Formulation of the Social Accountability Framework (PNG0026)

Commitment 8.3.1: Formulation of the Social Accountability Framework

This commitment focuses on developing and institutionalizing a Social Accountability Framework (SAF) that enables structured, inclusive, and sustained engagement among citizens, CSOs, and government institutions. Rooted in a co-creation process, the SAF seeks to formalize mechanisms for citizens to meaningfully participate in monitoring, evaluating, and influencing the delivery of essential public services—with an initial focus on the health and education sectors. This is a new commitment under NAP III, implemented by DNPM and supported by CIMC.

Social accountability will reinforce the role of civic engagement in holding state and service providers accountable. It empowers citizens to go beyond consultation, enabling them to actively participate in governance by articulating community needs, tracking service delivery, and demanding improved outcomes. This approach is recognized globally as a driver of transparency, responsiveness, and quality service provision. The Government of Papua New Guinea is increasingly embracing it as part of its broader governance and poverty-reduction agenda.

The SAF will be aligned with key national policies and plans—including the National Service Delivery Framework, National Health Plan, Education Sector Plan, and MTDP IV—and will include practical tools such as citizen scorecards, grievance redress mechanisms, and community feedback loops. It will also be tailored to support subnational implementation and complement the ongoing decentralization agenda by equipping local-level institutions with structured pathways to engage citizens.

Papua New Guinea has already begun initial consultations during the drafting of NAP III, positioning the SAF as the first commitment to be implemented under the new NAP. The Framework aims not only to improve the effectiveness of service delivery in targeted sectors but also to strengthen democratic accountability and citizen confidence in public institutions at all levels of government.

Tables 1–4 below provide a summary of the commitment’s activities, key milestones, strategies, and indicators.

Table 1: Commitment 8.3.1 – Formulation of the Social Accountability Framework

Objective
To institutionalize a framework for CSO–government collaboration in enhancing transparency and accountability in health and education basic service delivery.

OGP Global Commitment
1

MTDP IV DIPs
DIP 12.4 – Civil Societies and Churches

OGP Commitment No.
3.1

Summary Activities
Formulate the Social Accountability Framework through the Policy formulation process, thereby enabling co-creation.

Lead Implementing Agency

Government: DNPM

CSO: CIMC

Table 2: Milestones and Activities
1. Steering Committee established

Form an inter-agency Technical Working Group (TWG) to lead SAF development

Produce work plan, cash flow, and terms of reference

2. Stakeholder consultations conducted

Identification and selection of 3 provinces, 3 districts, 3 LLGs, and 3 wards for piloting

Conduct stakeholder consultations and drafting workshops at both the national and subnational levels

3. Social Accountability Framework drafted

Conduct meetings and workshops

Proceed with drafting of the SAF

Develop a 1st Draft of the SAF

Workshop the 1st Draft of the SAF

Develop a 2nd Draft of the SAF

Workshop the 2nd Draft of the SAF

4. NEC endorsed and launched

Submit the CACC submission

Submit the NEC submission

Launch the SAF

5. SAF awareness conducted

Carry out awareness on the SAF

6. Pilot implementation in 3 provinces, 3 districts, 3 LLGs, 3 wards

Test SAF tools like:

Community scorecards

Suggestion boxes

7. Stakeholders are capacitated

Relevant public servants and CSOs & Churches will be trained and certified to implement the SAF

Supporting Agencies

Government: DFCD, NDoH, DPLGA, DIRD, NEC

CSO: TVI, INA

Other Stakeholders: DFAT, BCEP, UPNG, NRI, selected Provincial Administrations, and DDAs

Table 3: Strategies

Effective partnership and collaboration
Policy Reference: MTDP IV, OGP–CSO Partnership Policy

Effective resource mobilisation
Policy Reference: MTDP IV, OGP–CSO Partnership Policy

Table 4: Indicators

Proportion of CSO working closely with the government in crafting the SAF from the national, provincial, district, LLG, and ward levels (%)

Source: DNPM Report

Baseline (2024): Nil

Annual Targets:

2025: Nil

2026: 40

2027: 60

2028: 70

2029: 100

Increased civic participation in education and health decision-making at the point of services (%)

Source: DNPM

Baseline (2024): Nil

Annual Targets:

2025: Nil

2026: 40

2027: 60

2028: 70

2029: 100

Total number of provinces implementing the SAF per annum

Source: DNPM Report

Baseline (2024): 0

Annual Targets:

2025: 0

2026: 3

2027: 3

2028: 3

2029: 3