LocationsTwinning Parliaments: A Powerful Model for Regional Solidarity and Skills Sharing
July 21, 2025
Victoria Parliament, Fiji, Nauru and Tuvalu Speakers with their Clerks at their twinning parliament meeting.
Yaren, Nauru - Parliamentary development is driven by strong partnerships, continuous skills-building, and the open exchange of experiences. Across the Pacific, twinning arrangements between parliaments have become a cornerstone for strengthening legislative institutions fostering peer-to-peer learning, sharing practical knowledge, and providing targeted technical support.
The 54th Presiding Officers and Clerks Conference (POCC), hosted by the Parliament of Nauru from 8–10 July 2025, shone a spotlight on the powerful role of twinning partnerships in driving regional cooperation, capacity-building, and innovation. Bringing together 45 delegates from 17 Pacific Parliaments, the POCC offered a vital platform for exchanging ideas on parliamentary autonomy, independence, and effectiveness.
Nauru’s success in hosting this year’s POCC was a testament to the strength of its twinning partnership with the Parliament of Victoria. Victoria provided hands-on support to Nauru Parliament staff and the Foreign Affairs Protocol team, offering training on event coordination, logistics, and planning, which ensured the smooth delivery of a high-profile regional event.
In addition, the Fiji Parliament played a vital role in strengthening Nauru’s ICT readiness. Ahead of the POCC, Fiji’s ICT specialists traveled to Nauru to assess the Parliament Chamber, recommend audiovisual upgrades, and loan key technical equipment. Their ICT officers also remained on the ground to support Nauru’s team throughout the conference, ensuring a high-quality delegate experience over the three-day gathering.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pacific Office, through the Nauru Accountable and Inclusive Governance (NAIG) Project funded by the Governments of Australia and New Zealand, has been central to facilitating and sustaining parliamentary twinning in the Pacific. UNDP’s support includes coordinating partnerships, providing technical expertise, and ensuring that collaborations deliver tangible results for parliamentary strengthening. For this POCC, UNDP worked closely with Nauru, Victoria, and Fiji Parliaments to coordinate training, technical advice, and logistical support underscoring its commitment to resilient, inclusive governance across the region.
The four Speakers from Victoria, Nauru, Tuvalu and Fiji.
Twinning partnership meetings were also held during the POCC, allowing parliaments to review progress, share lessons, and chart future collaboration.
In a statement, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative for the North Pacific Kevin Petrini underscored the importance of such partnerships:
“Parliamentary twinning is an investment in solidarity, shared learning, and regional strength. The POCC showcased what’s possible when Pacific parliaments work together, combining local knowledge and regional expertise to deliver real outcomes. UNDP is proud to stand alongside our parliamentary partners, ensuring these connections grow and deliver meaningful impact across the Pacific.”
Reflecting on the conference, Nauru Parliament Clerk Ms. Ann-Marie Cain shared:
“Our partnership with Victoria and the support from Fiji has been invaluable. This conference was not only a success for Nauru, but a demonstration of what we can achieve together as a region when we share resources, knowledge, and goodwill.”
As Pacific parliaments continue to navigate shared challenges, twinning arrangements offer a proven, practical model for building capacity, fostering cooperation, and advancing democratic governance in the region. As Pacific parliaments continue to navigate shared challenges, twinning arrangements offer a proven, practical model for building capacity, fostering cooperation, and advancing democratic governance in the region.
For more information please contact:
Nicholas Turner | Strategic Communications and Advocacy Specialist | nicholas.turner@undp.org
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