LocationsFiscal Oversight for Sustainable Development in the South Pacific: UNDP Conference Drives Progress Towards SDGs
April 29, 2024
Group photo of representatives from Supreme Audit Institutions (often known as Auditor General's Offices), Public Accounts Committees, Ministries of Finance, Civil Society Organizations, and media professionals, totaling nearly seventy participants.with key spe
Suva, Fiji - The UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji, in collaboration with the International Monetary Fund Pacific Financial Technical Assistance Center, recently organized the South Pacific Fiscal Oversight for Sustainable Development Conference with the aim to catalyze collaborative efforts across the region to ensure that Public Finance Management (PFM) practices actively contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The conference is one of the flagship activities of the Vaka Pasifika Project, aimed at strengthening the Public Finance Management, the Oversight and Accountability in the Pacific Region, and funded by the European Union with 6 million Euros.
The three-day event convened representatives from Supreme Audit Institutions (often known as Auditor General's Offices), Public Accounts Committees, Ministries of Finance, Civil Society Organizations, and media professionals, totaling nearly seventy participants.
UNDP Resident Representative for the Pacific Office, Munkhtuya Altangerel.
In her opening remarks, Munkhtuya Altangerel, UNDP Resident Representative for the Pacific Office, highlighted the transformative role of Audit Offices and Parliamentary Committees in reshaping PFM practices.
She emphasized the region's struggles in recovering from recent disasters and global events while also acknowledging developmental successes such as advancements in education and reductions in under-5 mortality rates.
Encouraging participants to leverage these achievements to propel progress across the Blue Pacific, Ms Altangerel said, “Governments across the Pacific are increasingly aligning public finance and budgeting processes with national development goals and sustainable development objectives. Noteworthy initiatives supported by UNDP in the Pacific include the launch of the Sovereign Blue Bond in Fiji, Integrated National Financing Frameworks in Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Marshall Islands, and the integration of gender and climate markers in budgets in Timor Leste, Tonga, and Fiji. These endeavors prompt critical reflections on investment allocation, financial mobilization, and the pivotal role of public finance in realizing development targets.”
Acting Auditor General of Fiji, Sairusi Dukono.
Sairusi Dukono, Acting Auditor General of Fiji, acknowledged the invaluable support received from UNDP and the European Union.
Mr Dukono emphasized the project's role in fostering collaboration among regional Supreme Audit Institutions and enhancing fiscal transparency and citizen engagement through initiatives such as the Fiji Citizens Audit Guide, scheduled for launch in 2024.
European Union (EU) Representative for the Pacific, Carmen Lloveres.
Carmen Lloveres, European Union (EU) Representative for the Pacific, reiterated the EU's commitment to supporting good governance in the Pacific. Emphasizing the importance of stakeholder collaboration in addressing key development agendas, (including gender equality, climate action, health, and education), Ms Lloveres underscored the democratic mandate of oversight institutions such as parliament and auditors in ensuring accountability and highlighted the interconnectedness between global challenges, public finance structures, and service delivery.
Throughout the conference, emphasis remained on the pivotal role of public finance management in achieving the SDGs stressing the need for collaborative efforts among stakeholders to ensure transparent and accountable PFM practices. Strategic budget initiatives and effective fiscal oversight mechanisms, including robust debt management, are essential for safeguarding the economic stability and resilience of Pacific nations. Collaborative engagements with oversight institutions such as Supreme Audit Institutions and Parliament are paramount for enhancing accountability and transparency in public fund utilization.
During the three days, participants engaged in knowledge sharing, capacity building, and networking activities aimed at formulating actionable policy recommendations and action plans to drive positive change in the South Pacific region.
The conference took place in Coral Coast, Sigatoka from Wednesday April 17 to Friday April 19.
For further media enquiries please contact:
Marine Destrez, Vaka Pasifika Project Manager, UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji. (E) marine.destrez@undp.org
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