General

Policies, institutions and governance all matter greatly for development. In particular, policies that shape and influence how a country governs itself, how it promotes and pursues inclusive economic growth, and how it seeks to reduce poverty all play a critical role in determining ultimate development outcomes. While many factors are beyond the control of small developing states, these states can control the types of policies they adopt; how they design, implement, monitor, and review policies; and how policy makers engage with their citizens on important public policy issues.

The Pacific Institute of Public Policy (PiPP) recently concluded a pilot study with a focus on public policy processes in the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) and the Republic of Palau (Palau). Through a consultative assessment, this study has helped to identify existing strengths and weaknesses and points to a series of concrete strategies to improve the quality and effectiveness of policy functions, processes, and systems.

While each country had their own policy, governance and development challenges, stakeholders in the study recognised the importance of continuing the regional dialogue on strengthening public policy processes and agreed to the establishment of an informal Micronesian Policy Network to be facilitated through PiPP. 

Through this network, and with support from PiPP and other partners, it is hoped that policy makers, implementers and influencers in RMI, FSM and Palau can pursue some of the ideas and strategies identified in the pilot study. 

PiPP believes that if island leaders possess the political vision and will, then many good ideas can immediately be pursued.

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A cross-section of leaders from Palau, Micronesia and the Marshall Islands gathered in Pohnpei on 7 April to discuss and develop strategies for strengthening public policy processes in their countries. Participants included representatives from legislatures, the media, NGOs, and other sectors. The meeting was held as part of a pilot study that examined public policy processes in the north Pacific, facilitated by the Pacific Institute of Public Policy (PiPP).

A number of strategies were identified for strengthening core policy processes, including policy design, monitoring and evaluation, and accountability functions. Specific strategies proposed called for strengthening in-country policy research and analysis, performance reviews, and legislative oversight capacities. Several participants also proposed the idea of establishing local ‘think tanks’ as a potential way of encouraging more homegrown policy analysis and public engagement capacities. 

Frederick Muller, a Senator in the RMI Nitijela (parliament) who participated in the meeting commented that, “in thinking about the public policy processes, the workshop could not have come at a better time.”

“This pilot exercise has reaffirmed and suggested further strategies towards improving oversight, evaluation, and review functions (performance review and audit functions) both for the Public Account Committee (PAC) and the Auditor General Office. This strategy session on public policy processes was very useful and I support this inter-disciplinary approach and I think that similar establishment like that of the Pacific Institute of Public Policy (PiPP) based in Vanuatu can really make a difference in shaping and influencing public policy in Micronesia.” 

Lawyer Marstella Jack who also attended the workshop said “that the participation of the legislative bodies was integral as many of the discussions were looking at improving the law. I think it was the most useful one I’ve attended. I hope we can move from here to the next stage of sharing these strategies with the powers that be. I feel that building an environment where information flows freely is the best public service we can offer our citizens.” 

Participants in the study will make up what is to be a new ‘policy network’ for the north Pacific countries. The policy network will be supported and facilitated by PiPP.

 

 

 

This week there has been some confusion in the Pacific over whether Australia was no longer prioritising PACER Plus since it was not listed as a trade objective in a recent policy statement.

However, Australia’s parliamentary secretary for the Pacific, Richard Marles has confirmed that PACER is still on the agenda.

Radio Australia reports:

Australia committed to Pacific trade deal

Australia’s commitment to a Pacific area trade deal – PACER Plus – remains firm, says a government member responsible for Pacific issues. 

 Doubts were raised about Australia’s attitude to PACER Plus earlier this week when it was not mentioned on a new list of priority free trade negotiations.

In a statement, Richard Marles, the parliamentary secretary for Pacific Island affairs, said PACER plus is not a traditional trade agreement but commitment to it remains firm.

He said Australia’s primary objective with the trade agreement is to promote sustainable economic development and integration in forum countries and to help them engage in global trade.

This follows an earlier story questioning PACER Plus continuing. 

According to Radio Australia, Australia may be going cold on the proposed PACER Plus trade agreement with the Pacific Islands…MORE.

 

 

 

Australia may be going cold on the proposed PACER Plus trade agreement with the Pacific Islands

Australia’s Trade Policy Statement launched by Trade Minister, Craig Emerson, today signals a change of focus for Australia’s trade negotiations and sets out a list of trade priorities, which does not include PACER plus.

Presenter: Jemima Garrett, Pacific Economic and Business reporter
Speaker: Patricia Ranald, Convenor of Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network

RANALD: The most interesting thing for PACER Plus is it is not mentioned in the document, the government is actually prioritising its regional and bilateral trade agreements, and PACER Plus is not on the list of priorities.

GARRETT: Now there is quite a long list of priorities, what does appear on the list?

RANALD: Well the Trans Pacific Partnership agreement, which is an agreement being negotiated between the US, New Zealand, Australia and six other countries in the Asia Pacific is there, but not PACER Plus. And then there are a series of bilateral agreements with South Korea, Japan, China, Indonesia, etc.

GARRETT: So where does this leave PACER Plus exactly?

RANALD: Well as we understand it from talking to the government, the PACER Plus negotiations are under review. We have put to the government in the past that PACER Plus is really not about trade, and in fact previous government ministers have said in the past that Australia doesn’t expect to get trade benefits from PACER Plus. That it’s really about development. And we have said to the government well if it’s about development it shouldn’t be a trade agreement, it should be about development relationships or other relationships. You don’t have to force that into a trade agreement framework. So we hope that the review includes some attention being paid to that argument.

FULL INTERVIEW on Radio Australia: Pacific Beat 

 As leaders gather in Fiji this week for the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Leaders Summit, the Pacific Institute of Public Policy (PiPP) has released its findings from the first ever telephone poll conducted across Melanesia. Seven questions relating to the ‘Melanesian family’ of nations were posed, including one asking which major non Pacific island nation was considered to be the best partner for individual nations in the region. MSG leaders may be encouraged that a majority (74.9%) of respondents were aware of the regional body to represent Melanesians. 

When asked who they considered part of the Melanesian family, a clear majority of respondents included the established members (PNG, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji and New Caledonia) while 42% also included West Papua, 17.1% included Australia, 14.9% included Indonesia and 14.1% included Timor Leste. 

Another question posed was ‘do you support independence for West Papua?’ A clear majority of respondents across Melanesia said yes, with very high support in PNG (89.3%) and Vanuatu (88.2%).

Asked to relate the relationship between their country and Australia, the majority of respondents said it was positive except those in Fiji. Australia is also considered to be the best external partner for PNG (40.5%) and the Solomons (40.4%), while for Vanuatu only 14.1% of respondents considered Australia best, whereas China scored 32.9%. Among respondents in Fiji there was a sense that it considered Australia, New Zealand, China and US as all roughly equal in importance. 

In relation to engagement with Fiji, a majority of respondents including those in Fiji itself, opted for increased engagement or keeping the level of engagement as it is. 

The views expressed by the respondents of this poll may assist MSG leaders as they deliberate on the future of this region. Download the full report.

3rd March 2011, Port Vila

 

Last night the USP Emalus Campus held a public forum to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (1971-2011). A number of prominent Pacific leaders attended including the Secretary General Tuiloma Neroni Slade.

 

 

PiPP was delighted to be invited onto the panel and our Program Manager John Licht spoke on trade policy, the Pacific Plan and regional integration.

 

 

The event was filmed live and broadcast throughout the region.

 

 

The keynote speech was delivered by Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Sato Kilman.

 

 

Prime Minister Kilman who is also the current chair of PIF’s also unveiled the PIF’s colourful new logo.

 

 

PIF plans to take the 40th anniversary celebrations on a road show around the region which will include similar public forums to generate feedback. More information on where it’s going can be found at PIFS website:

http://forumsec.org/pages.cfm/newsroom/press-statements/2011/pif-40th-anniversary-leaders-lecture-series-port-vila.html