Democratic Governance
Strengthening Parliaments and Democratic Institutions
Justice and Human Rights
Accountability and Transparency Frameworks
Capacity Development of Local Governments and Civil Society
Governance in the Pacific
Pacific island countries (PICs), like much of the rest of the world, continue to experience the impact of globalisation, deteriorating terms of trade, mounting external debt, low rates of economic growth, non-sustainable development policies and, more recently, increased focus on the threat of terrorism. The civil unrest in Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Tonga together with political instability in other PICs, highlights the importance of governance issues and growing inequities in the Pacific. The magnitude of the problem and the embryonic and somewhat scattered and sporadic nature of good governance initiatives in the Pacific calls for a concerted and well-coordinated effort to ensure maximum impact. It requires the cooperation of the executive, judiciary, legislature, effective legal systems,law enforcement and civil society to underpin sustainable development, economic growth, environmental and social stability and security and human rights for all across the Pacific. It also requires integrated decision making across all sectors at both regional and national levels.
The necessity to reform and strengthen the institutional environment has been acknowledged by the Pacific Island Forum Leaders through their development vision expressed in the Auckland Declaration where it states:
“...We seek a Pacific region that is respected for the quality of its governance, the sustainable management of its resources, the full observance of democratic values, and for its defence and promotion of human rights...”
Some of the elements required to improve governance are already in place and include a range of initiatives by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and other CROP agencies; trans-national civil society; global inter-governmental agencies; education institutions; and regional programs and national governments focused on improving parliamentary, judicial and legislative capacity and performance. Generally, however, while investments have been made in regional governance dialogue, trainings and workshop activities, there has been limited national implementation of regionally-agreed measures. Public disquiet exists throughout the region concerning inadequate parliamentary, judicial, legislative, legal and law enforcement performance and competence, caused primarily by political and resource issues.
How can the UNDP Pacific Centre Support Democratic Governance in the Pacific
Democratic Governance is central to the achievement of the MDGs. The critical importance of democratic governance in the developing world was highlighted at the Millennium Summit, where the world’s leaders resolved to “spare no effort to promote democracy and strengthen the rule of law, as well as respect for all internationally recognized human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to development.” A consensus was reached which recognized that improving the quality of democratic institutions and processes, and managing the changing roles of the state and civil society must underpin national efforts to reduce poverty, sustain the environment, and promote human development.
The UNDP’s mandate is to help countries build effective solutions for challenges. This includes supporting them to achieve the Millennium Goals (MDGs), namely, poverty eradication for sustainable human development. Fostering democratic governance is at the center of this mandate.
In support to democratic governance, the UNDP-Pacific Centre (PC) governance thematic unit was established to provide policy advice in the form of country and regional research, and insights and knowledge on global good practice to the 3 UNDP Country Offices and through them the 15 PICs; provide technical backstopping, monitoring and evaluation expertise in the delivery of country-based activities including trainings and workshops, project design, assessments, implementation and evaluation; and deliver specific regionally focused activities to develop regional and national capacities and promote regional cooperation and coordination.
The UNDP-PC is currently implementing the Governance in the Pacific (GovPac) project. The project aims to contribute to building resilient communities in the Pacific by developing capacity for good governance and human rights. GovPac’s support to governance and human rights focuses on the practice areas of parliament and associated legal frameworks and institutions (e.g. constitutional and electoral reform), accountability / anti-corruption, local governance, civil society, and justice and human rights. Applying human rights based approach to development and gender equality and mainstreaming are cross-cutting concerns integrated throughout the Pacific Centre’s governance work.
To support the Pacific Plan’s vision of promoting regionalism the GovPac’s overall strategy consists of the following interrelated elements:
Pacific island countries (PICs), like much of the rest of the world, continue to experience the impact of globalisation, deteriorating terms of trade, mounting external debt, low rates of economic growth, non-sustainable development policies and, more recently, increased focus on the threat of terrorism. The civil unrest in Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Tonga together with political instability in other PICs, highlights the importance of governance issues and growing inequities in the Pacific. The magnitude of the problem and the embryonic and somewhat scattered and sporadic nature of good governance initiatives in the Pacific calls for a concerted and well-coordinated effort to ensure maximum impact. It requires the cooperation of the executive, judiciary, legislature, effective legal systems,law enforcement and civil society to underpin sustainable development, economic growth, environmental and social stability and security and human rights for all across the Pacific. It also requires integrated decision making across all sectors at both regional and national levels.
The necessity to reform and strengthen the institutional environment has been acknowledged by the Pacific Island Forum Leaders through their development vision expressed in the Auckland Declaration where it states:
“...We seek a Pacific region that is respected for the quality of its governance, the sustainable management of its resources, the full observance of democratic values, and for its defence and promotion of human rights...”
Some of the elements required to improve governance are already in place and include a range of initiatives by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and other CROP agencies; trans-national civil society; global inter-governmental agencies; education institutions; and regional programs and national governments focused on improving parliamentary, judicial and legislative capacity and performance. Generally, however, while investments have been made in regional governance dialogue, trainings and workshop activities, there has been limited national implementation of regionally-agreed measures. Public disquiet exists throughout the region concerning inadequate parliamentary, judicial, legislative, legal and law enforcement performance and competence, caused primarily by political and resource issues.
How can the UNDP Pacific Centre Support Democratic Governance in the Pacific
Democratic Governance is central to the achievement of the MDGs. The critical importance of democratic governance in the developing world was highlighted at the Millennium Summit, where the world’s leaders resolved to “spare no effort to promote democracy and strengthen the rule of law, as well as respect for all internationally recognized human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to development.” A consensus was reached which recognized that improving the quality of democratic institutions and processes, and managing the changing roles of the state and civil society must underpin national efforts to reduce poverty, sustain the environment, and promote human development.
The UNDP’s mandate is to help countries build effective solutions for challenges. This includes supporting them to achieve the Millennium Goals (MDGs), namely, poverty eradication for sustainable human development. Fostering democratic governance is at the center of this mandate.
In support to democratic governance, the UNDP-Pacific Centre (PC) governance thematic unit was established to provide policy advice in the form of country and regional research, and insights and knowledge on global good practice to the 3 UNDP Country Offices and through them the 15 PICs; provide technical backstopping, monitoring and evaluation expertise in the delivery of country-based activities including trainings and workshops, project design, assessments, implementation and evaluation; and deliver specific regionally focused activities to develop regional and national capacities and promote regional cooperation and coordination.
The UNDP-PC is currently implementing the Governance in the Pacific (GovPac) project. The project aims to contribute to building resilient communities in the Pacific by developing capacity for good governance and human rights. GovPac’s support to governance and human rights focuses on the practice areas of parliament and associated legal frameworks and institutions (e.g. constitutional and electoral reform), accountability / anti-corruption, local governance, civil society, and justice and human rights. Applying human rights based approach to development and gender equality and mainstreaming are cross-cutting concerns integrated throughout the Pacific Centre’s governance work.
To support the Pacific Plan’s vision of promoting regionalism the GovPac’s overall strategy consists of the following interrelated elements:
(i) Identify, develop and support the implementation of Regional Approaches to governance initiatives to promote regional cooperation and address issues of economies of scale;
(ii) Bring international norms and standards to regional and national levels to inform policy development and serve as benchmark in the development national and regional capacity;
(ii) Bring international norms and standards to regional and national levels to inform policy development and serve as benchmark in the development national and regional capacity;
(iii) Link regional and national initiatives through action research to identify feasible approaches and entry points for implementing governance reforms;
iv) Support and or facilitate the establishment of regional forum and communities of practice to promote exchange of information and knowledge, increase level of awareness and promote networking among various regional and national stakeholders, on the one hand, and between Pacific stakeholders and non-Pacific stakeholders;
v) Develop broad-based partnership and or strengthen existing partnerships to develop regional and national capacities to support the implementation of governance reforms;
iv) Support and or facilitate the establishment of regional forum and communities of practice to promote exchange of information and knowledge, increase level of awareness and promote networking among various regional and national stakeholders, on the one hand, and between Pacific stakeholders and non-Pacific stakeholders;
v) Develop broad-based partnership and or strengthen existing partnerships to develop regional and national capacities to support the implementation of governance reforms;
