The National Economic and Fiscal Commission is now in the process of having dialogue with the key line agencies listed under the Bougainville SHARPE Agreement to determine the progressive status on the draw down of powers and functions from Government of PNG to the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.
The dialogue is the Function Assignment Determination (FAD) which is part of the Cost Of Services Study for Bougainville Government being undertaken by the National Economic and Fiscal Commission.
National Economic & Fiscal Commission already had dialogue with six (6) out of the total 21 key line agencies listed under the Bougainville SHARPE Agreement.
The Function Assignment Determination being undertaken by NEFC with the key line agencies under the Bougainville SHARPE Agreement is to determine the drawdown of powers and functions- what powers and function have been transferred and what is yet to be transferred in the next 3-5 years to Bougainville.
According to NEFC the Bougainville SHARPE Agreement is something the GoPNG is keen on to transferring powers and functions from the key line agencies to AROB.
As part of the Bougainville SHARPE Agreement, the National Economic & Fiscal Commission is having dialogue with all the 21 key line agencies to make assessment on where they are in the drawdown of powers and functions within their organizations to Bougainville.
According to NEFC, the dialogue will also determine what powers and functions, what assets (buildings, vehicles, machineries, other physical assets etc) also what assets are owned by the agencies but will be transferred in the next 3-5 years to Bougainville.
The dialogue also seeks to make comparisons between the current expenditure by key line agencies in running their activities in Bougainville and the actual costing to be determined by NEFC.
According to NEFC the dialogue between the agencies also sets out clear demarcation of responsibilities as to agencies to focus on costing out the establishment of new facilities while NEFC to focus on operational costs.
All in line with the Costing Study for service delivery in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.
According to NEFC this study is very important for both the Governments of PNG and ABG.
Currently both governments do not know the actual cost of service delivery for the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.
The findings from this study will inform both governments, especially the PNG government on how much funding should be allocated to service delivery in AROB.
According to NEFC, given Bougainville having special arrangements under autonomy with GoPNG this Cost of Services study will set precedence for any future studies to be undertaken on any provinces if granted autonomy.