Asia Pacific Economic Research Foundation

25/09/2026

ASIA PACIFIC ECONOMIC RESEARCH FOUNDATION (APERF)
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

The Asia Pacific Economic Research Foundation (APERF) is a foundation for economic research based in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. The Foundation is committed to supporting informed economic policy dialogue by making existing research, economic information and knowledge more accessible across Asia and the Pacific.

Our Research and Knowledge Base:

APERF draws on existing fiscal, monetary, statistical and development information produced by reputable national, regional and international institutions, including:

• National Treasuries and Monetary Authorities
• National Statistics Offices and Bureaus
• Diplomatic Missions and Posts
• World Bank Group and (IFC)
• Asian Development Bank (ADB)
• United Nations and OECD
• Research institutions and universities
• Australian National University (ANU)
• University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG)

The Foundation disseminates and promotes access to existing research and evidence to encourage informed discussion on economic policy, development and sustainable growth in Asia and the Pacific.

A Multidisciplinary Knowledge Network
APERF uses Facebook and other digital platforms to facilitate knowledge exchange and public dialogue. The Foundation welcomes contributions and perspectives from technical professionals and practitioners across a broad range of disciplines, including:

• Economists and Statisticians
• Market Strategists and Accountants
• Public Financial Management Specialists
• Public Policy Advisers
• Lawyers and Legislators
• Environmental Scientists and Engineers
• Clinicians and Public Health Professionals
• Pastors and Theologians

Areas of Expertise:

Our areas of interest include:
Public Financial Management
Financial Analysis and Investment
Capital Markets and Sovereign Wealth Fund Investments
Multi-Sector Planning and Budgeting
Law and Legislative Review
Extractive Industries Transparency and Governance
Agriculture and Rural Development
Health Sector Planning and Budgeting
Financing for Pandemics and Disease Outbreaks
International Development Cooperation and Resource Mobilisation

Creating Access to Knowledge

APERF operates as an open knowledge and research platform and does not charge fees for access to its information, research dissemination and public dialogue activities. This approach is intended to create opportunities for people to access knowledge, information, dialogue and intellectual resources.

Where professional or specialised services are required, clients are responsible for costs that are appropriately their own, with fees determined directly by the individual service providers concerned.

Promoting Economic Growth and Opportunity

The Foundation has a strong interest in promoting sound investment, strengthening financial and capital-market regulation, and supporting greater transparency and accountability in extractive industries.
APERF also seeks to contribute to economic opportunity by disseminating information on:
• Employment opportunities
• Scholarships and educational opportunities
• Short-term training and professional development
• Public seminars and knowledge-sharing events
• Economic and development policy discussions

Development practitioners, researchers, professionals and members of the public who have an interest in economic development and evidence-based policy are welcome to participate in constructive and informed public discussions.
Information about public seminars, research discussions and other opportunities is shared through our Facebook platform.

Be part of the network:
Asia Pacific Economic Research Foundation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asia.pacific.economic.research.foundation

For further information, please contact:
Ms. Margaret George
📧 [email protected]
📱 Mobile: (+675) 7808 4776 | 765 36202
📱 Vodafone: (+675) 831 86636
📱 Digicel: (+675) 7201 5414

Asia Pacific Economic Research Foundation (APERF)

Connecting knowledge, research and people to support informed economic dialogue and development across Asia and the Pacific.

27/07/2026

Housing affordability is a major issue in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Many citizens find it difficult to purchase or build a decent home because the cost of land, building materials, and labour increased significantly over the years. At the same time, wages for many workers have not risen enough to keep up with these costs, making home ownership difficult for a large portion of the population.

In urban centres such as Port Moresby, Lae, and Mount Hagen, housing prices are especially high. Population growth and migration from rural areas have created a greater demand for homes than the available supply. As a result, rents and property prices have increased, forcing many families to live in overcrowded conditions or informal settlements.

Although some people with stable, well-paying jobs can afford to buy or rent decent homes, many low-income families cannot. Workers in informal employment or those earning minimum wages often spend a large portion of their income on housing, leaving little money for food, education, healthcare, and other basic needs.

The high cost of building materials also affects housing affordability in PNG. Many materials, including cement, steel, roofing sheets, and plumbing supplies, are imported from overseas. Transportation costs and inflation further increase prices, making it expensive for families to build their own homes.

Land ownership is another challenge. Much of the land in Papua New Guinea is customary land owned by clans and communities. While this system protects traditional ownership, it can make it difficult for individuals and developers to obtain land for housing projects. Limited access to registered land reduces the number of affordable housing developments.

Financial institutions provide home loans, but many citizens struggle to qualify for mortgages because they do not have stable employment or sufficient income. High interest rates and strict lending requirements prevent many families from accessing the finance needed to purchase a home.

PNG Government has introduced housing programs and policies aimed at improving access to affordable housing.However, the demand for housing continues to exceed supply, and many projects have not been able to meet the needs of the growing population. Greater investment in affordable housing is needed to address this challenge.

Despite these difficulties, some Papua New Guineans can build homes gradually by saving money and using locally available materials. In rural areas, families often build traditional houses using timber, bamboo, sago leaves, and other natural resources, reducing construction costs. However, these homes may lack modern services such as electricity, clean water, and sanitation.

Affordable housing is important because it improves people's quality of life, health, and financial security. When families have access to safe and decent housing, children have better opportunities to study, communities become more stable, and overall economic development is supported.

In conclusion, housing is not affordable for many citizens in Papua New Guinea. Rising construction costs, limited access to land, low incomes, and shortages of affordable housing make it difficult for many families to own or rent decent homes.

Addressing these challenges will require cooperation between the government, private sector, financial institutions, and local communities to increase the availability of affordable and quality housing.

27/07/2026

A systems approach can align housing finance, supply, services, resilience, and inclusion to close Asia and the Pacific’s housing gap.

25/07/2026

Interesting that this article argues affordable housing should be treated as an integrated system rather than simply a construction or financing issue. It explains that housing shortages in the region cannot be solved by just building more homes or expanding mortgages alone.

Instead, governments need to coordinate land use, infrastructure, housing finance, regulation, climate resilience, and social policy so that homes are affordable, well-located, connected to basic services, and resilient to natural hazards.

The article highlights that housing is a foundation for better health, economic opportunity, gender equality, and more productive, inclusive cities, making it central to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 11.

To support this systems approach, it outlines four priority areas for action: expanding affordable rental housing, increasing access to inclusive housing finance for underserved households, strengthening post-disaster reconstruction through "build back better" principles, and boosting the supply of affordable homes through construction finance.

These priorities are underpinned by four cross-cutting principles—climate resilience, social inclusion, integration of infrastructure and basic services, and the use of technology and innovation.

Successful housing policy requires balancing both demand- and supply-side interventions while using public investment to attract private capital, ensuring that housing delivers long-term social, environmental, and economic benefits rather than simply increasing the number of dwellings.

A systems approach can align housing finance, supply, services, resilience, and inclusion to close Asia and the Pacific’s housing gap.

15/07/2026

🚨Registration Open!🚨
Join us as Michael Kabuni, PhD candidate at ANU, presents "Displacements and resentments: lessons from five case studies to guide climate-induced resettlements in PNG"

⏰7 August, 12.30 - 1.30pm PGT / AEST
📍In person room 7, Crawford School or or via Zoom
📝 Register: https://events.devpolicy.org/20260807

30/06/2026

The Asia Pacific Economic Research Foundation (APERF) is an independent think tank dedicated to addressing development challenges across the Asia-Pacific region. We facilitate informed discussions and policy dialogue on key economic and development issues, with the objective of contributing to evidence-based public policy.

Our primary platform for stakeholder engagement is Facebook, where professionals from diverse disciplines exchange ideas, research, and perspectives on regional development.

Our Network:

APERF draws on the expertise of a broad network of professionals working throughout Asia and the Pacific, including:
Economists
Business managers
Financial and market analysts
Accountants
Lawyers and Legislators
Journalists
Public administration specialists
Academics and researchers
Engineers
Environmental and climate change experts
Public health professionals
Medical practitioners
Psychologists
Consultants
Philosophers
Theologians and pastors.

Professionals involved in development work are welcome to connect with us and participate in policy discussions.

Our mission is to promote knowledge-sharing, research, and dialogue on issues that influence economic and social development across the Asia-Pacific region.

Members are encouraged to share:
Research papers
Government policies
Donor reports
Development blogs
Media articles
Publicly available statistics and development indicators

APERF conducts research using publicly available information from government agencies and international institutions, including central banks, government treasuries, the United Nations, the World Bank Group, the Asian Development Bank, the Australian National University, and the University of Papua New Guinea.

Our principal research areas include:

Financial markets
Rural agricultural development
Social services
Law and justice
Public administration
Climate change
Pandemic preparedness and disease outbreaks
Energy transition
Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI)

To support our research activities and operational sustainability, APERF connects clients with independent service providers offering the following services.

Telecommunications Resale
Registered reseller of:
Telikom Rait Cards
bmobile recharge cards
Digicel Flex Cards
Estimated service charges:
US$1 for transactions below US$5
US$2 for purchases above US$20

SME Investment Connections
Assistance connecting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with investment opportunities and relevant institutions, including the Bank of Papua New Guinea.
Estimated professional fees:
Up to US$100. Additional communication and transport costs may apply.

Grant Application Facilitation:
Support for development grant applications submitted to diplomatic missions and donor agencies.
Estimated fees:
US$200 application facilitation
US$100 per day for proposal or concept note preparation

Employment Search:
Employment search assistance for:
Papua New Guinea (US$200)
Overseas employment (US$300)
Search services remain valid for 12 months.

Scholarship Search:
Scholarship search assistance in:
Economics
Public Policy
Law
Business Management
Estimated fee: US$200
Validity: 12 months

Visa and Passport Assistance:
Support with:
Foreign visa applications
Papua New Guinea passport applications
Travel bookings
Hotel reservations
Estimated service fee: US$200

Business Registration:
Assistance with:
SME registration through the Investment Promotion Authority (IPA)
Tax registration with the Internal Revenue Commission (IRC)
Estimated service fee: US$200

Real Estate Search:
Assistance locating residential properties for lease or purchase through licensed real estate agencies.
Estimated service fee: US$200

Contact Information:
Ms. Margaret George
Heliconia Ridge Estate
Tokarara
Port Moresby
Papua New Guinea
Email:
[email protected]
[email protected]

Telephone:
(+675) 7808 4776
(+675) 7653 6202
(+675) 7201 5414 (Digicel)
(+675) 8318 6636 (Vodafone)

Please contact us by telephone first, followed by WhatsApp or email.

Please do not send Facebook Messenger inquiries.

Clients and business partners are expected to provide appropriate identification, including:
Facebook account
Work identification
National Identification (NID)
Passport or Driver's Licence

Important information:

Official correspondence issued by APERF must bear the organization's official company stamp and a handwritten signature. Electronic signatures on official letterhead are not recognised as official.

Disclaimer

The fees listed above are estimates only. Clients pay service providers directly. The Asia Pacific Economic Research Foundation does not receive or process client payments and does not facilitate financial transactions. Final pricing are determined by the individual service providers.

We appreciate the continued support of our partners, members and the wider community as we promote research, public policy dialogue, and sustainable development in the region.

21/11/2024

JUST LAUNCHED! The State of Economic Inclusion Report 2024 explores efforts to scale up economic inclusion programs—bundles of coordinated, multidimensional interventions designed to support individuals, households, and communities in sustainably increasing their incomes and assets.

In the context of overlapping crises, this report provides critical insights into strategies for resilience and growth: http://wrld.bg/vVKb50UaWF3

17/11/2024

🚀 Join us for the launch of the State of Economic Inclusion Report 2024: Pathways to Scale!

Discover insights on scaling government-led programs and the critical role of nongovernment actors & the private sector in driving impact.

📅 11/20/2024
📍 http://wrld.bg/F05u50U7MJ7

17/11/2024