THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT SYSTEM IN Tuvalu COUNTRY PROFILE 2017–18 TUVALU SUMMARY Tuvalu is a unitary constitutional monarchy with two spheres of government: national and local. The legal basis for Tuvalu local government is the Falekaupule Act 1997 and there is only one level, which is the kaupule (island council). The Department of Rural Development within the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is responsible for local government. Following the 2011 local elections 4.2% of councillors were women and in 2016 local government expenditure was 0.2% of total government expenditure. A quarterly assembly is held by each kaupule where the annual budget and development plans prepared by the island council are assessed by the people. The common services that all island councils provide include land transport, lagoon travelling services, mechanical and joinery maintenance services, provision and maintenance of roads and public facilities such as meeting halls, recreation facilities (playing fields, multi-purpose courts), transport facilities, beach ramps and land title records. Services provided by national government in partnership with the island councils include health, education, agriculture and fisheries. 1. NATIONAL GOVERNMENT 2. LEGAL BASIS FOR Tuvalu is a unitary constitutional LOCAL GOVERNMENT monarchy with a unicameral 2.1 Constitutional provisions parliamentary democracy. Parliament There is no constitutional provision for is vested with law-making powers local government.48.2a and is composed of 15 members (known as MPs): two from each of the KEY FACTS eight electoral constituencies, with 2.2 Main legislative texts the exception of Nukulaelae, which The main legislative text is the Falekaupule POPULATION (2014 estimate): returns just one. Both the speaker, Act 199748.2b, which came into force 11,206 who oversees the administration and in 1999. The Act, also known as the management of parliamentary affairs, Local Government Act, empowers the AREA (UN 2006): and the prime minister, who heads implementation of a national strategy 26 sq km the executive, are elected by MPs from that envisions the development of the CAPITAL: Funafuti amongst themselves. Following the outer islands through the devolution 2015 national election, 6.7% of MPs and decentralisation of governmental CURRENCY: were women.3.1b There are eight cabinet functions to local government. At Tuvaluan dollar (TV$) ministers, all of whom are appointed independence, Tuvalu inherited a local by the governor-general on the advice government system governed by the Local HEAD OF STATE: of the prime minister. The cabinet is Government Ordinance 1966. This piece of HM Queen Elizabeth II collectively responsible to parliament for legislation, as amended, provided the legal GOVERNOR-GENERAL: the discharge of the executive functions framework for local governance in the Iakoba Italeli of the state. There are no political parties, period between 1978 and 1999, when it although the members who do not was repealed. Further amendments to the HEAD OF GOVERNMENT: side with the executive are often called Falekaupule Act 1997 were made in March Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga the opposition. The head of state is HM 2013 and to Section 14 of the Act in 2016. FORM OF GOVERNMENT: Queen Elizabeth II, who is represented in constitutional monarchy Tuvalu by a governor-general. PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM: Table 48.1a Distribution of councils and population unicameral Island Kaupule Population Population % rural STATE STRUCTURE: (island council) (2012 Census) (2017 est.) (2014) unitary Nanumea 1 556 na 100 LANGUAGES: Nanumaga 1 481 na 100 Tuvaluan (official), English NATIONAL ELECTIONS: Niutao 1 606 na 100 Last: March 2015, turnout: na; next: 2019 Nui 1 541 na 100 WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT (2015): 6.7% Vaitupu 1 1,565 na 100 LOCAL ELECTIONS: Nukufetau 1 540 na 100 Lasft: 15 Sept 2011, turnout: na; next: 2019 Funafuti 1 6,194 na 100 WOMEN COUNCILLORS (2011): 4.2% Nukulaelae 1 324 na 100 LOCAL GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE Niulakita – 30 na 100 as a percentage of total government TOTAL 8 10,800 11,206 100 expenditure 2016: 0.2% Source: 2012 Census preliminary report48.3a 254 www.clgf.org.uk/tuvalu COUNTRY PROFILE 2017–18 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT SYSTEM IN Tuvalu 2.3 Proposed legislative changes The council can appoint as many 5. SYSTEMS FOR The Government of Tuvalu, through committees as it feels it needs, and must COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT the Ministry of Home Affairs and Rural include standing committees for health, 5.1 Legal requirement Development has launch a major review agriculture and fisheries, education, The mechanism for the involvement of the Falekaupule Act 1997 (Local communication, transportation and participation of citizens in local Government Act). and infrastructure, and budget and governance is the falekaupule assembly, appropriations. Committees can make which is held quarterly for each island. At 2.4 National urban policy decisions by a simple majority and report present however there are no guidelines Tuvalu does not have an urban policy. their decision back to the kaupule. to actually facilitate and carry out these assemblies. During the March assembly 3. STRUCTURE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT 3.4 Traditional leadership each year, the budget and development plans prepared by the island council 3.1 Local government within the state Each island has a traditional assembly are assessed by the community and Local government in Tuvalu has only one of elders called a falekaupule or ‘te sina approved by the falekaupule. At the level, which is a kaupule (island council) o fenua’ (literally, ‘grey-hairs of the land’), same time, the island council reports for each of the eight main inhabited and the Falekaupule Act 1997 brings on the progress and finances of current islands. The ninth island, Niulakita, is under together the traditional responsibilities of development projects. the administration of Niutao Kaupule. the falekaupule and the elected kaupule. With this exception, each island council’s 5.2 Implementation jurisdiction is limited to the island itself. 4. ELECTIONS Another avenue for community 4.1 Recent local elections participation, including that of 3.2 Ministerial oversight The last local elections were held on 15 minority groups, is representation The ministry responsible for Tuvalu September 2015 and the next were due on the various established standing local government is the Ministry of in 2019. Home Affairs (MHA), which includes committees for major sectors such as the Department of Rural Development, health, education and development. which covers local government. The 4.2 Voting system These committees are made up of MHA’s roles are: overseeing the activities There are no political parties. Voters make representatives of various community- of each department in its portfolio in their choice based on the individual based organisations, non-governmental order to achieve national goals and candidates. The voting system used is the organisations and private sector objectives set out in the National single non-transferable vote within the organisations. The committees have Strategy for Sustainable Development first-past-the-post system, and there is been established to provide technical (‘Te Kakeega III’); and reviewing any policy universal suffrage at age 18 and over. advice to the kaupule. the Department of Rural Development wishes to implement before such policy 4.3 Elected representatives 5.3 ICT use in citizen engagement is submitted to cabinet for legislation. No information is available on elected No information is available. representatives. 3.3 Council types 6. ORGANISED LOCAL GOVERNMENT 3.3.1 Kaupule (island councils) 4.4 Women’s representation48.4 There is currently no representative Each kaupule has six members elected Following the 2015 kaupule elections, organisation for local government. for a maximum of two four-year terms. 10.4% of councillors were women, up The pule o kaupule (council president) from 4.2% (2/48) following the 2011 7. INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS is indirectly elected by a simple elections. Also following 2015 kaupule As the executive arm of the falekaupule, majority from among the councillors, elections 25.0% (2/8) pule o kaupule the kaupule carries out all the functions and appoints a tokolua pule o kaupule (council presidents) were women, up and powers conferred by the Falekaupule (deputy council president) from among from none (0/8) following the 2011 Act 1997. The national government, the council members. elections. through the Minister for Home Affairs, exercises general supervision over local governments to ensure that their actions Table 48.1b Women councillors and presidents following the last three local elections are within the scope of their prescribed Election 2007 2011 2015 powers and functions and that statutory services for constituents are adequately Councillors # % # % # % delivered. In the exercise of this authority, the Act makes provision for consultations, Female councillors na na 2 4.2 5 10.4 either regular or as deemed necessary, Male councillors na na 46 95.8 43 89.6 between the minister and the falekaupule. Total councillors na 100.0 48 100.0 48 100.0 Chairpersons # % # % # % Female council presidents na na 0 0.0 2 25.0 Male council presidents na na 8 100.0 6 75.0 Total council presidents na 100.0 8 100.0 8 100.0 Source: Department of Rural Development correspondence with CLGF www.clgf.org.uk/tuvalu 255 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT SYSTEM IN Tuvalu COUNTRY PROFILE 2017–18 National authorities are mandated 9. FINANCE, STAFFING AND RESOURCES fenced to pay for emoluments of the to cooperate with local government 9.1 Local government expenditure five key staff of island councils on each according to their respective Total local government transfers from island. A further national government responsibilities, as follows: national government represented 0.21% grant to local government is the pre- of total government expenditure in 2017, school support grant from the Ministry ■■ attorney general on the review of by- up from 0.19% in 2016 and 0.16% in 2015. of Education, Youth and Sports, which laws to determine whether they are in See table 48.2b currently amounts to AU$26,000 and accord with national laws and policies assists with pre-school teachers’ salaries.