The Fiji Policy Dialogue explored how national priorities are translated into budget decisions and how those decisions impact real results for citizens. Permanent Secretary for National Planning, Development and Statistics, Peni Sikivou, emphasized that Fiji’s National Development Plan 2025–2029 and Vision 2050 set ambitious goals, but achieving them relies on the effective coordination of policies, budgets, and implementation.
Representing the European Union, Carmen Lloveres Esteve stressed that good public financial management, marked by transparency and accountability, is crucial not only for development outcomes but also for fostering economic confidence. Strong governance systems, she noted, build citizen trust and signal stability and predictability to investors. International financial institutions have increasingly used governance standards as indicators of economic risk, highlighting that transparent budgeting and clear alignment between policy priorities and public spending strengthen both public trust and investment confidence.
UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Abduvakkos Abdurahmanov highlighted the tangible impact of budget decisions, explaining that choices made on paper directly affect how communities experience services and opportunities in daily life. Participants shared experiences across the public sector and communities, noting that delays in delivering projects or services often stem from practical challenges, such as limited technical capacity or market constraints, rather than a lack of intent.
The dialogue focused on creating processes where performance indicators and civil servant incentives are directly linked to results for citizens, rather than relying solely on additional consultation meetings. Participants suggested closer cross-ministry collaboration on budget priorities, clearer summaries of how public submissions influence final budget decisions, more accessible budget information for communities, and participatory budgeting approaches that combine digital tools with traditional forums. There was also interest in establishing independent spaces for economic analysis to explain fiscal policy choices in simple terms.
The dialogue concluded with a shared commitment among government, civil society, the private sector, and development partners to strengthen collaboration, ensuring national priorities are reflected in budget decisions and translate into tangible outcomes for communities. This dialogue is part of the EU-funded UNDP Vaka Pasifika programme, which promotes inclusive and accountable public finance systems across the Pacific. Participants reaffirmed the goal of ensuring that national plans are supported by budgets that deliver meaningful and lasting results for the people of Fiji.
