Chief Secretary convenes high-level meeting to align 2026 government delivery

Acting Prime Miniter, John Rosso presenting his speech on Monday at the week-long Head of Department and Agencies Meeting in Port Moresby (Image: Supplied)

Chief Secretary to Government Ivan Pomaleu opened a week-long meeting of Department Heads and Agencies on Monday, focusing on accountability and the effective delivery of government programs for 2026.

Acting Prime Minister John Rosso delivered the keynote address, setting the tone for the high-level discussions. Rosso said there is a need for total departmental alignment to ensure national priorities are met throughout the year.

The opening day focused on setting the scene, featuring presentations from central agencies, including the Department of Treasury and the National Monitoring & Coordination Agency. Koney Samuel, Secretary for National Planning and Monitoring [DNPM], provided a critical progress report on the Medium-Term Development Plan IV [MTDP IV].

Samuel’s presentation detailed expenditure trends from 2019–2025 and highlighted key development indicators. He outlined DNPM’s 2026 priorities, specifically the Development Cooperation Policy and the national budgeting framework.

The session concluded with interactive segments where agency heads addressed service delivery bottlenecks and coordination strategies. The meeting will continue throughout the week, shifting focus toward sector-specific goals to strengthen service delivery across Papua New Guinea.