About DDA Watch
The DDA Watch website is an impartial and non-partisan information resource for the general public, officials and academics.
The website provides access to information on Papua New Guinea’s District Infrastructure Support Program (DISP) and the work of all ninety-three individual District Development Authorities (DDAs).
The website is completely politically neutral and is not associated with any political party, any elected official or any intending candidate.
All DDAs are represented and the information about them is presented without any bias, favour or discrimination.
The DDA Watch website is an initiative of the community advocacy organisation ACT NOW!.
The website is designed to encourage public participation in the democratic process and social auditing and is funded through community donations.
PLEASE SUPPORT THE DDA WATCH WEBSITE BY DONATING HERE
The DDA Watch Rating System
The DDA Watch website includes a rating score for each District Development Authority (DDA) and a ranking table.
The rating score assesses the performance of each DDA against a number of fixed criteria as listed below and also incorporates a public satisfaction element.
The rating score and ranking does NOT provide a comprehensive assessment of the performance and effectiveness of a DDA or the quality of the services in a particular District. The score and ranking is merely an indicator of how a DDA rates against a set list of transparency and good governance indicators.
The maximum rating score for each DDA is 100 points.
Up to 70 points are awarded based on the public availability of key documents from the DDA and contact information:
- Current five year development plan - 10 points
- Current annual budget - 10 points
- Acquittal report (previous year) - 10 points
- DIRD Inspection report (max 2 years old) - 10 points
- Audit report (max 3 years old) - 10 points
- Functioning email address - 10 points
- Postal address - 5 points
- Contact phone number - 5 points
All DDAs are encouraged to submit their plans, budgets, acquittals, inspection reports and audits and to provide their contact details for inclusion on the website - contact form.
Public satisfaction score
Up to 30 points are awarded to each DDA according to their average public satisfaction score.
Any member of the public can submit their satisfaction score for a DDA via this website, but they must first register by providing a name and mobile telephone number.
The users name and phone details will be held on a secure server and will not be released to any other person or used for any other purpose than in relation to the DDA Watch website.
Satisfaction scores submitted by members of the public are recorded as 30 (very good), 20 (good), 15 (okay), 10 (bad) or 0 (very bad).
One person cannot submit a rating for more than one DDA and can only have one vote recorded.
The satisfaction score used in the displayed DDA rating is the average of all the scores submitted by the public (total score divided by number of submissions).
Where no public satisfaction scores have been submitted for a particular DDA, the DDA is awarded 15 as its starting score.
The displayed rating score for each DDA is updated automatically and in real time as more documents are added to the DDA profile page and as more satisfaction scores are submitted by members of the public.
The ranking list displayed on the Home Page is also updated automatically and in real time as the rating scores are updated.
The DDA / DSIP System
District Development Authorities (DDAs) were established in 2014 to improve local service infrastructure and delivery.1
DDAs are responsible for the spending of District Service Improvement Program (DSIP) funds.2
[Diagram – PSIP / DSIP / LLSIP – funding]
For 2023, each DDA has been allocated K20 million in DSIP funding under the National Budget.
DSIP funds are distributed to the DDAs by the Department of Finance.3
The DSIP funds are to be used by the DDA as follows4:
- Infrastructure support services (30% / K6 million)
- Health support services (20% / K4 million)
- Education support services (20% / K4 million)
- Law and Justice services (10% / K2 million)
- Economic support services (10% / K2 million)
- Administration (10% / K2 million)
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Each DDA is governed by a Board comprising all the local-level government presidents in the District. The Board is chaired by the local Member of Parliament (MP).
The day to day operations of a DDA are managed by a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) who is also the District Administrator.
Each District is required to have a 5-year development plan to guide their activities and spending.5
Reporting, auditing and monitoring
“The decentralised nature of SIP funding arrangements means there is a requirement for sound corporate governance and accountability arrangements.” Auditor General, 2019
Each DDA is required to submit an annual report on the implementation of its previous years program and acquittal of its previous year’s spending.6
Reports are to be submitted to the Department of Implementation and Rural Development (DIRD) before 31 March each year.
Each DDA Board is also required to submit an annual report to the Minister for Rural Development. A copy of the report is to be made publicly available.7
The Finance Department is responsible for managing and disbursing DSIP funds and the DIRD is in charge of coordination, monitoring and reporting on DSIP performance and acquittals.
The DIRD is required to review, monitor and report on the DDA acquittals and conduct project inspections to verify the expenditure.8
The DIRD has a Monitoring Unit, with regional offices, to conduct physical inspections and verification of projects funded through the DSIP.
Monitoring and Inspection reports produced by DIRD field officers should be consolidated into quarterly and annual management reports submitted to the Central Agencies Coordinating Committee and other government agencies.9
Each DDA, as a statutory body is required to submit annual financial statements for audit.10
The Auditor General also has a responsibility to audit the financial records of each DDA.11
Notes
1 The DDAs replaced the Joint District Planning and Budget Priorities Committees. District Development Authority Act [2014]
2 The Service Improvement Program was established under Section 95 Organic Law on Provincial and Local Level Government [1995] as amended.
3 The management and use of public funds is governed by Public Finance Management Act [1995] as amended.
4 A 2019 Auditor General’s report 2019 says at 2.8 these allocation rules no longer apply and each DDA is free to decide itself how to use the funds but other documents still refer to the allocations.
5 Section 33A (3) (d) Organic Law on Provincial and Local Level Government and Section 5(h) District Development Authority Act [2014]
6 Section 4.3 of the SIP Administrative Guidelines states the disbursement of SIP is strictly upon receipt of the previous year’s implementation physical and financial reports (acquittals) and availability of funds
7 Section 34 District Development Authority Act [2014]
8 AGO Report 2019 at 3.10 ‘The Department of Implementation and Rural Development (DIRD) is the lead agency in charge of coordinating, monitoring and reporting rural development progress. It is responsible for the acquittal of DSIP, PSIP and LLGSIP funding and maintaining records relating to SIP for each fiscal year.’
9 AGO Report 2019 at 4.6
10 Section 63(1) and (3) of the Public Finances (Management) Act, 1995 (as amended).
11 Under Section 214(2) of the Constitution the Auditor General is required to inspect and audit all bodies set up by Acts of the Parliament for governmental or official purposes unless other provisions are made by law in respect of their inspection and audit. Under the Audit Act Section 8(2), the AGO is required to inspect and audit the accounts and records of financial transactions and the records relating to the assets and liabilities of public bodies and their subsidiaries, and to report to the Minister with responsibility for the public body and the Finance Minister any irregularities found during the inspection and audit.