Citizen Budget Priorities (PNG0005)

Status quo or problem addressed by the commitment: There is very little or no participation by citizens in government planning and budgetary processes in PNG. Despite the global push I for active citizen's participation in planning and budgetary processes and the fact that it is also captured in the PNG Constitution where the National Goals and Directive Principles I which explicitly calls for such, it is very limited or non-existent. Therefore, the commitment would facilitate active engagement of citizens in planning and budgetary processes.; Main objective: In accordance with the PNG Constitution, National Goals & Directive. Principle# 2: "Equality & Participation", for all citizens to have equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from the outcomes of development, this commitment aims to: 1. Develop a national Policy that would enhance Government and Civil Society partnerships and engagement; 2. Create a State and Civil Society national to sub-national dialogue platforms to encourage public participation at all levels. Encourage partnerships and collaboration between citizens and relevant State agencies for meaningful participation in budget formulation and implementation processes.; Brief description of commitment: To achieve the OGP objectives under Public Participation and PNG's national goals and directive principles, as well as other medium and long term plans and policies of government, this commitment will: 1. Facilitate Government endorsement of a partnership Policy between the State and Civil Society and support for effective implementation; 2. Create a high level dialogue platform at the national level, which would then encourage similar set ups at the sub national levels recognized and supported by Provincial Governments. 3. Identify entry points for citizen participation in Government budget formulation and implementation processes.; OPG challenge addressed by the commitment: OGP challenges this commitment attempts to address include: Grand Challenges -3 (Effective management of public resources); Relevance - Briefly describe the way in which this commitment is relevant to further advancing OGP values of access to information, public accountability, civic participation, and technology and innovation for openness and accountability. (A detailed description of these values is available in the OGP Values Guidance Note.): For any country to join OGP, certain eligibility criteria and activities have to be identified and implemented. Citizens' participation in the planning and budget process promotes this OGP commitment. The absence of full budgetary information makes it challenging for citizens to hold Government accountable for its management of the publics' money. According to the 2017 International Open Budget Survey, PNG scored 6/100 for public participation. This indicates that opportunities for the public to engage in planning and budget process are weak. This is lower than the global average score of 25.; Ambition - Briefly describe the intended results of the commitment and how it will either make government more open or improve government through more openness.: Ambition No. 1: A partnership Policy is endorsed by Government and adequately financed through the Government's 2019 annual budget and embedded in the next five year Medium Term Development Plan (2018 -2022). Ambition No. 2: A vibrant high level dialogue platform is created and maintained at the national level supported by the partnership Policy, and citizens views are channelled to Government for consideration; Ambition No. 3: About 3 sub-national partnerships and dialogue platforms are created and supported fully by Provincial and District Governments.; Milestones: 1. Secure Ministerial Endorsement of State & Civil Society (CS) Partnership Policy and Implementation Support - 1.1. State-Civil Society Partnership Policy for Ministerial and Government endorsement; Present final policy to Minister for National Planning & Minister for Provincial & Local level Government Affairs. Present final policy to Central Agencies Coordinating Committee (CACC). Minister presents Policy to National Executive Council (NEC) & Parliament for final Government's endorsement of policy and also for approval of budgets for policy implementation. Final Policy is launched for publicity, stakeholder awareness of the Government's approval of the Policy.; 1.2. External awareness on the Policy - Conduct Provincial Planners/Community Development Advisors consultations for CIMC Provincial and District Governments awareness and implementation at sub-national levels.; 1.3. Policy implementation support in the 2020 budget - onduct Civil Society round table meeting to put together budget submission to Government for implementation of the Policy; • Conduct various meetings with Government, development partners, CSOs and line agencies to seek their support for Policy implementation; • Conduct provincial capacity building workshops for Civil Society on the goals and objectives of the Policy and Government's processes in preparation for implementation.; 2. Create a National State and Civil Society Dialogue Platform - 2.1. CSO Directory and Dialogue Roundtable - Create a National CSO dialogue roundtable comprised of CSO representatives from the 22 province in the country to meet annually and present their views to Government. Conduct annual National CSO roundtable meeting for 2018 with Government participation to allow; Relevant state agencies to present sectoral plans, budgets and how public views have been captured in them - CSOs to identify entry points for public participation; CSOs to form or identify an organisation as the overarching body in the country; • Conduct a Civil Society Organisation mapping exercise in 12 of the 22 provinces to collate comprehensive information and create a database detailing areas of expertise, etc.; • Create a National CSO profile directory. 2.2. CSO present issues to Government - • Compile and present key outcomes of the roundtable meeting to the Minister for National Planning and Minister for Provincial & Local Level Government Affairs; • Produce position papers and deliver to Government highlighting key planning and budgetary issues and recommendations for Government to consider and address.; 3. Pilot Sub-national Partnerships and Dialogue Platforms. - 3.1. Dialogue and Partnership Platforms • Identify willing provinces to support implementation of the State-CSO Partnership Policy. • Create dialogue platforms at the sub-national levels to facilitate implementation of the Policy, share feedback, including providing oversight on budget and policy implementation. • Work with Provincial and District Governments that come forward and commit to sustain activities and programs and get them institutionalized over the long term. • Provide technical support to civil society in the selected provinces to develop effective partnerships with Government through Memorandum of Agreements (MOAs). • Create administrative arrangements and capacity for CSOs effective communication, coordination and management. 3.2. Sub-national Government commitment to Partnership Policy - Sign and launch 3 MOAs between State and Civil Society in 3 identified provinces signifying recognition and support by sub-national Governments to work with Civil Society in service delivery; development and implementation of plans and budgets as well as valuing the oversight role of Civil Society generally over Government performance.

5. Government is Informed of Citizen’s Annual Planning and Budget Priorities

Verifiable: Yes

Relevant to Open Government: Yes

Potential impact: Minor

Completion: Not Started

This commitment intended to improve citizen participation in budget planning but was not started. Given that Papua New Guinea fails to meet the OGP Core Eligibility Criteria on fiscal transparency, [35] this was an important policy area for the action plan. However, by December 2021, the state had not endorsed and approved the State and Civil Society Partnership Policy, which would have allowed CSOs to receive funding directly from the government. [36] The Papua New Guinea Open Government Partnership Secretariat reported that the policy was developed through four regional two-day consultation workshops and a national workshop gathering government, civil society, and private sector feedback on the policy. The policy was nearly finalized in January 2022, but was delayed by administrative issues. [37] The IRM recommends active involvement of the Department of Provincial and Local Level Government in future efforts to implement this policy.

A State and Civil Society Dialogue Platform had not been established by January 2022. Annual government-civil society meetings that had begun in the 1990s halted during the implementation period in response to COVID-19. [38] According to the Consultative Implementation and Monitoring Council (CIMC), the Civil Society Dialogue Platform that existed prior to the implementation period continued to meet annually. This platform is chaired by CIMC and includes two CSOs from each province. CIMC represents input from this platform in various public policy discussion forums, but felt that a State and Civil Society Dialogue Platform could have potentially empowered greater involvement by CSOs in decision-making processes. [39] There was also no progress on piloting subnational partnerships and dialogue platforms. [40]