Senior debt management officers from five countries convened to explore practical approaches to strengthening oversight and public access to fiscal information. 

The workshop underscored the growing collaboration between UNDP and the IMF in strengthening debt transparency and accountability across Pacific Island economies. This joint work is directly aligned with the European Union Global Gateway strategy, reinforcing its priorities on improved access to finance and investment in support of shared development objectives.  

Drawing on its regional public finance portfolio, UNDP led a dedicated session on practical approaches to debt disclosure, oversight, and citizen-facing transparency. The session showcased tools and results from the European Union–funded Vaka Pasifika Project, reinforcing UNDP’s role as a trusted partner in advancing accountable and sustainable debt management in the Pacific. 

The session focused on the purpose of public debt, the legal frameworks governing it, and the responsibility of governments to uphold accountable debt practices. Drawing on extensive engagement in public debates, parliamentary briefings, and capacity‑building with Supreme Audit Institutions and civil society organisations, it was reiterated that public debt remains subject to public oversight.  

Participants discussed how different groups in society might assess the usefulness and necessity of debt instruments, and took time to reflect on the most strategic way debt information can be made available to elected representatives, decision makers and citizens.  

Marine Destrez, UNDP Project Manager with Vaka Pasifika, said:  

“The data is clear: many developing countries, including in the Pacific, are seeing debt grow faster than development. Climate change makes this worse; it raises the cost of borrowing money, while also increasing the need to invest in protecting our islands and communities. Our finance systems need to face this honestly and avoid creating tough choices that place the heaviest burden on people who are already vulnerable.” 

The session included a demonstration of the Vaka Pasifika e‑budget portal dashboard, hosted on the Pacific Islands Association of Non-Government Organisations website, which presents publicly available national budget data. Although this information is publicly available, it is often difficult to find, underscoring the need for easier access to fiscal documents.  

Participants also expressed strong interest in the work carried out by civil society organisations in their respective countries, including the creation and dissemination of citizen budget guides, which help simplify national budget information and ensure it is accessible to all citizens. 

For more information contact: 

Nick Turner | Communications, Advocacy and Partnerships Specialist, UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji | nicholas.turner@undp.org