GOVERNMENT agencies, church partners, and other stakeholders have endorsed a series of easy-to-understand booklets aimed at helping people better understand government health and education policies.
Developed with support from the PNGAus Partnership, the booklets explain the health and education services citizens should expect, how communities can contribute to improving those services, and the constitutional rights and responsibilities of every Papua New Guinean.
Community members involved in early consultations said that the simplified information helped them better understand government commitments and feel more confident to speak up when services are not meeting expectations.
These simplified policy booklets will enhance citizens’ awareness of government priorities, optimise frontline service providers to effectively deliver services, increase government’s accountability and empower citizens to take ownership of decisions that directly affect their lives.
Chairman of the Technical Working Group for this initiative, Mr Lawrence Duguman said this initiative supports better service delivery and stronger government transparency and accountability.
“When people understand government plans and policies, they can work together with us, churches and civil society to improve services in health, education, and other areas. This helps us deliver better outcomes for our people.”
“This ceremony sets the stage for future collaborations to translate and simplify further policies, ensuring that no Papua New Guinean is left behind,” Mr Duguman said.
Church partners, who are often the first point of contact for communities, will play a key role in sharing this information across the country, especially in rural and low-literacy areas.
At the endorsement, participating agencies including Department of National Planning and Monitoring, Department of Health, Department of Education, Department for Community Development and Religion and Consultative Implementation & Monitoring Council committed to sharing the new policy booklets across the country through their planned programs and initiatives.
The Australian Government is proud to support the Government of Papua New Guinea with this initiative, helping ensure that more communities have access to clear information about the policies and services that affect their lives.