particular attention to those based on gender and ethnicity;

  • KTF’s senior management will be responsible for ensuring implementation of the policy across the organisation.

1.5 Additional Resources

Select any of the links below to find out more.

2. Disability & Social Inclusion

The CRPD was ratified by PNG in 2013 and the government is therefore bound by law to uphold this agreement. Whilst there are no official statistics for the number of people with disabilities in Papua New Guinea (PNG), we can apply the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s estimate that 15% of the world’s populations have some form of disability or impairment. This equates to approximately 1,290,900 people in PNG who are living with some form of disability or impairment. Of this group about 2%, or about 26,000 people receive services. This means that the bulk of people with disabilities (i.e. the remaining 98%, or 1,264,900 people in PNG), are not receiving any support.

Persons with disabilities and members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI+) community often face barriers such as lack of access to services and limited opportunity to participate in matters that concern them. These groups can be excluded through legal systems, education systems, labour markets and through attitudes and stigmatisation. Removing physical and attitudinal barriers which exclude the participation of marginalised people in our projects is the reason for the development of this policy.

Failure to address barriers leads to exclusion. Exclusion of groups has an economic impact on both the person and on a country’s GDP through reduced participation in economic activity. Exclusion can lead to poverty and poverty can exacerbate the impact of a disability. Children and females with a disability are particularly vulnerable and at greatest risk of being excluded from regular activities. There is a link between poverty and disability through exclusion which affects education outcomes and income earning opportunities. Poverty may increase the risk of disability through malnutrition, inadequate access to education and health care, unsafe working conditions, a polluted environment, and lack of access to safe water and sanitation. Disability may increase the risk of poverty, through lack of employment and education opportunities, lower wages, discrimination, and increased cost of living with a disability.

2.1 Setting the Scene

Disability and social inclusive development envisions a society that values and enfranchises all people with disabilities, people of all ages, all gender identities and all ethnic and racial groups. Kokoda Track Foundation (KTF) adopts a rights-based approach to disability, gender and ethnic identity and as such views the person first, and recognises capacity, right to participation, and inclusion for all.

The purpose of this policy is to outline how KTF’s programs and projects seek to remove barriers to participation and achieve equality and equitable outcomes for all. KTF is committed to the core principles of “twin track” programming approaches and ensuring accessibility to programs to ensure people with disabilities can exercise all human rights on an equal basis with others. KTF is committed to engaging with Disabled Persons Organisations to guide program design and delivery to ensure people with disabilities can participate and to raising awareness of how the needs and rights of people with disabilities can be met.

Watch this video on Disability Inclusion Matters for All

2.2 Definitions

The Preamble of the UN Convention on the Rights of Person with Disabilities states “Disability is an evolving (ever changing) concept that results from the interaction between persons with impairments (things that limit their ability function) and attitudinal and environmental barriers that hinders (limits) full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others”. Disability is sometimes summarised in the formula impairment + barriers = disability. It is not just the person and not just the barriers in their environment but the combination of both of them that lead to a person having a disability.

Types of disability may include:

  • loss of physical or mental functions, for example, a person who has quadriplegia, brain injury, epilepsy or who has a vision or hearing impairment;

  • loss of part of the body, for example, a person with an amputation or a person who has had a pacemaker implanted;

  • infectious and non-infectious diseases and illnesses, for example, a person with HIV/AIDS, hepatitis or tuberculosis, a person with allergies or who carries typhoid bacteria;

  • the malfunction, malformation or disfigurement of a part of a person's body, for example, a person with diabetes or asthma or a person with a birthmark or scar;

  • a condition which means a person learns differently from other people, for example, a person with autism, dyslexia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or an intellectual disability;

  • any condition which affects a person's thought processes, understanding of reality, emotions or judgment or which results in disturbed behaviour, for example, a person with a psychiatric condition, neurosis or personality disorder; and mental illness such as depression, anxiety.

And a disability is one that:

  • is present; or

  • once existed but doesn't any more, for example, a person who has had a back injury, a heart attack or an episode of psychiatric illness; or

  • may exist in the future, for example, a person with a genetic predisposition to a disease, such as Huntington's disease or heart disease or a person who is HIV positive.

The World Bank defines social inclusion as “the process of improving the terms on which individuals and groups take part in society – improving the ability, opportunity and dignity of those disadvantaged on the basis of their identity”. KTF recognises the multidimensional nature of disability and that people with disability, sexual and gender minorities, ethnic and racial minorities, and the elderly have the same human rights as others, including the right to participate in development.

2.3 Importance of Inclusive Education

Person-first language (people with disability) and identity-first language (disabled people) are both used in Australia. People with disabilities often have strong preferences for one term or the other, so it is best to follow the lead of the person or group you are talking about. It’s okay to ask. If that isn’t possible, use person-first language or refer to a person by their name.

Try use:

  • Person/people with disability/disabilities rather than disabled person

Do not use:

  • Phrases such as ‘the disabled’ because this reduces people to their disability.

  • ‘handicapable’, ‘handicapped’,  ‘abnormal' or ‘differently-abled’ or ‘special needs’ to refer to people with disability

Remember: People with disability are people first – removing the word ‘disability’ first as it doesn’t consume their identity

2.4 Understanding KTF’s Disability and Inclusion Principles

  • Commitment to social inclusion – KTF is committed to equal opportunity and social inclusion for its staff, directors and volunteers and actively promotes inclusion and participation by all;

  • Representation of Disabled Persons Organisations (DPO’s): The slogan of the disability movement is “Nothing about us without us’’. This means that people with disabilities need to be represented in all activities and decision-making processes that affect them. DPO’s are representative organisations run by and for people with disabilities and provide a way for the voices of people with disabilities to be heard and their perspectives included. DPO’s are a critical partner in disability inclusive development.

  • Accessibility to programs – KTF is committed to ensuring that individuals with a disability have access to its education, health, equality and leadership programs in PNG. It can do this by:

    • Consulting with DPOs and employing or engaging local persons with disabilities in line with the “Nothing about us without us” principle;

    • Ensuring the physical environment is accessible, including accommodation and transportation;

    • Provision of disability training and awareness for staff, directors, volunteers, and partners;

    • Appointing a person with authority who has responsibility for disability inclusion;

    • Specific training for staff involved in assessing project/partner applications and developing proposal assessment criteria;

    • Disaggregating research and monitoring data according to disability, including types of disability and impact.

    • Ensure equal opportunities for all;

    • Ensure full participation and inclusion with a focus on age and gender;

    • Understand the different issues faced by females with a disability compared with males with a disability and ensure gender balance in project participation;

    • Promote an attitude of respect towards people with disabilities.

  • Twin-track approach: Implement concurrent activities that include disability-specific initiatives targeted at people with disabilities, as well as disability mainstreaming initiatives ensuring that all development programs are inclusive of people with disabilities.

  • Create a discrimination-free workplace – KTF is committed to fostering a discrimination-free and inclusive workplace in both its administrative base in Australia and its PNG programs.

  • Human rights-based approach– KTF is committed to the following human rights-based principles:

    • Equality and non-discrimination in all actions

    • Participation and inclusion as a goal and a means

    • Placing people at the centre of development as agents for change

    • Awareness of the barriers face by persons with disabilities, gender and sexual minorities, racial and ethnic minorities, and the elderly

    • Need to work with the most excluded and disadvantaged to improve the situation for the whole community

    • Right to education, health, social protection and employment.

2.5 How does KTF implement the Policy?

  • KTF will abide by a rights-based approach in the implementation of all activities.

  • The policy dictates that disability and social inclusion-sensitive measures will be incorporated into all aspects of each project, as a key cross-cutting issue, from project design, operation and implementation, through to monitoring and evaluation. This will facilitate inclusion and build the capacity of people of marginalised groups. Targeted support will be provided when required.

  • Greater inclusiveness will be achieved by engaging and collaborating with Disabled People’s Organisations in-country. DPOs will be consulted at critical stages of project design, implementation and monitoring and evaluation. KTF’s disability-social inclusive development will avoid widening the gap between persons with disability and persons without disabilities.

  • Without full inclusion in development projects, it is likely that the socio‐economic status of marginalised persons will remain unchanged while that of other members of society will grow, resulting in a greater disparity and development gap. KTF will apply the “twin track” approach endorsed by the Australian aid program which will provide both targeted support to facilitate the participation of people with disabilities and mainstreaming to ensure inclusion in all project activities.

KTF will undertake the following activities to fulfil its Disability and Social Inclusion Policy commitments:

  • Promote the importance of disability-inclusive development practices in poverty alleviation and sustainable development to staff and partner organisations;

  • Provide staff with regular disability and social inclusion awareness training and up-to-date information on inclusive development practices;

  • Allocate adequate time, budget and human resources to enable people with disabilities to participate in program design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation;

  • Develop an Anti-Discrimination workplace policy which upholds human rights and prevents discrimination against persons with disability, gender and sexual minorities, ethnic and racial minorities, and the elderly working for KTF;

  • Conduct a disability and gender analysis for all projects. This is needed to identify the different risks, barriers and strategies for responding to individuals’ vulnerability, particularly persons with disabilities. A disability analysis should be holistic, and explore the system around girls and boys, men and women with disabilities, including Disabled Persons Organisations, service providers and community groups, because of the impact they may have on persons with disabilities. Disability analyses will aim to strengthen the program or project aligning with a twin-track approach and aim to strengthen stakeholder and partner capacity.

  • Implement disability-specific initiatives targeted at people with disabilities, and mainstream disability-inclusive practices into all other programs and projects;

  • Identify marginalised people within communities to ensure their inclusion in KTF projects - outreach awareness to remote villages will achieve this;

  • Monitor and evaluate projects and programs in order to track the difference they are making to marginalised people and use disability and social inclusive M&E (including data disaggregation and information about barriers to inclusion, include the voices of persons with disabilities and minority groups who are or were involved in the programs or activities);

  • Partner with DPOs, persons with disabilities and persons from gender, sexual, racial, ethnic and age minority groups in order to build an understanding of their lived experience, including experiences of exclusion and vulnerability, and how to best respond using local resources and services and to gain a local perspective;

  • Use appropriate and respectful language and terminology, and challenge staff and partners who perpetuate discrimination against people;

  • Aim to ensure all KTF development programs, meetings and communications are accessible and inclusive;

  • Remove physical barriers so that all KTF facilities/venues are accessible;

  • Advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities and all social identities and build awareness of their access and participation requirements among project partners, local government officials and the broader community;

  • Understand there is a diversity of disabilities and context is required to ensure maximum inclusiveness;

  • In determining the level of inclusiveness in projects, measuring participation levels and levels of difficulty in daily tasks and activities can be more effective than asking whether people have a disability or belong to a minority group.

2.6 Guidelines for Inclusion during emergency responses/natural disasters

Marginalised groups are more vulnerable during a state of emergency including a health crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Persons with disabilities often have underlying health conditions which make them more susceptible to developing severe symptoms of COVID-19. Gender and family violence rates have increased with lockdowns and members of the LGBTQI+ community and ethnic minorities are more likely to be excluded from health services, potentially leading to higher mortality rates than the wider population.

The following measures will be implemented by KTF to ensure all people are included in emergency mitigation strategies:

  • Ensure people with disabilities and all social identities are included in awareness programs and have access to information. Using a range of mediums to communicate including radio messaging, leaflet drops and face-to-face awareness campaigns will help to overcome limitations imposed by the diversity of disabilities;

  • Nominate health workers and village leaders to ensure all people in their communities have access to health care, WASH facilities, and food and shelter during a crisis;

  • Engage DPOs and disability networks to provide additional, targeted support to people with a disability during emergencies or pandemics. Lessons learned from the COVID-19 outbreak can be applied to projects to ensure maximum inclusion. KTF’s experiences during the pandemic lockdown have shown that education and training can be successfully delivered via video conferencing and/or social media and with the use of electronic tablets. These provide a means to increase the number of people with disabilities participating in KTF projects

2.7 Additional Learning Opportunities

Click below to access additional learning materials.

3. Environment & climate change

KTF’s Environmental Sustainability and Management Policy addresses a cross-cutting issue in the development sector.

3.1 Setting the scene

Our environment consists of the air we breathe, the water we drink, the land we live on, and all of the resources that we use. Over the last few decades, environmental degradation has begun to impact all of us across the globe. Species are disappearing at rapid rates, abnormal weather patterns are disrupting growing seasons and causing internal displacement as people migrate as their homes become unliveable, and our landscapes continue to change at unprecedented rates as glaciers melt and temperatures rise.

Development, like most things, uses resources. It’s inescapable. KTF recognises that all of our programs and efforts to improve the lives of people in PNG will have an effect on our environment. Therefore, we have implemented an Environmental Sustainability & Management policy to minimise our impact and be continuously cautious of any unforeseen impacts we may be having.

These efforts closely align with the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which have targets and indicators focused on environmental impact:

SDG 6: Clean Water & Sanitation

SDG 8: Decent Work & Economic Growth

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption & Production

SDG 14: Life Below Water

SDG 15: Life on Land

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals



At KTF we are committed to limiting the environmental impact of our work. Climate change undermines KTF’s primary goal of assisting with the sustainable development of the communities with which we work. The wellbeing of these communities is intrinsically linked to their natural environment and climate change poses disproportionate risks to the human and natural systems of these communities. Marginalised communities, be it socially, economically, culturally or politically are most vulnerable to climate change. Due to their economic status, the rural and remote communities of Papua New Guinea have limited adaptive capacity which results in increased vulnerability and exposure.

This training explains KTF’s Environmental Sustainability & Management Policy and reinforces its commitment to operating in an environmentally sustainable manner across all facets of the organisation as far as reasonably and economically practicable. Through both individual and collective efforts to change our ways of working, all our people at every level of the organisation will play a role in reducing the resources we consume to help mitigate climate change and its adverse impact.

3.2 Definitions

‘Do No Harm’ - To not carry out any activity that causes or is likely to cause environmental harm and to instead maintain the health, diversity and productivity of ecosystems and natural resources 

Environmental Degradation - the decline in environmental quality due to pollutants or other activities and processes such as improper land use and natural disasters

Environmental Footprint - the effect that a person, company, activity, etc. has on the environment, for example the amount of natural resources that they use and the amount of harmful gases that they produce.

Environmental Sustainability - the responsibility to conserve natural resources and protect global ecosystems to support health and wellbeing, now and in the future. 

Environmental Screening – a set of tools or a process that evaluates potential impacts to the natural environment based on proposed projects or development initiatives

Natural Environment – all living and non-living things that occur naturally. This can include vegetation, microorganisms, climate, air, water, soil, rocks, atmosphere, etc. The function of the environment is to support human life and economic activity.

Natural Resources - materials from the Earth that are used to support life and meet people's needs. This can include oil, coal, trees, natural gas, metals, stone and sand as well as other sources like air, sunlight, soil and water.

Sustainable Livelihoods - maintaining a balance between the resources usage and the natural availability of resources. Once a population’s resource use exceeds the balance, it results in an often irreversible decline of resources which leads to environmental degradation.

3.3 KTF’s Environmental Sustainability Management Policy

KTF is committed to ensuring it takes a ‘Do No Harm’ approach in all its activities domestically and internationally to help preserve and improve Papua New Guinea’s natural environment and minimise its global environmental footprint. KTF is committed to monitoring its environmental impact on the people and communities in which it works and commits to becoming a more environmentally sustainable organisation as a result of its proactiveness in environmental awareness and protection. KTF’s approach to environmental sustainability is guided by ACFID’s Code of Conduct.

3.4 Understanding the policy

KTF is committed to reducing its impact on the environment through its office operations by:

●      Minimising the consumption and wastage of natural resources by reducing energy consumption. All electrical equipment to be switched off when not in use;

●      Being proactive in minimising our production of waste and reusing or recycling materials including but not limited to; paper, cardboard, glass and plastics;

●      Minimising the environmental impact of travel and promoting the use of environmentally friendly forms of travel, alongside increasing usage of ways of delivering our work sustainably such as online platforms like Zoom;

●      Ensuring that environmental sustainability is taken into consideration when purchasing products and services and develop supply chains with suppliers who share our environmental ethos;

●      Complying with all laws, regulations and policies relevant to environmental sustainability and management;

KTF is committed to reducing its impact on the environment through its programs/projects by:

●      Comply with all laws, regulations and policies in the project’s jurisdictions;

●      Applying KTF environmental screening assessments for all projects to identify, assess and mitigate risks pertaining to environmental impact as a consequence of the implementation of the project activity;

●      Implementation of environmental management plans for all projects that report a medium or high risk at the assessment stage;

●      Training all staff on environmental sustainability including the use of KTF’s processes and procedures, including a core component on environmental sustainability and management included in all inductions and onboarding processes;

●      Raising awareness within communities and amongst partners of the importance of protecting the environment and how the natural environment can be managed to achieve sustainable livelihoods;

●      Encourage community participation in all stages of environmental management to promote their understanding of environmental sustainability;

●      Providing partners with skills and knowledge in implementing environmentally friendly activities;

What are some examples of how KTF implements this policy?

>> Kokoda College: To minimise the carbon footprint, our aim is for Kokoda College to be powered solely through renewable solar energy within the very near future. All existing buildings have now been fitted with solar lights and all new buildings constructed on the college site will be fitted with solar systems to meet their lighting and power needs. We have also installed a solar generator to power office equipment and charge staff laptops and student tablets. We acknowledge that solar power relies on batteries to store the energy and lithium ion batteries have a five year lifespan. Therefore, we have established a partnership with Solar Solutions PNG for all batteries to be disposed of safely and in an environmentally friendly manner. Additionally in 2022, a ban on the use of plastic items has also been implemented including balloons and straws for any celebrations or events at the college.

>> Healthy Communities: Throughout the rural regions in which KTF operates, there are no local or regional government waste disposal services. At present, solid waste generated by KTF funded health facilities is disposed of by traditional means. Organic waste is added to the local village composting pile to be used in the village gardens. Non-toxic combustible waste is incinerated in basic fire pits and the remainder is buried in local land-fill sites. Due to the growing demands of the various facilities, KTF will this year engage in a project to install/build purpose built medical waste incinerators across all main facilities, which will be capable of disposing of all waste produced by the facilities in a manner which is safe for both the natural environment and surrounding communities.

>>Project Zero: When undertaking infrastructure projects, KTF implements a strict site selection procedure. This is being implemented at the new St Margaret’s Women’s Refuge Centre. A major factor in the selection of this site was due to it being a brownfield site, thereby requiring no new land clearance. Land clearing, which often involves deforestation, destroys and fragments habitats, endangers animals, increases soil erosion, contributes to pollution, can pollute waterways, increases flooding risk and even exacerbates the effects of climate change. Therefore KTF strives whenever possible to avoid clearing any new land.

>>Balimo Schools: KTF has implemented tablets to assist with reducing the reliance of teaching materials being printed on paper. Coaches continue to receive training on how to best use these devices to minimise their use of paper and at coaching sessions and workshops we also encourage the sharing of any printed materials.

3.5 Climate Change Adaption & Disaster Risk Reduction Introduction

KTF’s Climate Change Adaption & Disaster Risk Reduction Policy addresses a cross-cutting issue in the development sector. Located in the active Pacific Ring of Fire, PNG is ranked among the most disaster-prone countries globally due to its geophysical conditions. Natural hazards contributing to the risk include:

  • Earthquakes

  • Tsunamis

  • Volcanic activity

  • Cyclones

  • Flooding

  • Landslides

  • Droughts

PNG ranks highest in terms of population exposed to severe volcanic risk, and is among the top six countries for the highest percentage of population exposed to earthquakes. PNG has also been noted as high risk due to have a poor coping capacity to natural hazards. Adding to these challenges, the intensity of hydrometeorological hazards is projected to grow more severe as a result of climate change. 

Disaster versus Natural Hazards

A natural hazard is a natural event such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, floods, and droughts that has the possibility to cause damage.

A disaster is a hazard that affects human populations. A disaster can be both natural like the above examples, or can include man-made hazards such as chemical spills, fires set by people, nuclear/radioactive incidents.

Definitions

Disaster Risk Reduction - refers to the actions we take before a natural hazard event occurs to reduce the impact of such an event and avert disaster. Examples include developing building codes to ensure infrastructure can withstand cyclones and other hazards, implementing measures to divert flood water, strengthening social protection systems to facilitate timely assistance, planting drought-resilient crops, and increasing water storage capacity in order to maintain water supply in times of drought (DFAT).

Climate Change - a process by which strategies to moderate, cope with and take advantage of the consequences of climatic events are enhanced, developed, and implemented (UNDP).


Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Findings

The IPCC confirmed in 2014 that the atmosphere and the ocean have warmed, that volumes of snow and ice have diminished, and that sea levels have risen.

They predict that:

  • By the end of the 21st century, the global average surface temperature will increase by 1.5°C to more than 2°C from pre-industrial levels.

  • The ocean will continue to warm and acidify, and sea levels will continue to rise, very likely at a faster rate than that observed so far.

Increasing temperatures and sea levels have implications for extreme weather events such as temperature extremes, heavy rainfalls, storms and sea surges. Climate change is disrupting natural ecosystems, reducing people’s access to natural resources and undermining agricultural practices. The IPCC has noted that:

  • Many species have shifted their geographic ranges, seasonal activities, migration patterns, abundances and the way in which they interact with other species.

  • Most plant species cannot naturally shift their geographical ranges fast enough to keep up with current and high projected rates of climate change; and under some projections, most small mammals and freshwater molluscs will also not be able to keep up.

  • Climate change is expected to reduce renewable surface water and groundwater resources in most dry subtropical regions.

Climate change is also affecting agricultural, livestock and fisheries production:

  • Global crop yields will almost certainly decrease with yields of rice, maize and wheat projected to decrease between 3 and 10 percent per degree of warming above historic levels.

  • Livestock systems will likely be affected by reductions in the quality and quantity of fodder and changes in the prevalence of pests and diseases.

  • The global redistribution of marine species and reduction in marine biodiversity is expected to impact the productivity of fisheries with some modelling projecting a 5-10% decrease in potential fish catch in marine tropical ecosystems.

All of these things reduce individuals’ and households’ abilities to withstand climate related shocks and disasters. PNG was ranked the eighth most ‘at risk’ nation of experiencing catastrophic failures as a result of disaster risk in the 2020 World Risk Report. In 2020 alone, Oro Province experienced several natural hazards including flooding and storms and earthquakes. The most vulnerable including women and girls, children, the elderly and people with a disability are most at risk from climate change and disasters and therefore are a core focus on KTF’s policy on Climate Change Adaption and Disaster Risk Reduction.

KTF’s work in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Adaption (CCA) is guided by the Sendai Framework, the Paris Climate Agreement, the UN Sustainable Development Goals and PNG’s National Disaster Risk Reduction Framework 2017-2030.

3.6 KTF’s Climate Change Adaption (CCA) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Policy

KTF is committed to ensuring it takes every opportunity to build the resilience of communities to address the adverse effects of climate change and disasters. KTF will incorporate climate change adaption and disaster risk reduction into its programming and awareness initiatives for communities who are exposed to high levels of disaster risk and climate change. KTF is committed to ensure the most vulnerable are included and protected in all of its work. KTF formally adopts the Core Humanitarian Standard to improve the quality and effectiveness of its work supporting communities and people affected by crisis. 

Understanding the policy

KTF is committed to the following:

  • Adhering to the ‘Humanitarian Principles’ of humanity, impartiality, independence and neutrality;

  • Raising awareness and providing training and capacity building on DRR and CCA across all of its offices in PNG and Australia including orientation to and training on the Core Humanitarian Standard in order to ensure its application is embedded in programming and response activities;

  • Integrating DRR and CCA into all projects that are located in disaster and climate change prone areas;

  • Working with local government, communities, primary stakeholders and partners to complement and strengthen systems, processes and capacity to anticipate, plan and adapt to climate change impacts and disaster risk;

  • Building community resilience across all disaster-prone communities where KTF operates;

  • Acknowledging that the most vulnerable are affected more adversely than others in climate and disaster related events. By acknowledging this, KTF will include gender, child, disability, socioeconomic status and age in its disaster risk assessments ensuring that the most vulnerable are included in all DRR and CCA programming.

Monitoring: 

KTF commits to monitoring its performance against each of the 6 policy commitments regularly. KTF will create a forum for discussion on environmental sustainability via the Environment, Climate Change and Disasters Risk Reduction Working Group.  In this working group, KTF will discuss its adherence to, training on and performance against the nine principles of the Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability. KTF will provide annual updates on its approach to CCA and DRR.

KTF will undertake periodic assessments of its own and partners practices and compliance with this policy. KTF commits to a full review of this policy at least every three years.

3.7 KTF’s Environment Policy versus CCA/DRR Policy

Environmental Sustainability and Management Plan:

  • Focuses on practical ways we can reduce our environmental footprint and prevent further environmental degradation

  • Incorporates the idea of sustainability and reducing the use of natural resources

  • These actions will help reduce the impact of climate change and therefore reduce disaster risk

Climate Change Adaption and Disaster Risk Reduction Policy:

  • Focuses on increasing awareness of climate change and the impending risk of increased natural hazards and the effect these will have on people’s lives and the land they live on

  • Includes practical actions we can take once environmental degradation has occurred to reverse or mitigate damages

  • Aims to prepare communities, build resilience, and ensure plans are in place in case a disaster occurs

  • An over-arching principle that incorporates the ideas of environmental sustainability. Think of environmental sustainability sitting within CCA/DRR

 

Further information:

 

Understanding and Acknowledgment of KTF’s Cross-Cutting Policies

To ensure you understand and acknowledge KTF’s Cross-Cutting Policies and to record your completion of this training module, please complete the survey form below. Upon completion of the form, KTF will be notified and you will have successfully completed module 2.

Please don’t hesitate to contact your KTF representative or any KTF staff member if you have questions or concerns about KTF’s Cross-Cutting measures.