Papua New Guinea's latest score on the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) is 29 out of 100, showing a slight improvement of one percent from 28 out of 100 in 2021. Despite this progress, PNG remains among many countries with little to no improvement in tackling corruption.
This data was highlighted by PNG National Planning Minister Sir Ano Pala during the Government and Civil Society Joint Budget Information Workshop 2024.
He emphasized the importance of organizations and platforms such as the Open Government Partnership, stating that it “paves the way to address some of these challenges we have faced as a country.”
“Having access to information, participation of civil society organizations in both the budget formulation and implementation and dissemination of fiscal information is still a challenge. Having a consultative approach to decision making and a transparent industry provides the basis for democracy and importantly good governance,” he added.
The Consultative Implementation & Monitoring Council (CIMC), the OGP Secretariat, and the Australian Government through the Australian-PNG Partnership, which aims to build community engagement in PNG, supported the workshop.
The OGP is a multilateral initiative that seeks to secure concrete commitments from national governments to promote open government, empower citizens, fight corruption, and leverage new technologies to strengthen governance.
A key topic during the second day of the workshop was the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), which serves as the global standard for promoting transparency and accountability in countries rich in oil, gas, and mineral resources. It is implemented through the participation of government, civil society, and industry.
CIMC houses the civil society umbrella body, the PNG Resources Governance Coalition, which aims to:
- Raise public awareness on resource governance and sustainability.
- Advocate for accountability and good governance in the planning and management of the extractive sector.
- Develop options for community participation and safeguard PNG’s national heritage, consistent with the National Constitution.
The two-day workshop from September 24th to 25th at the Holiday Inn in Port Moresby had the theme “Citizens Participation in the Government’s Budget Formulation, Implementation & Reporting Process: Opportunities, Learning & Challenges.”
Day one included presentations from civil societies covering:
- Key findings from regional workshops.
- Annual budget processes and reforms.
- Public hearings/forums on budgeting, planning, and implementation at all levels, focusing on shared experiences and learning.
- Initial impressions on citizen participation in government budget formulation, implementation, and reporting.
Day two featured sessions on:
- Budget implementation, reporting, and local innovation.
- Continued discussions on budget implementation and reporting.
- Showcasing local innovations in participatory and inclusive budgeting.
- Plenary discussions for group recommendations.
