Pacific Parliamentary Assembly on Population and Development

(PPAPD)

&

Forum Presiding Officers and Clerks (FPOC)

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PPAPD/FPOCAust

NZ

Tuvalu

Tonga

Solomons

Samoa

Marshals PNG

Niue

Nauru

Kiribati

Fiji

FSM

CooksVanuatu

PPAPDsecretariat

Background - PPAPD

• PPAPD is a body established in 1997 by and for Pacific parliamentarians to mainstream population and development issues into the work and role of Pacific parliamentarians.

Background - FPOC• By 2000, there had been a decline in the capacity of Forum members to

uphold the principles of good governance • Legislative needs assessments conducted in eight FICs had highlighted

that FIC legislatures did not play a substantial role in promoting good governance practices.

• Forum Speakers during the Regional Conference on Governance for MPs in Nadi in April 2000, agreed to establish the Pacific Islands Speakers Forum

• In 2002, there was a name change to Forum Presiding Officers Conference (FPOC) before it was decided in 2005 to also include Clerks (FPOCC)

• Delegates at the recent Honiara meeting agreed that the body be referred to as the Forum Presiding Officers and Clerks (FPOC)

Objective

FPOC to be used as a mechanism to discuss ways in which FIC Legislatures could improve the quality of governance in the region within the framework of Parliamentary democracy .

Why Parliamentarians?

• Well positioned to strongly advocate and lobby

• National leaders and have the mandate and public trust to act

• Authority to promote and endorse• Are selected by people to represent them • They inherit a responsibility to urge action

that benefits people and nations.

Functions of the Secretariat

• To provide administrative, technical support and communication services for the PPAPD and FPOCC;

• To facilitate regional meetings and inter-agency work of PPAPD and FPOCC;

• To report to the Executive Committee, Partner Agencies and Members on implementation of the PPAPD and FPOCC Work Programmes;

• To produce and disseminate reports and resource materials of PPAPD and FPOCC and partner agencies;

• To promote the establishment and maintenance of collaborative and partnership approaches to implementing the PPAPD and FPOCC Work Programmes;

• To guide the resource development initiatives of PPAPD and FPOCC including fundraising and initiating of joint project proposals;

• To provide information clearing-house services such as establishment and maintenance of a directory of Pacific Parliamentarians; production and distribution of the PPAPD-FPOCC Chronicle; and ongoing maintenance of the PPAPD and FPOCC Website.

Activities - 2009

• Facilitate provision of technical support and mentoring opportunities to national legislatures, upon request (from Secretariat and/or other partners)

• Scope options for regional and sub-regional options for strengthening parliamentary information, research and training services, submit recommendations and implement, as directed

• Develop roster of Pacific parliamentary trainers• Work with development partners to facilitate access to relevant specialist

regional training programmes for MPs and Legislative Staff, including in areas such as P&D, accountability and legislative strengthening

• Develop template Induction Programmes for legislators, to be developed and implemented in collaboration with development partners

Activities 2009.........cont

• Develop and maintain database of Pacific Parliamentarians and upload onto website

• Develop FPOC/PPAPD website as a tool for sharing information between parliaments and partners and coordinating assistance

• Publish Quarterly PPAPD-FPOCC Chronicle newsletter• Production and/or dissemination of Governance and

Legislative Strengthening knowledge products (including products of partners)

• Supporting National Youth Parliaments leading up to the first Pacific Youth Parliament in 2010

Honiara Communique

Exploring initiatives to support Pacific Legislatures

• Future Legislative Needs Assessments integrate, as appropriate, relevant international benchmarks/indicators for legislatures.

• The Secretariat work with the UNDP Pacific Centre and other partners to explore the development of specific Pacific indicators/benchmarks for legislatures.

• Establishment of Parliamentary Groups on Population and Development

Establishment of Parliamentary Groups on Population and Development

Objectives :

• Support key population and development issues;• Utilising the legislative processes to tackle priority

P & D issues through Question time and in Committees

• Using parliamentary processes to help shape national policy by facilitating informed debate and sharing of information on P & D – eg HIV/AIDS

PPAPD Experiences

• Parliamentarians: - prominent and ambitious

(3 Kinds) - middle level – interested- no interest – travel only

What They Need:• Evidence-based information• Guidance to act• Support system to action

(National Parliamentary Committee with staff support)

ConclusionConclusion

PPAPD/FPOC is a powerful partner to support and advocate for parliamentarians:

• Linkage with Parliamentary Groups on Population & Development (role of parliament/participation in lawmaking process/P & D issues)

• Linkage with other parliamentary bodies and associations (CPA, IPU, AFPPD, CDI, CPA Education Trust Fund – Australia)

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