CIMC holds first Governance and Service Delivery Sectoral Committee meeting for 2026

Ms Gretel Matawan, Senior Project Officer, Governance and Service Delivery Sectoral Committee, CIMC ( front middle), with Key representatives from the Government, CSOs, the Private Sector, Development partners, INA and CIMC Secretariat posing for a group photo during the Sectoral Committee’s Meeting #1/2026.

The Consultative Implementation and Monitoring Council (CIMC) Governance and Service Delivery Sectoral Committee convened its first meeting for 2026, bringing together key government agencies, development partners, and stakeholders to discuss governance reforms and strengthen service delivery systems in Papua New Guinea.

Key agencies and partners in attendance included the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), the National Economic and Fiscal Commission (NEFC), the Department of Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs (DPLGA), the PNG Open Government Partnership (OGP) Secretariat, the Building Community Engagement in PNG (BCEP) Program, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The meeting was opened by Mrs. Yakam, who welcomed participants and formally introduced the new Chairman of CIMC’s Governance and Service Delivery Sectoral Committee, Mr. Henry Yamo, Director of Events and Engagement under the Prevention and Engagement Division of ICAC.

Mrs. Yakam emphasized the importance of convening the committee regularly as a platform for collaboration and dialogue among governance stakeholders.

Quote – Mrs. Yakam:
“These quarterly sectoral committee meetings are important because they bring together government agencies, development partners, civil society and the private sector to discuss governance challenges and identify practical solutions to improve service delivery for our people. Through this platform we can strengthen coordination, share evidence, and ensure that reforms are informed by collective experience and partnership.”

The first session of the meeting began with presentations from ICAC and NEFC.

ICAC’s presentation on “Strengthening Integrity Systems: Oversight, Enforcement, and Coordination” highlighted the role of oversight institutions in strengthening governance systems and ensuring public resources are managed transparently and responsibly.

Speaking on behalf of Mr. Thomas Eluh, Acting Commissioner of ICAC, Ms. Rozalia Boyd, Deputy Executive Director of the Prevention and Engagement Division, emphasized the importance of strengthening integrity across public institutions.

Quote – Ms. Rozalia Boyd, ICAC:
“Strengthening integrity systems is central to effective governance and quality service delivery. Through strong oversight, enforcement and prevention mechanisms, institutions can detect corruption early, address it decisively, and build public trust in the systems that serve our people.”

The session also featured a presentation by Mr. Eric Kumasan, Director of the National Economic and Fiscal Commission (NEFC) on the status of the Intergovernmental Financing Arrangements (IGFA) review and reform roadmap, which is examining the fiscal relationship between national and subnational governments.

Quote – Mr. Eric Kumasan, Director, NEFC:
“For subnational governments to deliver services effectively, they must have access to reliable revenue sources and the authority to manage those resources responsibly. Strengthening fiscal transfers, accountability, and coordination between national and provincial governments is critical to improving service delivery across the country.”

Following the first session, presentations were delivered by the PNG Open Government Partnership (OGP) Secretariat, led by Mr. Langa Kopio, who provided updates on the development of PNG’s National Action Plan III.

The Building Community Engagement in PNG (BCEP) Program also delivered a presentation, with Mr. Noel Matthews, Social Accountability and Governance Advisor, joining the meeting via Zoom to discuss ongoing initiatives aimed at strengthening citizen engagement and social accountability mechanisms.

The final presentation was delivered by Dr. Alma Sedlar, Chief Technical Advisor (Anti-Corruption) with UNDP, who outlined development partner initiatives and strategic priorities to strengthen governance systems and accountability mechanisms in Papua New Guinea.

The Department of Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs (DPLGA) also provided an update on the Ward Development Framework, noting that the framework is expected to be launched later this year. The framework aims to strengthen planning and development coordination at the ward level and improve the alignment of development priorities between communities and government planning systems.

The CIMC Governance and Service Delivery Sectoral Committee provides an important platform for government agencies, development partners, civil society organisations, and the private sector to engage in dialogue on governance challenges and identify pathways to strengthen service delivery outcomes.

The Committee aims to support and complement government initiatives while promoting meaningful citizen participation in governance processes and accountability systems.

The meeting marked the first Governance and Service Delivery Sectoral Committee meeting for 2026 and will be followed by further meetings throughout the year.

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