In Papua New Guinea’s Highlands, coffee farming is more than just a job—it’s an integral part of community life and culture. Now, through a new partnership between UNFPA and Monpi Coffee Exports Limited, an organisation which sources coffee beans from smallholder farmers, coffee is supporting not only livelihoods but also sexual and reproductive health and the well-being of thousands of families.
This collaboration brings essential health services directly to remote communities, blending agriculture and healthcare to tackle the unique challenges that rural farmers and their communities face.
“Our partnership with UNFPA enables us to give back in meaningful ways—improving the health and livelihoods of our farmers,” said Yessa Tuegeh, Country Manager of Monpi Coffee Exports Limited. “Our farmers and their families will benefit from health education, financial literacy training, and access to crucial services like basic healthcare and family planning.”
Through the UNFPA-Monpi partnership, over 4,600 farmers in Papua New Guinea's Highlands are gaining access to essential healthcare, financial literacy, and family planning services.
This comprehensive effort, designed to support rural populations, brings together community members, non-governmental organizations, and financial institutions. By partnering with the PNG Family Health Association (PNG FHA), UNFPA provides accessible family planning and maternal health information to farmers, empowering families to make safe and informed decisions about their reproductive health.
Additionally, the collaboration with the Center for Excellence in Financial Inclusion (CEFI) equips farmers with financial literacy skills, enhancing their capacity to make well-informed economic choices that benefit their livelihoods and communities.
For generations, coffee has been the backbone of life for local farmers in Papua New Guinea. However, the challenges they face often extend beyond the fields, with limited access to essential health services, including maternal care, family planning, and basic healthcare. This partnership bridges that gap, bringing comprehensive healthcare options closer to home, especially for women and mothers.
“Coffee plays a big role in our lives,” shared Vero Mark, a coffee farmer from Yondumo village in Chuave district, Simbu Province.
“We are able to meet our daily needs and pay school fees for our children because of growing coffee. And now with UNFPA support, I can now have access to health services in my community.”
The availability of maternal healthcare locally has become a lifeline for women in these areas, helping to reduce maternal mortality and empowering women with the knowledge and resources for safer pregnancies and childbirth.
UNFPA Country Representative in Papua New Guinea, Saira Shameem, emphasized that this partnership is primarily about saving lives and securing the rights of farmers – including sexual and reproductive rights.
“This collaboration with Monpi Coffee Exports goes beyond just coffee,” explained Saira Shameem. “It’s about saving lives and protecting the rights of farmers. Through our joint efforts, UNFPA has brought family planning, maternal health, and financial literacy to over 4,600 farmers. Together, we’re contributing towards the reduction of maternal deaths and building a brighter future for women and families across the Highlands.”
With a shared commitment to health and well-being, UNFPA and Monpi Coffee Exports are fostering lasting change in the Highlands, where healthcare has historically been limited due to challenging terrain, healthcare staff shortages, and limited or inadequate facilities.
UNFPA’s collaboration with the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) facilitated key discussions with UNCDF-affiliated financial institutions, such as Mama Bank, which supports coffee farmers in opening bank accounts, and CEFI, which provides financial literacy programs.
By leveraging UNCDF’s expertise in inclusive finance, this partnership exemplifies a strategic approach that combines financial innovation with sustainable development. The focus on blended financing approaches and risk insurance strategies ultimately led to the creation of a health-focused financial guarantee mechanism, which will benefit coffee farmers in Papua New Guinea.
