Developments with Pacific legislatures

1. Developments with Pacific legislatures Pacific Governance Network Suva, Fiji 1-2 December 2008 Pacific Centre

2. UNDP in the Pacific • UNDP Pacific Centre • Technical advice for country programmes • Regional initiatives • UNDP Country Offices • Fiji Multi-Country Office: Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Palau, Vanuatu, Tuvalu, Tonga, Kiribati, Nauru • Solomon Islands Sub-Office • Samoa MCO: Samoa, Cook Islands, Tokelau and Niue • Papua New Guinea CO UNDP Pacific Centre

3. Legislatures, GG & human development • Historically, donors have engaged with Exec branch • Exec responsible for developing budget, negotiating internationally, implementing policy domestically, etc • Esp in Westminster countries, sometimes blurred the line between Exec and Legislature • Compare experience in US-Pres system - Palau and FSM • BUT increasingly development partners recognise vital role played by legislatures in national development framework UNDP Pacific Centre

4. Good Gov & Sust Human Development • Most Pacific Island countries’ National Development Strategies/Plans reference GG & SHD • Recognition that national development founded on Good Governance • Participation- All men and women should have a voice in decision-making • Accountability- Decision-makers are accountable to the public and institutional stakeholders • Transparency–Open govt built on the free flow of information • Responsiveness- Institutions and processes serve all stakeholders • Equity- All men and women have opportunities to improve their well-being • Effectiveness and efficiency- Processes and institutions produce results that meet needs while making the best use of resources • Rule of law- Legal frameworks are fair and enforced impartially UNDP Pacific Centre

5. Good Gov & Sust Human Development • Pacific National Development Plans – guided by the Millennium Development Goals • Equitable social and protection services • Equitable economic growth and poverty reduction • Crisis prevention and recovery • Sustainable environmental management • MDGs endorsed by all Pacific Governments UNDP Pacific Centre

6. Legislatures, GG & human development • Strong and independent legislatures can: • Enact pro-poor laws and regulations • Promote Exec accountability • Promote public participation • Promote implementation of international standards • Promote and protect human rights • Promote gender mainstreaming • Help mitigate conflict and local tensions UNDP Pacific Centre

7. Legislatures, GG & human development • Key role through: • Law making • Promote pro-poor budgets and expenditure • Ensure all laws are human rights compliant, gender sensitive and pro-poor • Oversight of the executive • Promote development priorities and govt accountability • Mainstream development issues in all committees • Set up specific sectoral committees • Representation – giving the public a voice • Maximise public participation in law-making and oversight processes • Can provide a forum to air/discuss/debate grievances • Promote a sense of empowerment in individuals UNDP Pacific Centre

8. Developments in the region UNDP Activities with Legislatures • Parl projects in Solomon Islands, Marshall Islands • PNG and Fiji Projects previously • Designing more projects in Kiribati, Tuvalu, Tonga, FSM and Palau • Usually start with Induction Programme for MPs • Currently undertaking Legislative Needs Assessments – will then design projects • Parliamentary project components • Strengthen parliamentary secretariat • Support capacity development of MPs • Support civic education, including gendered approaches UNDP Pacific Centre

9. Developments in the region Human rights • RRRT-SPC running regional human rights training for Pacific MPs HIV/AIDS • PNG & Bougainville: Parliamentary Committees • New PPAPD Champions on HIV/AIDS (and Youth) Aid oversight (+ conflict management) • Solomon Islands Foreign Affairs Parl Committee currently reviewing RAMSI Facilitation Act • Public hearings – open forum to air issues • Pacific: could consider promoting Pacific Plan oversight through use of parliamentary committees UNDP Pacific Centre

10. Developments in the region Gender equality • New PIFS/UNDP Pacific Centre “CEDAW: Pocket Guide for MPs” • UNIFEM has new Gender Equality in Political Governance Programme • Including promotion of more women in parliaments • PIFS/UNDP Pacific Centre working on “Guide to Your Options: Using Temporary Special Measures to Promote Gender Balance in Pacific legislatures” UNDP Pacific Centre

11. Developments in the region Benchmarking for democratic legislatures • Idea of developing benchmarks to assess “state of legislature” • Not comparative – not comparing across legislatures but across time • Not static - supposed to be able to track progress • Can be used as basis for developing indicators for parl support activities • Work to date – CPA, IPU, NDI UNDP Pacific Centre

12. Developments in the region • Pacific Parliamentary Assembly on Population and Development (PPAPD) / Forum Presiding Officers and Clerks (FPOC) • New regional Secretariat – will support national legislatures + undertake work regionally • Opportunity to promote better coordination + develop “regional parliamentary hub” • Explore regional parliamentary support services UNDP Pacific Centre

13. Ms Charmaine RodriguesUNDP Regional Legislative Strengthening AdvisorPacific Centre, SuvaPh: +679 330 0399 x204Email: charmaine.rodrigues@undp.org Pacific Centre