Sugu Valley, nestled in the Southern Highlands Province within the central region of mainland Papua New Guinea, was once a thriving community before it was devastated by a prolonged and complex conflict.
Sparked by clan rivalry in 2018, the ensuing violence upended the lives of 40,000 people. Essential services like schools, health centres, and communications infrastructure were destroyed, and thousands were forced to flee their homes.
Photo above: A community leader delivering a speech at the peace agreement signing ceremony in Sugu Valley. Credit: UNDP PNG
Caught in the crossfire
Daisy Jim, pregnant when the violence erupted, joined thousands of displaced women and children navigating the insecurity without access to basic human necessities. She was one of eleven mothers who ultimately gave birth in the harsh conditions of the surrounding wilderness—a stark testament to the conflict’s disproportionate toll on women and girls.
Daisy Jim, Sugu Valley, Papua New GuineaDuring the conflict, it was very hard for us women; we lived in fear of being caught in the violence. We had no access to healthcare and other services; we sought refuge deep in the jungles or caves, and that is where my daughter was born.”
The road to reconciliation
Today, the narrative of Sugu Valley is one of transformation and hard-won reconciliation. On 20 December 2023, nine warring clans finally laid down their arms and signed a historic local peace agreement. Daisy, having emerged from the crisis as a prominent community leader, proudly stood as one of the representatives to sign the accord, envisioning a future of lasting peace that was once considered a distant dream.
Creating conditions for peace
In Papua New Guinea's Highlands, the UN Peacebuilding Fund-supported Creating Conditions for Peace initiative mobilized UN agencies and partners to tackle the root causes of fragility by rebuilding the community’s social fabric from the ground up.
built the capacity of over 100 women leaders in peacebuilding, while the (UNFPA) mobilized young people to participate in the peace process. The (IOM) empowered communities to shape local decision-making and improved data management to coordinate better support for communities displaced by the violence.
Moreover, a robust investment in local mediation led by the (UNDP) equipped local leaders with hands-on conflict resolution skills to address conflicts in neighbouring provinces. Bitter rivals came together to resolve the majority of the conflicts in the region.
Beyond the peace agreement
The peace process relied heavily on trusted community figures, notably Father Isaiah Timba and his team of mediators from the Catholic Diocese of Mendi. Their efforts were instrumental not only in brokering the peace agreement but also in providing the continuous monitoring, counselling, and spiritual support required to ensure the peace would hold long after the ink dried.
Father Isaiah Timba, Sugu Valley, Papua New GuineaThe peace agreement signing ceremony is a result of everyone's collaboration and participation. All parties - local leaders, ex-fighters, warlords, churches, youth and women representatives, and government law enforcement agencies - were involved in actualizing the signing of the peace agreement."
A community-led recovery
Today, the formerly rival nine clans have formed the inclusive Sugu Peace Monitoring Group to facilitate a comprehensive community-led return and resettlement programme. By reopening schools, clinics, and markets, and mobilizing resources for sustainable development, the people of Sugu Valley are proving that even the most fractured communities can rebuild, laying a resilient foundation for the next chapter of peace in the Highlands.
Photo below: Crowds gather at the official opening of a newly constructed community market in Sugu Valley in 2025. Credit UNDP PNG
Our partners in peacebuilding in Papua New Guinea
For 20 years, the UN Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund has empowered people to rebuild their communities and countries in the aftermath of conflict and crisis, working with them to build the resilience needed to prevent the recurrence of violence and secure lasting peace.
The joint peacebuilding initiative led by , , , and partners between 2021 and early 2024 made a tangible difference in the lives of communities in the highlands of Papua New Guinea.
UN Peacebuilding initiatives are made possible by the generous contributions of Member States and the indispensable support of implementing partners, including UN agencies and local organizations.