28 April – 8 May 2026
In support of Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) Medium Term Development Plan (MTDP) V 2027–2032 preparation process, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), in collaboration with PNG’s Department of National Planning and Monitoring (DNPM), conducted a series of capacity strengthening trainings between 28 April and 8 May 2026 aimed at strengthening government capability in economic data analysis and Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) modelling.
The trainings form part of IFPRI-PNG’s broader commitment to strengthening evidence-based planning and policy analysis in PNG by building technical and analytical capacity across key government agencies and sector institutions. Through practical and hands-on sessions, participants were introduced to data management, economic analysis, Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) development, and CGE modelling techniques used to support economic planning and policy assessment.
Pilot Training: 28–30 April 2026
The three-day pilot training focused on data collation, cleaning, validation, analysis, and interpretation to strengthen evidence-based planning and economic analysis within the agriculture sector. A total of nineteen participants attended the workshop, representing DNPM and key agricultural institutions, including the Department of Agriculture and Livestock (DAL), the Cocoa Board of PNG (CBPNG), the Kokonas Indastri Koporesen (KIK), the Rubber Industry Development Board (RIDB), and the Coffee Industry Corporation (CIC).
The opening and closing sessions were attended by Michael Kumung, Deputy Secretary responsible for Policy and Planning at DNPM, and Sanja Papae, First Assistant Secretary (FAS) overseeing the Macro Planning Division at DNPM.
In welcoming participants, Andam Kwaw, IFPRI-PNG Country Program Leader, acknowledged the critical role of quality data in supporting accurate policy analysis and informed decision-making in PNG. Dr. Kwaw emphasised that the pilot training was designed to be highly practical and focused on the tools, datasets, and analytical approaches currently being used by DNPM and IFPRI-PNG. He noted that the training would contribute towards improving the availability, quality, and reliability of data used for economic analysis and CGE modelling.
Deputy Secretary Kumung underscored the importance of credible and reliable economic data for national planning and policy analysis. He highlighted that quality data is essential for assessing how government investments and policy interventions translate into economic growth, development outcomes, and improvements in key macroeconomic indicators. He further encouraged government officers across sectors to take greater ownership of data collection, validation, and management processes to support effective planning and evidence-based decision-making.
FAS Sanja Papae highlighted the importance of the pilot training as a foundation for future CGE modelling and analytical training programs to be conducted by IFPRI and DNPM throughout the year. He emphasised the link between sector-level planning initiatives and broader national development frameworks, including MTDP IV, the Development Strategic Plan (DSP) 2010–2030, and Vision 2050.
During the training, participants were introduced to key national and international data sources, including PNG Gross Domestic Product data, the World Integrated Trade Solution (WITS), and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and FAOSTAT databases. Participants were guided on how to access, search, and extract data from credible sources for economic and policy analysis.
Participants also received practical training in Microsoft Excel on organising, collating, and analysing economic data. Sessions covered the calculation and interpretation of nominal and real growth rates, annual growth rates, and their application in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) analysis and economic planning.
As part of the practical exercises and group presentations, participants selected agricultural subsectors and calculated the growth rates required to achieve targets outlined in the Medium Term Development Plan IV (MTDP IV). Through these exercises, participants identified data discrepancies across sectors and assessed the feasibility of growth targets outlined in MTDP IV. Discussions also focused on how sector agencies could contribute policy recommendations to address data gaps, strengthen sector planning, and support preparations for MTDP V.
Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) Modelling Training: 4–8 May 2026
Building on the pilot training, IFPRI and DNPM subsequently conducted a week-long Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) Modelling Training from 4–8 May 2026.
The training brought together returning participants from the pilot session alongside new participants from key government agencies. A total of eighteen participants successfully completed the training and received certification. Participants represented DNPM, DAL, KIK, CBPNG, the Department of Prime Minister and National Executive Council, the National Statistical Office (NSO), the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT), and the Department of Commerce and Industry (DCI).
While opening the training, FAS Sanja Papae emphasised the important role the training would play in supporting the PNG Government’s preparation of MTDP V 2027–2032 and strengthening evidence-based policy analysis within government institutions.
The training, facilitated by Barun Deb Pal from IFPRI, introduced participants to the fundamentals of the Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) framework and Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) modelling. Participants received an overview of the SAM framework and its relationship to the circular flow of the economy. As part of the practical exercises, participants developed a Macro SAM using official PNG government data sources, including the National Budget and National Statistical Office databases.
Participants were also introduced to economic multipliers, coefficient matrices, and multiplier scenarios. Hands-on exercises were conducted to simulate the direct, indirect, and economy-wide effects of economic shocks across sectors.
On the fourth day, participants received introductory training in the GAMS software and conducted CGE simulations through group exercises. Participants worked collaboratively to analyse policy scenarios, run simulations, and present findings at the conclusion of the training program. The exercises provided participants with practical analytical and technical skills to support evidence-based planning and economic policy analysis through CGE modelling.
As part of the group exercises and presentations, participants analysed a range of economic and policy scenarios, including:
- A 20 percent reduction in crop productivity;
- A 30 percent increase in world oil, petroleum, and fertiliser prices;
- A 20 percent decline in total factor productivity (TFP) in the electricity sector;
- Doubling government transfers to poor households; and
- Increased capital investment in trade and transport infrastructure under the Connect PNG initiative.
In closing the training, Deputy Secretary Michael Kumung reaffirmed DNPM’s commitment to strengthening its CGE modelling capability with continued support from IFPRI. He emphasised the importance of evidence-based and informed decision-making to ensure that government policies and investment decisions are effectively assessed through economic modelling.
Deputy Secretary Kumung also encouraged junior officers from participating agencies to continue building their technical and analytical capabilities and to actively participate in future CGE modelling and economic analysis training programs offered through the IFPRI-DNPM partnership.
Key Outcomes
The trainings contributed towards strengthening technical capacity in economic data management, growth analysis, SAM development, and CGE modelling across participating government agencies and sector institutions. Participants gained practical experience in economic data analysis, policy simulation, and evidence-based planning approaches relevant to PNG’s national development priorities.
The workshops also strengthened collaboration among government agencies and sector institutions involved in planning, agriculture, statistics, and economic policy analysis, while establishing a stronger foundation for continued CGE modelling and analytical capacity development within DNPM and partner agencies.
Picture by IFPRI-PNG: Pilot Training
Picture by IFPRI-PNG: Pilot Training
Picture by IFPRI-PNG: CGE Modeling Training
Picture by IFPRI-PNG: CGE Modeling Training
