Suva, Fiji - The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pacific Office marked International Anti-Corruption Day with the launch of compelling human-interest stories focused on public finance management (PFM) across the Pacific region. This initiative, developed through the Vaka Pasifika Project and the Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Project, brings complex financial management issues to life through storytelling and visual illustrations.

Journalists from Fiji, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Palau, and Tuvalu gathered alongside PFM experts and stakeholders to showcase their work in making public financial management more accessible to communities. The initiative notably featured visual storytelling through illustrations to demystify complex PFM concepts.

"Creating visuals that simplify complex PFM concepts has been a rewarding challenge. Art has the power to engage people in ways words alone sometimes cannot," said Ratu Naiqama, one of the published visual illustrators.  

The Vaka Pasifika Project plans to continue this innovative approach to communication next year, partnering with media and artists to enhance citizen engagement.

For participating journalists, the project offered unique opportunities to delve deeply into PFM topics. 

"Being part of this project has allowed me to delve deeper into PFM topics and share stories that matter to our communities. It's about showing people that public funds directly influence their everyday lives," shared Ritika Pratap from Fiji Broadcasting Corporation.

EU PFM and Taxation Manager, Carmen Lloveres said:

“This event marks an important milestone for the Vaka Pasifika Project, launched in 2022 with the financial support of the European Union.

Through this initiative, we have worked to strengthen the capacity of journalists across the Pacific, enabling them to better understand and report on public finance management issues. The goal has always been clear: to empower the media to enhance government transparency, hold decision-makers accountable, and ultimately promote sustainable development.”

Pacific Islands News Agency Executive Director Makereta Komai said:

"The power of informed reporting cannot be overstated. Through these stories, we shed light on the significance of transparency and the critical role the media plays in holding institutions accountable."

To expand the initiative's reach, the UNDP Pacific Office will host a regional webinar to share these stories across the region. The stories will also be published online and distributed through various media outlets, fostering continued dialogue about public finance management across the Pacific.

UNDP Pacific Deputy Resident Representative, Abduvakkos Abdurahmanov, said:

"These stories are more than reports; they are narratives that resonate with people's everyday experiences, emphasising that public funds are not abstract figures but essential resources that shape lives. It is vital for the public to understand and engage with how their money is being managed." 

This initiative represents the ongoing commitment of the UNDP Pacific Office, through projects like Vaka Pasifika and partnerships with the EU, UK, PINA, and local media, to build a stronger culture of transparency and accountability in public finance management throughout the Pacific region.

For more information please contact:

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