Papua New Guinea
Strongim Gavman Program (SGP)
At the 18th Meeting of Australia-PNG Ministerial Forum in Madang on 23 April 2008 Ministers agreed to the continued placement of senior and experienced Australian government officials in PNG agencies to help strengthen government and accountability.
Ministers also agreed to rename the Enhanced Cooperation Program (ECP) as the Strongim Gavman Program (Tok Pisin for “strengthening” or “empowering government”) or SGP.
Under the SGP, around 40 Australian officials are working closely with their PNG counterparts to progress reform in the areas of economic and public sector governance, border management and transport safety and security, and law and justice.
Our officials are focused on providing strategic and policy advice and on building capacity in the PNG public service, including through mentoring to improve the knowledge and skills of PNG staff.
Over recent years, our officials have helped PNG achieve significant improvements in budget management, including greater transparency in budget and accounting processes and better financial controls.
Under initial arrangements for the former ECP, Australia and PNG had agreed to the deployment of up to 210 Australian Federal Police (AFP) personnel to improve law and order in PNG. We were obliged to withdraw these AFP personnel following the PNG Supreme Court ruling on 13 May 2005 that immunities for ECP personnel were in conflict with the PNG Constitution.
The 18th Ministerial Forum agreed to the commencement of a policing partnership, starting with the deployment of a start-up team of Australian police advisers, who would operate outside the SGP and be integrated with AusAID’s law and justice sector program.
Contact Details
Director
Strongim Gavman Program and Fiji Section
Pacific Division
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Barton ACT 0221
Tel: (02) 6261 1111
Fax: (02) 6261 2248