1.2. Papua New Guinean communities
Papua New Guinea is one of the most underdeveloped countries in the world. It has a population of
approximately 6.9 million people, with 87% living in the rural mountainous regions, making infrastructure
transportation a difficult challenge [2]. Although the country is resource-rich, with oil, gas and minerals contributing
to the national economy, 37% of the population is in poverty [5] and political instability has resulted in a decrease in
living standards since the 1990s [6]. According to the Department of National Planning and Monitoring 2010, only
40% of the population has access to safe water [7]. Statistics from the World Health Organization [3], show that
4,900 people die per year from Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) related illnesses, which is approximately 10%
of the total deaths in PNG. Considering these deaths are preventable, it is evident that appropriate solutions for PNG
need to be developed and implemented.