New Dates for the CIMC 2026 National Development Forum (September 8 – 10)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PORT MORESBY, 24th September 2026 – The Consultative Implementation and Monitoring Council (CIMC) will host its annual flagship event, the 2026 National Development Forum, Dr. Momis Hall, Somare Institute of Leadership and Governance(SILAG) at Waigani campus, Port Moresby, from September 8, and September 9 to September 10, 2026.
To mark Papua New Guinea’s landmark 50th Anniversary of Independence and to reflect upon and honour forefather’s legacy and strengthening existing pathways for beneficial national outcomes, this year’s forum is themed: “Unpacking the Reset@50 Agenda – What Must We Do Better in the Next 50 Years”.
The three-day event will bring together leaders from national and subnational governments, churches, civil society, the private sector, academia, development partners, women, youth, and community groups. As a critical platform for constructive policy dialogue, the forum aims to strengthen policy communication, promote shared understanding, and drive transparency and accountability in development planning and service delivery.
As the culmination of the 2026 Public Development Forum series, this national event will conclude the public development forum series for 2026. The four Regional Development Forums were held between March and June 2026 in Kokopo, Madang, Mt. Hagen, and Popondetta.
A core highlight of the forum will be the presentation and debate of fifteen consolidated national recommendations, shaped directly by citizens at the regional level to address national priorities and guide both provincial and national leadership.
The forums serve as a critical citizen-driven accountability platform following the country’s 50th independence milestone.
While PNG has achieved real development metrics since 1975—including a decade increase in life expectancy—the UNDP PNG@50 report highlights stark structural deficits. Currently, 40% of the population lives in extreme poverty, half of all children experience stunting or wasting, and only 20% of households have electricity grid connections.
"Our hurdle is no longer policy formulation; it is implementation capacity," stated Mrs Wallis Yakam, Executive Officer of the CIMC Secretariat. "This forum places the Reset@50 reform framework and its ten 'Big Bet' interventions directly into the hands of citizens to shape, test, and monitor national budgets and policy execution."
The Reset@50 Forum week begins on Monday, August 24, with the Government-CSO Partnership Dialogue to be hosted at the Crowne Hotel from 8,30am to 3pm, followed by the official three-day National Development Forum Program.
The final endorsed recommendations will be submitted directly to the National Executive Council (NEC) through the Minister for National Planning and CIMC Chairman who will then table it at the NEC for endorsement and subsequently feed into national public policy decision making.
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About CIMC:
The Consultative Implementation and Monitoring Council (CIMC) is an independent body established by the National Executive Council (NEC) to facilitate civil society and private sector participation in the policy-making process of the Government of Papua New Guinea.
