Parliamentary Institution Building in Fiji
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Parliamentary institution building in Fiji Mid-term evaluation of the UNDP Fiji Parliamentary Support Project 11-11-2015 Author: Franklin De Vrieze, consultant Table of contents Acronyms ................................................................................................................................................... 3 Acknowledgments ..................................................................................................................................... 4 I. Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................ 5 II. Introduction to the project .................................................................................................................... 7 III. The Mid-term Evaluation Mission in 2015 ........................................................................................... 8 1. Structure of the evaluation report ......................................................................................... 8 2. Criteria for the evaluation ...................................................................................................... 8 3. Methodology for the Mid-term Evaluation ............................................................................ 9 4. Challenges to the evaluation .................................................................................................. 10 IV. Context: the Parliament of Fiji ............................................................................................................. 11 V. Project Design........................................................................................................................................ 12 1. Context ................................................................................................................................... 12 2. Project rationale ..................................................................................................................... 13 3. Project objectives and activities ............................................................................................. 13 4. Risk assessment ...................................................................................................................... 13 5. Budget information ................................................................................................................ 14 6. Implementation and management arrangements................................................................. 14 7. Project sustainability .............................................................................................................. 15 8. Monitoring and evaluation .................................................................................................... 15 9. Cross cutting issues ................................................................................................................ 15 10. Results and resources framework .......................................................................................... 16 VI. Project Implementation ....................................................................................................................... 17 1. Output "Parliament as an institution strengthened" ............................................................... 17 1.1. Infrastructure and hardware .................................................................................... 17 1.2. Capacity Development for the Parliament Secretariat and Secretary General ........ 18 1.3. Support to the formulation of parliamentary procedures, processes and policies.. 20 2. Output "MPs knowledgeable on their tasks" ........................................................................... 24 2.1. Capacity development for newly elected MPs ........................................................ 24 2.2. Research and analysis of the Parliamentary Service ................................................ 25 2.3. Budget Scrutiny and Oversight ................................................................................ 26 2.4. Technical Support to the Standing Committees ...................................................... 27 2.5. Consultative and transparent legislative process ..................................................... 28 3. Output "MPs are knowledgeable about coalition building, negotiating skills" ........................ 30 3.1. Caucus support and dialogue.................................................................................... 30 3.2. Cross-party women MPs group ................................................................................ 31 3.3. Constituent relations ................................................................................................ 32 4. Output "Parliamentary engagement with citizens strengthened" ........................................... 34 4.1. Public Outreach ................................................................................................. 34 4.2. Website, open parliament and media ...................................................................... 35 VII. Project Management ........................................................................................................................... 37 VIII. Recommendations for the 2016 Annual Work Plan .......................................................................... 42 IX. Recommendations for a next phase of the project .............................................................................. 44 X. Annexes ................................................................................................................................................. 46 Annex 1: Bibliography ........................................................................................................................ 46 Annex 2: Experts and consultants which participated in the project ................................................. 48 Annex 3: Persons interviewed for this evaluation .............................................................................. 51 2 Mid-term evaluation of the UNDP Fiji Parliamentary Support Project Acronyms ACPAC Asia Conference of PACs AFPPD Asia Forum of Parliamentarians for Population and Development AG Attorney General AWP Annual Work Plan CPA Commonwealth Parliamentary Association CROP Conference of Regional Organizations in the Pacific CSO Civil Society Organization DSA Daily Subsidiary Allowance EU European Union FPSP Fiji Parliamentary Support Project FTP Fast Track Procedures HC High Commissioner HoC House of Commons ICT Information and Communication Technology IFES International Federation for Electoral Systems ILO International Labour Organization M&E Monitoring and Evaluation MCO Multi Country Office MDGs Millennium Development Goals MoU Memorandum of Understanding MP Member of Parliament MTE Mid-Term Evaluation PAC Public Accounts Committee PEA Political Economy Analysis PIFS Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat RBA Results Based Approach SC Steering Committee SDGs Sustainable Development Goals SG Secretary General SO Standing Orders SPC Secretariat of Pacific Community TA Technical Assistance WHO World Health Organization Disclaimer The report "Parliamentary Institution Building in Fiji. Mid-term evaluation of the UNDP Fiji Parliamentary Support Project" has been prepared by Franklin De Vrieze. It was developed within the framework of the “UNDP Fiji Parliamentary Support Project”, funded by the European Union, the Government of Japan, the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and co-funded and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Fiji. The views expressed in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of these institutions. 3 Mid-term evaluation of the UNDP Fiji Parliamentary Support Project Acknowledgments The evaluator would like to express his appreciation for the kind discussions held with, and insights provided by the Speaker, Members and staff of the Parliament of the Republic of Fiji, the parliamentary experts and consultants which contributed to the project, the development partners and embassies, and other stakeholders during the time of the project evaluation mission. The evaluator is very grateful to the UN Resident Representative, the Head of UNDP Pacific Centre, the UNDP Parliamentary Technical Advisor and UNDP staff for their analysis and perspectives on the parliamentary support project and on the governance context in Fiji. The evaluator also appreciates the practical and logistical support provided by the UNDP project team during the evaluation period in September - October 2015. The assistance of the intern at the Economic and Social Section of the EU Delegation in Suva was very valuable. Finally, the evaluator is particularly grateful for the warmth and hospitality extended to him at the Fiji Parliament and at UNDP. Franklin De Vrieze Brussels / Suva, October 2015 4 Mid-term evaluation of the UNDP Fiji Parliamentary Support Project I. Executive Summary UNDP started its support to the establishment of the new parliament of the Republic of Fiji well ahead of the September 2014 elections. Already in December 2013, UNDP conducted a preliminary needs assessment for the new parliament. It formed the basis for the current three-year project, which started in January 2014. The project was designed around four components: "parliament as an