Research Communication

The mission of the PNGNRI is to provide evidence-based information for informed decision-making in order to contribute to improved service delivery to enhance the welfare of Papua New Guineans.This is achieved through the “three I mantra”: Inquire, Inform, Influence.

Inquiry (or research and analysis) is done by our Research Team based on sound theoretical grounding and relevant methodology in the different fields of research.

Inform and Influence represent the research communication process. Informing involves the communication of our various research material (reports, issues papers, spotlight articles, blogs, and commentaries) to targeted audiences. Avenues for informing include: seminars, media releases, social media platforms (twitter, facebook, website), book launches, TV interviews (Talkback Shows), newspaper commentaries, and distribution of hard copies. This functions performed by our Communications Team in conjunction with our Research Team and Support Services Team (i.e. Corporate and Knowledge Management Teams).

Influencing is an extension of informing. That is, in addition to communicating research information, the Institute endeavours to influence decision-making whereby the research information communicated is used for decision making by the recipients of information. The key desired outcome for informed decision making is that such decisions lead to improvement in the welfare of Papua New Guineans, whatever sphere of life it may be. Influencing is achieved by either: passively through the dissemination of information or actively by active involvement of our staff with targeted audiences, the decision makers. Influence is achieved when decisions are made using information provided by the Institute.

Governance Research Program

Overview

The basic proposition of this Program is that effective governance, through predictable institutions, is a requisite for effective service delivery and sustainable economic development. Discussions about service delivery in PNG are often intertwined with discussions about degrees of autonomy, and about the devolution of powers and functions to the different levels of government. The recent establishment of city authorities and District Development Authorities, and the debates surrounding both, provide ample evidence of these discussions from which will emerge a number of key research questions.

It is envisaged that the Governance Program will monitor service delivery and reflect on arrangements for distribution of powers and functions through the lens of economic development. The Program will enjoy close links with other NRI research programs, including Economic Policy, Property Sector Development, Informal Economy, Building Safer Communities, and Gender. It will also link with the Office of Political Parties and Candidates, the Constitutional Law Reform Commission, the National Economic and Fiscal Commission, and the government of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.

PNG APEC Study Centre

Welcome to The Papua New Guinea APEC Study Centre (PNG ASC) web page.

The PNG ASC was officially opened on the 9th of October 2018 as part of PNG’s commitment to hosting the APEC 2018.

The PNG ASC’s goal is to support world class research and advocate for policy which strengthens access to social and economic opportunities for all across PNG and the APEC region.

The PNG ASC will aim to challenge established norms and promote evidence-based decision-making across public-policy in PNG and the APEC region.

The PNG ASC was established in February 2017 through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the PNG Government’s National Economic Council (NEC) and the PNG NRI.

The PNG ASC is located at PNG National Research Institute campus in Port Moresby.

The PNG ASC is part of a growing consortium of APEC study centres providing research and policy support to APEC.

Universal Basic Education Research Program

Overview

The goal of providing universal access to quality basic education has been on the national agenda since independence and is captured in significant national policy and planning frameworks such as the PNG Vision 2050, the PNG Development Strategic Plan (DSP), 2010-20130, and the Medium-Term Development Plan, 2010-2015. Many reforms have been implemented and substantial resources invested in attempts to ensure that basic education is within reach of all school age children. Although there has been significant improvement in indicators concerned with access to education, those concerned with retention, quality of education and equity have not improved. As a result, PNG failed to achieve the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of universal primary education by the target date of 2015. The program will link with the Governance and Gender research programs and will closely collaborate with the National Department of Education.

Analysis of basic education has focused mainly on the issues underpinning its delivery and on understanding the performances of provinces and districts on an annual basis. This analysis often does not capture the cumulative, aggregate Universal Basic Education (UBE) performances of provinces and districts over a certain period of time. Thus, national, provincial, and district UBE delivery trajectories are often not analysed. Their progressive performances and the pathways they follow in providing universal access to basic education are often not analysed and understood. Understanding the provision of basic education over a time period can illuminate the performance of provinces and districts, and show their UBE trajectories. The national, provincial, and district UBE performance baseline data was presented and analysed in the 2007 district and provincial profiles completed in 2015 while the 2009, 2011 and 2013 have just been completed and now undergoing peer reviewing in conjunction with a nation-wide review on the Quality of Universal Basic Education in Papua New Guinea which is the major project for 2018.