PAPUA NEW GUINEA

This book is intended to contribute to the policy debate on the decentralization and integration described as Sunshine Model in Papua New Guinea. This system seeks to integrate best practice on decentralization reforms from post-independence era to existing arrangements within three levels of government. The author submits that the book will inform deliberations and decisions about policies and programmes on decentralization by developing and broadening shared understanding of this concept. The setup of decentralization and integration reforms can be attributed to a cross-breed of delegation, deconcentration, devolution and privatization approach which also pursues the modernization of government structures and systems for improved service delivery. The focal point for service delivery is the district level and local development initiatives are driven by 'Districts as service and growth centres'. For this reason, to contextualize this discussion in this book, it is important to understand that the sunshine model has drawn some attributes from a territorial concept and approach to local development, which is based on the principles of synergy and partnership between stakeholders.