Papua New Guinea

Context at a glance

A Habitat house under construction in Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea, on the eastern end of the Indonesian archipelago, is famed for its rain, ruggedness, great beauty and variety of local cultures.

Many people live in traditional-style rural homes, known as "bush houses". These are constructed from bamboo, grass, leaves and timber. The materials are tied or woven together to produce one- or two-room shelters. Every few years they need to be replaced, but, with a growing population, what seems an environmentally-sound cycle of growth and reuse has led to pressure on forests.

Half of Papua New Guinea's population lives in overcrowded substandard housing, often relying on scavenged wood, stones, leaves and grass.

Habitat for Humanity programme

HFH PNG was formed in 1983 in Port Moresby and then moved to Lae, the second city. There are six affiliates: four in Morobe province (Finschafen, Markham, Morobe and Nawaeb); one in Eastern Highlands province; and one in East Sepik province.

HFH PNG is benefiting from the "Save and Build" scheme. The model is well supported by community, local church and government leaders. To date, more than 100 savings groups have been formed.

HFH homes are made of timber, raised on stilts a metre or more off the ground. Roofs are made of corrugated metal sheets. Habitat encourages homeowners to cut and mill their own timber from their own land. To ensure sustainability, Habitat has developed a reforestation project, with two trees planted for every tree used for a Habitat house.

Houses are available in three designs: the two-room design measures 33.4 sq. m.; three rooms cover nearly 37 sq. m. and the four-room design 40 sq. m. The average monthly repayment per house is £8, and the average mortgage length is 20 years. The "Save and Build" repayment period is five years for families taking part in that scheme.

Read a homeowner story from Papua New Guinea As safe as houses

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