Peer Review of development coordination underway in PNG

[Port Moresby] – Papua New Guinea is demonstrating commitment to transparency and accountability through its initiation of a Peer Review of development coordination. 

These were the words of Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Deputy Secretary General, Mr Feleti Teo, when addressing senior PNG Government representatives yesterday in Port Moresby at a function to welcome the PNG Peer Review team. 

At the invitation of the Government of PNG, the Peer Review team comprises Pacific Islands Forum country experts in planning, budgeting, public and financial management systems from Samoa, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and New Zealand. They are Ms Noumea Simi from Samoa, Mr Johnson Naviti from Vanuatu, Mr Matthew Pativato from Solomon Islands and Mr Richard Woodham from New Zealand. 

“I would like to thank the Prime Minister of PNG, Honorable Peter O’Neill and the Government of PNG for inviting your Secretariat to facilitate this Peer Review process under the Forum Compact,” said Mr Teo. “By inviting your Pacific neighbours to undertake this Peer Review of your national planning, budgeting, public and financial management systems, PNG is demonstrating commitment to transparency, accountability and engaging in regional initiatives for the benefit of PNG and the Pacific region.” 

Over the next three weeks, the PNG Peer Review team will consult with key government ministries and development partner, NGO and private sector representatives. Consultations will take place in Port Moresby, Madang and the East New Britain province. 

The PNG Peer Review team will be supported by staff from the Forum Secretariat and PNG’s Department of National Planning and Monitoring. Through the Cairns Compact for Strengthening Development Coordination (Forum Compact), Forum Leaders agreed in 2009 that the Forum Secretariat report annually to leaders on regular Peer Reviews of Forum Island Countries’ national development plans and planning processes. 

“The initiative is aimed at promoting international best practice in key sectors, improving effective budget allocation processes and guiding support from development partners,” explained Mr Teo. “Peer Reviews are an opportunity for mutual learning between FICs and their peers and development partners (donors) to contribute to reinforcing country leadership.” Mr Teo added: “The ultimate purpose of the Peer Review process is to assist countries to improve the planning, budgeting and delivery of development programmes to improve development outcomes and accelerate the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).” 

PNG is the eighth country to undertake the Forum Compact peer review process after Nauru, Kiribati, Vanuatu, Tuvalu, Niue, RMI and Tonga. (Ends) 

For further information please contact Mue Bentley Fisher from the Forum Secretariat via mueb@forumsec.org or +679 9998677/ +675 71404966 (PNG). Please click on images above to view larger versions. Photographs may be utilised for the purpose of illlustrating this press statement only.