BY NED GAGAHE
The National Parliament of Solomon Islands (NPSI) has launched the 2025 Pacific Floating Budget Office (FBO) Program in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The two-week regional program brings together parliamentary researchers and officers from across the Pacific to strengthen fiscal analysis and transparency as the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) prepares for its inquiry into the 2026 Appropriation Bill.
The program was officially opened yesterday at the Paul Tovua Complex by PAC Chairman, Gordon Darcy Lilo MP.
The initiative aims to build technical collaboration among Pacific parliaments and improve budget scrutiny and fiscal oversight.
Participants include parliamentary staff from Tonga, Vanuatu, Fiji, Kiribati, New South Wales, and Solomon Islands.
Each legislature has nominated one in-person and one remote participant, ensuring full regional participation. Officials from the Office of the Auditor General and the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) are also attending.
Held from 3–18 November, the program features technical sessions on budget analysis, drafting, fact-checking, and proofreading. Participants will work together to analyse Solomon Islands’ 2026 National Budget.
In his keynote address, PAC Chair Lilo said the national budget remains one of the country’s most important tools for shaping development priorities.
“The budget guides how we deliver services and invest in our people.
“Through the FBO Program, we can strengthen our analytical capacity and ensure our work supports transparency and good governance,” he said.
Lilo urges participants to use the program to enhance collaboration and produce clear, relevant insights for decision-makers.
Clerk to Parliament, Mr. Jefferson Hallu, welcomed the participants, saying their presence reflects the Pacific’s commitment to shared learning and cooperation.
“We are delighted to host our colleagues from across the region. This program provides a valuable platform to strengthen our knowledge and build partnerships that support effective oversight and accountability,” Mr. Hallu said.
The FBO model, developed under the Pacific Parliamentary Effectiveness Initiative (PPEI), gives parliamentary researchers hands-on experience in fiscal analysis and policy scrutiny.
Findings from this year’s program will directly support the Public Accounts Committee’s inquiry into the 2026 Appropriation Bill.
Photo: Parliament
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