The development challenge the project seeks to address is the limited effectiveness and capacity of national parliaments in Pacific island countries to engage with key development issues, contribute to the development of participatory and transparent national planning processes.

The project also works to expand parliamentary outreach and citizen engagement to include traditionally excluded groups such as women and youth, and increase the political participation of women.

The project will implement a range of regional and country level initiatives in selected Pacific island countries following the implementation of phase one of the project (May 2016-March 2019).

The regional approach of the project with focus countries, will complement results of its phase one in the Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu.

It will also allow parliamentary development work to be carried out in other countries of the region, especially countries not currently directly benefiting from UNDP parliamentary projects, that is Niue, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Tokelau and Tuvalu. 

Pacific island countries will benefit from this project through peer to peer support strategies in partnership with other parliaments, development agencies and stakeholders; direct technical assistance to legislatures; and through regional initiatives to maximise the reach and sustainability of the project's activities. 

What we do

Increase transparency and accountability in governance institutions and formal and informal decision-making processes.

Members of Parliament are supported more effectively by the parliamentary secretariat through the provision of training and induction for first time members, research and briefing materials.

Develop a participatory and transparent national planning and budget process; cross cutting development issues mainstreamed in Pacific Parliaments.

Increase the voice of women, youth and marginalised groups and an inclusive participation in national and subnational decision-making bodies.

Expand parliamentary outreach and citizen engagement to include traditionally excluded groups, such as women and youth, and reach remote areas. 

Increase the capacity of potential women candidates through training and learning activities.

Increase the number of women candidates selected by political parties in selected Pacific countries.