The Vaka Pasifika project is moving into its final phase, aimed at improving civil society participation in Fiji’s budgeting process through collaborative engagement among multiple stakeholders. This initiative is financed by the European Union and is carried out in cooperation with the UNDP Pacific Office and the Pacific Island Association for NGOs (PIANGO). It empowers local entities like the Fiji Council of Social Services (FCOSS) to take an active role in budget oversight.
Various institutions, including Parliament, the Ministry of Finance, and Central Planning, are involved in this multidimensional collaboration to promote accountability in governance. Initiated in 2019, the project has entered its second phase, concentrating on finalizing and broadening civil society’s roles in the budgeting framework.
Emeline Siale Ilolahia, the Executive Director of PIANGO, emphasized the critical need for collective dialogue among diverse entities. She pointed out that fostering a shared understanding of Fiji’s budget priorities requires collaborative efforts rather than isolated actions by individual organizations. The project aims to elucidate both the current and evolving roles in budget oversight, while promoting the sharing of experiences and collective planning.
A key feature of the initiative is a two-day policy dialogue set for February 16-17, designed to promote shared understanding, celebrate achievements, and strategize for ongoing engagement with Fiji’s budgetary and policy frameworks. The flexible agenda encourages discussions and knowledge exchange, allowing the format to be shaped by participant contributions.
One critical realization from the project is the need for budget allocations to align effectively with policy commitments. There is a noted gap between official policy declarations and the actual financial resources allocated, which often leads civil society to advocate for policy priorities that lack corresponding funding. Siale has underscored the importance of tracking how national plans convert into actionable budget commitments, as this will ensure that policies translate into tangible improvements.
By sharing their success stories and learning from past experiences, the initiative aims to empower participants to develop strategies for better alignment of resources with policy intentions. The ultimate vision is to foster a future in which there is effective, transparent, and proactive collaboration between civil society and government during budget discussions.
The Vaka Pasifika project, which will run from 2022 to 2026, builds on the earlier “Strengthening Public Finance Management and Governance in the Pacific” project, which operated from 2018 to 2022. This ongoing effort represents a significant advancement towards greater accountability and inclusiveness in Fiji’s budgeting processes, promising positive results for the community.