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Pacific Parliamentary Assembly on Population and Development (PPAPD ) & Forum Presiding Officers and Clerks (FPOC). PPAPD/FPOC. Background - PPAPD.
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Pacific Parliamentary Assembly on Population and Development (PPAPD)& Forum Presiding Officers and Clerks (FPOC)
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)
Conclusion 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)
