Democratic Governance Papua New Guinea

Fostering Democratic Governance

Governance News:

PNG Government committed to developing National Anti-Corruption Strategy: PNG Govt officials have discussed the development of a National Anti-Corruption Strategy. More >> Read the speech by Peter Aitsi, Chair of Transparency International, PNG and the speech by Jan-Jilles van der Hoeven - UNDP, DRR at the opening of National Anti Corruption Strategy workshop

PNG businesses fight corruption: The fight against corruption in Papua New Guinea has received a boost from the business community, who formed an Alliance to prevent corruption within businesses. More >> See the new PNG business code of ethics

PNG hosts the launch of the Pacific Financial Inclusion Programme

PNG's government, like the governments of many developing countries suffers from low capacity, low levels of skill and training, occasional corruption and a lack of transparency. In order to help achieve the Millennium Development Goal of halving poverty by the year 2015, UNDP is helping the government tackle these issues and make itself more efficient, more focused on human rights, more democratic and more accountable so that it can better deliver services to the poor.

PNGs public sector is a key ally in alleviating the poverty that most Papua New Guineans find themselves in every day. With help from international aid agencies, the government is attempting to implement a programme for reform and UNDP is part of this process. The objective of UNDP assistance is to improve the government's ability to provide services to the poor. Inefficiency in government, corruption or a lack of aid effectiveness seriously hampers the country's ability to deliver pro-poor policies, lift the country out of poverty and achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

In practice, this means training provincial and central government officials in best practice using a range of mentoring and traditional training methods. UNDP experts often advise governments in such areas as financial planning, how to be more accountable and reduce corruption, strategic planning and how to simplify processes for offering services to poor people.

PNG is one of few countries in the region with a functioning parliamentary democracy. However, there is significant scope for improving the effectiveness of the parliament and its ability to liaise with other branches of government to ensure development occurs in an efficient manner.

Papua New Guinea has several human rights challenges. Gender based violence is widespread, and there are problems linked to police violence, violence against children, extended use of remand, and trafficking in women.

UNDP Papua New Guinea is fostering Democratic Governance through the following Projects:

Provincial Capacity Building Programme Phase II: The project aims to assist the Government of Papua New Guinea to strengthen financial management at the national and provincial levels. This includes hands-on financial management training at the provincial level while developing internships and provincial training officer networks at the same time. This project is on-going until 2012.

Fact Sheet | Annual Workplan | Financial Disbursements and Funding

Support to Legislation in PNG: UNDP is helping to strengthen the legislative mechanisms in place in Papua New Guinea. This will be done through capacity development initiatives aimed at those involved in legislative drafting; and facilitating dialogue and harmonization amongst the different bodies responsible for making laws. Work will also be done to establish a website for the Office of Legislative Counsel. This project is on-going until 2012.

Fact Sheet | Annual Workplan | Project Document for previous project supporting the National Assembly | Preparatory Assistance Phase Project Document | Financial Disbursements and Funding

Good Governance and Anti Corruption Education: With its linguistic diversity, poor communications, transport and governance, the link between citizens and the state is weak in PNG. This increases poverty, undermines security and makes it harder for the government to deliver services to the poor. One way that this link can be strengthened is through a stronger civic education component in the curriculum. The newly reformed PNG curriculum is trying to address this problem, but it has limited teaching resources with which to do so. This project is working with the Department of Education to develop and implement nationwide civic education materials for use in upper primary and lower secondary schools. This project will end in 2009.

Fact sheet |Annual Workplan | Financial Disbursements and Funding

Strengthening Human Rights in PNG: This project will strengthen human rights awareness in Papua New Guinea through capacity building and advocacy initiatives. Specific tools will be developed for the legal community and the NGO sector on human rights awareness and instruments. The project will also raise awareness for media about human rights and strengthen the government's capacity for reporting on human rights conventions already signed by PNG. This project is due to start in early 2009 when the government signs the annual workplan.

Project Document for previous Human Rights Project | Financial Disbursements and Funding

For the latest expenditure figures for each project, go to our funding page