A proposal to establish the Consultative Implementation and Monitoring Council (CIMC) as a standalone organization was among four documents presented to Prime Minister James Marape at the closing ceremony of the RESET@50 weeklong forum closing ceremony yestreday.

Institute of National Affairs (INA) Executive Director Paul Barker presented the proposal, which outlines a possible transition for CIMC after almost three decades of operating under INA.

Barker said CIMC was established in 1998 following a national economic summit during the government of former Prime Minister Bill Skate.

He said CIMC was initially established under the auspices of the INA and operated as a program of the organization while maintaining its own council.

Barker said discussions with civil society over several years had led to the proposal for CIMC to become an independent entity.

“What came out of the CSO discussions and some dialogue over the course of time, over a number of years, was that at some stage, CIMC should probably be established as a sort of standalone organization, operating no longer as part of INA, but as a CSO.”

Under the proposal, CIMC could be registered as a separate civil society organization under the Associations Act, with the possibility of additional legislation formally recognizing its role.

Barker said the proposed structure would give CIMC greater autonomy while maintaining participation from government, civil society and the private sector.

“It's a three-way entity, so it needs the ongoing commitment from civil society, private sector and government. So they need to trust it enough so that they feel happy to engage with it, and that they're going to get positive, useful outcomes as a result.”

He said government participation would remain important to ensure dialogue between the three sectors.

“You need government to make a commitment and to be there in the room to respond to civil society, but also to highlight policies.”

Barker said the transition would require further decisions on CIMC’s legal structure, funding and administration.

He said the INA would continue to be involved as a civil society organization and think tank, while the exact relationship between the two organizations would be determined during the transition.