BY JOSES SAREN
A researcher from the National Parliament of Solomon Islands (NPSI) has completed a week-long attachment with the Parliament of Fiji under a regional programme that aims to sharpen how Pacific legislatures scrutinise national budgets.
According to a statement from NPSI, Ms Idah Tungale represented the institution in the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pacific Floating Budget Office (FBO) Mission to the Parliament of Fiji from 26 June to 3 July 2026.
She joined a select cohort of parliamentary researchers and officials from across the Pacific for the mission which aims to strengthen parliamentary scrutiny of national budgets and enhance the capacity of legislatures to undertake informed financial oversight.
She was accompanied virtually throughout the programme by Ms Theresa Nori of the Hansard Department, who took part as an online delegate.
The Pacific Floating Budget Office is a regional initiative led by Pacific Parliaments and facilitated by UNDP.
Established in Fiji in 2016, it promotes peer-to-peer learning and technical collaboration among parliamentary research professionals supporting legislatures during budget examination.
During the mission, Ms Tungale worked alongside parliamentary experts from Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, Tonga and Vanuatu to produce budget briefing materials intended to support Members of Parliament when considering national budget.
The statement described the exercise as an opportunity to exchange knowledge, share best practices and strengthen regional expertise in parliamentary budget analysis and legislative research.
The initiative intends to enhance transparency, accountability and evidence-based decision-making in Pacific legislatures by providing independent and technically informed analysis of budget documentation to assist MPs to scrutinise government expenditure and assess fiscal implications of policy proposals.
The National Parliament of Solomon Islands said the mission reinforces its ongoing commitment to strengthen institutional research capacity and contribute to regional parliamentary cooperation.
NPSI also added that the knowledge gained will support the Parliament’s constitutional oversight function and the quality of research and advisory services provided to Members of Parliament.
UNDP has continued to support Pacific Parliaments through parliamentary strengthening initiatives, including technical assistance, professional development and regional knowledge-sharing programmes, promoting effective, transparent and accountable governance across the Pacific.
Photo credit: NPSI
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