Papua New Guinea: Medium Term Development Plan IV | 2023 - 2027 | National Prosperity Through Growing the Economy

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Medium-Term Development Plan IV 2023-2027 (MTDP IV) is themed as “National Prosperity through Growing the Economy”. The theme captures the Government’s intent to deliberately invest in strategic priority areas to trigger national growth, transformation and prosperity.

This five-year plan is the fourth in succession and it incorporates lessons learnt from the past MTDPs. It reflects the Government’s development agenda and the Prime Minister’s official pronouncements.

The objectives of the MTDP IV are to grow the GDP by K164 billion towards the 2030 target of K200 billion by doubling the country’s internal and export revenues and creating one million new jobs by 2027. In order to achieve these, it requires all agencies of Government and stakeholders to integrate, align and complement their development programs and initiatives to the MTDP IV Strategic Priority Areas (SPA).

The 12 SPAs are as follows:

1. Strategic Economic Investment

2. Connect PNG Infrastructure

3. Quality and Affordable Health Care

4. Quality Education and Skilled Human Capital

5. Rule of Law and Restorative Justice

6. National Security

7. National Revenue and Public Finance Management

8. Digital Government, National Statistics and Public Service Governance

9. Research, Science and Technology

10. Climate Change and Naturaal Environment Protection

11. Population, Youth and Women Empowerment

12. Strategic Partnerships

Within each of these SPAs, there are Deliberate Intervention Programs (DIPs) which are assigned to the responsible sector agencies to deliver over the MTDP IV period. These DIPs are high level sectoral programs that will guide the Government’s investment plans, budget, programming and implementation. This includes the support from Development Partners and other stakeholders.

The Government’s commitment to transform the economy requires substantial financial investment into the 12 SPAs. An estimated K51 billion is required to finance the full implementation of MTDP IV deliverables. The following financial sources have been identified to finance the Plan:

i) The Government’s direct investments through the Capital Investment Budget;

ii) Concessional loans and grants financing;

iii) Private Sector financing through Private-Public Partnership (PPP), Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme; and SOE Community Service Obligations Programs;

iv) Foreign Direct Investments; and

v) Civil Society and Faith-Based Organisations.

All the finances that are mobilised will be effectively appropriated through the annual capital investment budget for programs identified under the 12 SPAs in accordance with the Public Investment Program guidelines. The integrated development plans of the sectors, provinces and districts must align with MTDP IV priorities in order to access the (Public Investment Program (PIP) funding.

The Government, through its dedicated agency, will undertake regular monitoring and evaluation of PIP funding and its implementation to measure (i) the value for money on investment and (ii) policy outcome indicators. The report will form a score card to rank the performance of the sectors, provinces and districts against the KRAs and minimum service standards.