SEMINAR - Building Peace in Bougainville: Measuring Recovery Post-Conflict

This presentation will provide evidence on the socio-economic status of current Bougainville and the extent of rebound in investment and access to services since the cessation of conflict in 1997. Data on the level of income, the age profile of the population, the level of access to basic services, and levels of investment in residential housing that was collected via a household level survey will be presented to indicate the level of development within urban Bougainville. The analysis of this data shows that: (i) per capita income has rebounded to 40 percent of the preconflict level; (ii) approximately half of the total population is less than 20 years; and, (iii) a third of school age children are not attending school. These observations have value in assessing the extent of economic recovery following the installation of peace and the levels of public investments required for improving access to basic services. There will be opportunity for general discussion following the presentation.