Steven Paissat: Clocking 15 years and Counting

People who have crossed paths with Mr Steven Paissat know he is a self-driven and motivated professional with a focused attitude of success and a thirst for change.

His willingness to help is portrayed through his long service at the United Nations Development Programme. For more than 15 years, Mr Paissat has been the go-to guy. Some may even say he is the jack-of-all-trade on matters UNDP related.

His dedication and versatility has seen him progress through the ranks at the Papua New Guinea Country Office. From Common Services Manager to heading the Project Services team, Operations Analyst to Head of Operations, he then held a post as Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB) National Operations Manager to support the referendum process. Mr Paissat is now Programme Analyst for the UNDP PNG Environment portfolio.

“To know that I am contributing to the organization, and its goals - to help with developing the people and the country - is what gives me motivation to come into work every day. It is one of the most satisfying and rewarding jobs that I have been involved with.”

“I think that’s where the main opportunity is, to convey to our partners that our services are valuable, so they feel ownership - and that the support provided by UNDP will be vital or beneficial for them. Once partners understand our goal and vision, that is when we see the relevance of our support moving in the right direction.”     

Mr Paissat aspires to present to the world what UNDP has offered to PNG and how the organisation helps the country’s development.

“Maybe in 10 years’ time, I would like to be able to take the experiences of PNG and share with the rest of the world through a foreign mission.

One of the biggest challenges of the world is bringing people together under a common aspiration. Though still a lot of work is needed, and we are a very young nation, we have made steady progress in PNG with so many different cultures working together.”

Mr Paissat is a true Papua New Guinean. He is an islander by heritage, from a mixed parentage of New Ireland and Manus. Born in the Eastern Highlands Provincial capital of Goroka, he spent the few first years of his life in Tari before making Port Moresby his home.

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To celebrate the United Nations 75th anniversary and 45 years in PNG, we are highlighting the contributions and values of the many people working behind the light blue flag to deliver for our communities.