The National Land Development Advisory Group’s role is to provide quality professional advice to the Papua New Guinea National Land Development Program, based on the principles of best practices, while acknowledging the sensitivities surrounding land reform.

By Esekia Warvi

The National Land Development Program (NLDP) is now shifting onto the second stage – that of implementation. Planning reforms and bringing about legislation is only the first step.
The real test is seeing it through to implementation. Achieving this will not be an easy task.
However, all preparations have been done to ensure that the reforms are successful. One component of the NLDP implementation process is the inclusion of an independent advisory group under the NLDP management structure.

The group’s envisioned role and responsibilities will have a particular focus on the background to the NLDP and its mandate. It is part of the broader goal of keeping all stakeholders fully informed of the progress on land reform – from planning, to legislation and implementation.
It is a journey that will encounter many problems, but one which we are all committed to completing successfully.

The implementation of the NLDP will begin in 2010. The NLDP comprises projects and activities that are purposely intended to translate the recommendations from the 2005 National Land Summit in Lae, which were formulated into implementable policies and strategies by the National Land Development Taskforce in 2006, to achieve deliverable outcomes. This implementation program, under the NLDP, represents a major milestone and a positive step forward in Papua New Guinea’s social, economic and political development.

Background to the NLDP

The National Land Development Taskforce (NLDT), under the Chairmanship of Dr. Thomas Webster, is credited with having taken the recommendations of the 2005 National Land Summit onto extensive public dialogue and consultations, after which it produced the NLDT Report. After acceptance by the National Executive Council in November 2006, the NLDT report and its recommendations have been drawn up as the NLDP, which is a development program with designated components by agencies for implementation purposes, funding, manpower, and technical resource requirements, an implementation timeframe, and a management structure with corresponding support services.

The National Land Development Advisory Group (NLDAG) exists as an integral component under the NLDP. It is featured strategically under the management structure with advisory responsibilities to the Ministerial Committee and the Land Development Program Management Committee (LDPMC).

Immediately below these three groups are the State’s implementing agencies, including the Department of Lands & Physical Planning, Papua New Guinea Magisterial Services, the Constitutional and Law Reform Commission, the Office of Urbanisation, the National Research Institute, the Office of Civil Registry, and participatory involvement, as necessary, by the departments of National Planning and Monitoring, Provincial and Local-level Governments, and Treasury. With its membership comprising national academic and research institutions, the private sector, industry, NGO and customary landowners’ representatives, and key civil society groups, the NLDAG will be responsible for providing independent evaluation and assessment reports of program activities. It will provide commentaries and reports on issues of strategic significance on land administration, land dispute settlement, customary land development, and any relevant issues relating to the implementation of the NLDP, through the Ministerial Committee and the LDPMC.

In the spirit of cooperation towards the achievement of common objectives, the NLDAG will liaise with the LDPMC and assist in all possible ways to ensure that land issues are adequately addressed through all available means.

This is critical, given the sensitivities surrounding the implementation of the instituted reforms.
The NLDAG has unrestricted authority to refer issues of concern directly to the Ministerial Committee. Any member of the public can make formal submissions, suggestions, and recommendations regarding the NLDP, through the Secretariat of the NLDAG at the National Research Institute (NRI). Such input is critical to community engagement, which is a central ingredient to success. NRI will function as the Secretariat of the NLDAG, adding support to the NLDP through coordinated activities with key agencies to ensure the effective execution of the NLDAG’s responsibilities.

A critical factor for the success of the program is that it has the full confidence and support of the wider community. Such support requires the NLDP to operate on sound governance principles and integrity.
Although the progress of the NLDP will be subject to regular monitoring and evaluation, the NLDAG needs to be kept abreast of the various technical interventions and strategies — especially whether they are effective in achieving program goals and objectives.

Through whatever means that are available at its disposal, the NLDAG will recommend options and alternatives to address deficiencies, as well as recommend amendments at an early stage, instead of at a point where changes may be too late or ineffective.

The NLDAG will have the right, the resources, and the privilege to seek advice and expertise whenever required.

The NLDAG’s goal

The NLDAG’s goal is to provide an independent oversight to the NLDP through quality professional advice on land reform, which is based on principles of best practices and acceptable standards. The NLDAG will provide advice, which is based on practical evidence and empirical research, to the Ministerial Committee and the Program Management Committee, primarily to instil confidence and integrity on procedures and processes deployed under the NLDP.

The sensitivities surrounding land issues in Papua New Guinea and the contrasting need to access much underutilised land for development purposes are imposing, to the extent that we need to focus on our goal with determination to succeed. This is the environment upon which the NLDAG will thrive, in order to realise its value and fulfil its goal.

The NLDAG’s objectives

The NLDAG’s objectives are numerous, including:

• providing advice on policy options and directions that are aimed at strengthening the NLDP;

• ensuring that adequate canvassing of customary, sectoral, and professional advice on land development options is available in order to enhance the implementation of the NLDP;

• ensuring that the NLDT’s recommendations are implemented by relevant agencies, in accordance with governance principles and integrity;

• addressing the weaknesses and opportunities that have been identified, and offering advice on options to strengthen implementation and improve the overall quality and integrity of the NLDP, through representations by impartial parties, including those from academia and industry professionals; and

• building public confidence and strengthening the integrity of the land reform program, as a user-friendly system that enhances a win-win situation, through transparency, good governance, and absence of corruption.

Scope of duties and responsibilities

The NLDAG will have access to the resources and expertise that are available through its membership, with the objective mission to advise and keep informed, the Government and major stakeholders under the NLDP, as to the most acceptable and best practices for application. The NLDAG will consult widely and utilise additional resources by engaging consultancies under specific terms of references, as necessary, to fulfill its goal and objectives. Under the Chairmanship of the Director of the National Research Institute, the NLDAG will have access to the research and consultancy services of the National Research Institute to enhance the quality of land policy advice to the NLDP.

It will develop closer working relationships with development partners and implementing agencies with a view to strengthen the NLDP through its monitoring and evaluation processes, annual reports and assessments, and proactive approaches to generate new ideas and capacity for new directions.

The NLDAG will convene regular, annual meetings and workshops, working through its Secretariat and appropriate research and institutional support available through the National Research Institute. In summary, transparency of the NLDP activities of, and accountability to, the community will remain paramount during these reforms. This is critical for success, but also the responsible path to take, especially in an important and sensitive area such as land reform.

Esekia Warvi is executive officer of the National Land Development Advisory Group at the National Research Institute.

This article was published with permission from National Research Institute of Papua New Guinea. NRI website can be accessed at www.nri.org.pg

What do you think about this article? Add you comments and views below:

Comments

Add New Search

Write comment
Name:
Email:	do not notifynotify
Title:
	Please input the anti-spam code that you can read in the image.

Powered by !JoomlaComment 3.26

3.26 Copyright (C) 2008 Compojoom.com / Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."