LocationsFiji Policy Dialogue Calls for Stronger Links Between National Plans, Budgets and People
February 25, 2026
Government officials, civil society groups, private sector representatives, development partners and academics in Suva.
Government officials, civil society groups, private sector representatives, development partners and academics gathered in Suva last week for the Vaka Pasifika Policy Dialogue: Financing National Priorities in a Changing World.
Over two days, participants discussed a key question:
How do national priorities turn into budget decisions – and how do those decisions turn into real results for people?
Opening the dialogue, Permanent Secretary for National Planning, Development and Statistics, Peni Sikivou, noted that Fiji’s National Development Plan 2025–2029 and Vision 2050 set out ambitious goals for the country’s future. Turning those goals into reality, he said, depends on how well policies, budgets and implementation work together.
Speaking on behalf of the European Union, Carmen Lloveres Esteve highlighted that good public financial management – including transparency and accountability – is not only important for development outcomes, but also for economic confidence.
Strong governance systems, she noted, help build trust with citizens while also signalling stability and predictability to investors.
International financial institutions have similarly pointed out that governance standards are increasingly used as indicators of economic risk. Transparent budgeting processes and clear links between policy priorities and public spending can strengthen both public trust and investment confidence.
UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Abduvakkos Abdurahmanov emphasised that public finance decisions have real-world consequences:
“Budget choices made on paper affect how communities experience services and opportunities in everyday life.”
Throughout the dialogue, participants shared experiences from across the public sector and communities. Discussions highlighted that delays in delivering projects or services are often linked to practical challenges – such as limited technical capacity or market constraints in smaller economies – rather than lack of intent.
Participants agreed that adding more consultation meetings alone may not always lead to better results. The focus was on creating processes where key indicators of performance and incentives for civil servants are linked to results and services for citizens.
Suggestions put forward during the discussions included:
- Working more closely across ministries, including line Ministries, when consulting on budget priorities;
- Sharing clearer summaries of how public submissions influence final budget decisions during fiscal strategy debates but also after consultations close on the budget;
- Making budget information easier to understand for communities building on the extensive efforts of the Fiji government to publish a Citizen Budget;
- Exploring participatory budgeting approaches that combine digital tools with traditional community forums.
There was also interest in creating independent spaces to support economic analysis and help explain fiscal policy choices in simple terms.
The dialogue concluded with a shared commitment from all participants – government, civil society, private sector and development partners – to strengthen collaboration so that national priorities are better reflected in budget decisions and lead to tangible outcomes for communities.
The Fiji Policy Dialogue forms part of the EU-funded UNDP Vaka Pasifika programme, which supports inclusive and accountable public finance systems across the Pacific.
Participants reaffirmed a common goal:
To ensure that national plans are backed by budgets that deliver meaningful and lasting results for the people of Fiji.
For more information please contact:
Nick Turner | Communications, Advocacy and Partnerships Specialist | nicholas.turner@undp.org