Tonga Governance Strengthening Programme [TGSP]

Tonga Governance Strengthening Programme [TGSP]

TGSP Annual Programme Report 2013

January 31st 2014

This report for the period January to December 2103, is provided in accordance with Article II
of the Third-Party Cost-Sharing Agreement between the Australian Agency for International
Development (The Donor) and the UNDP [Agreement 66998]

BACKGROUND

On the 22 April 2013, the Third-Party Cost-Sharing Agreement between the Australian
Agency for International Development and the UNDP for the implementation of the Tonga
Governance Strengthening Programme (TGSP) was signed; and the TGSP programme
document was officially signed by the Government of Tonga and UNDP.

The Programme is an integrated 4 year Governance Strengthening Programme which aims
to draw together three interrelated governance initiatives, and to avoid duplication and
strengthen synergies amongst the three components:

 Support to parliament;
 Support to civil society organisations and strengthening the role of civil society in

its relationship with the Parliament and Government of Tonga and in providing
civic education; and
 Support to the Tonga Electoral Commission.

This integrated programme approach focuses on strengthening Tonga’s governance
institutions and an improved understanding in the community of the role of Parliament; the
functions of the electoral commission; and the role civil society organizations play in
promoting good governance and supporting an improved understanding of governance
concepts in the community.

This Annual Report 2013 covers the initial establishment and initial implementation phases
of the Programme, and in particular, the period from the end of October when, with the
TGSP Programme Coordinator/Parliamentary Advisor, Mark Burton, and the Civic

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Education & Advocacy Specialist, Gabriela Nones commencing duties in Nuku’alofa, the
Programme moved into full implementation.

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PROGRAMME

The early stages of the Programme involved the deployment of a short term implementation
and advisory support (Interim Programme Coordinator) to help establish the Programme
and implement selected activities of the signed 2013 Annual Work Plan, while UNDP in
close collaboration with the three responsible parties began to recruit international and
national programme staff.

The Interim Programme Coordinator held a series of initial consultation meetings with key
stakeholders including:

 The Speaker and Clerk of the Parliament
 Senior Parliament Staff
 The Chair and Election Supervisor of the Tonga Electoral Commission
 The Chair and Exec Director of the Civil Society Forum of Tonga
 The CE of Ministry of Education

These meetings helped reinforce the purpose of the Programme, and identify immediate
issues, concerns and priorities for the key stakeholders.

TGSP PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT UNIT ESTABLISHED

With the TGSP Programme Coordinator/Parliamentary Advisor, and the Civic Education &
Advocacy Specialist appointed and commencing duties at the end of October, the TGSP
Programme Management Unit (PMU) which provides support to each of the three
components was established, and the Programme moved into full implementation.

The Programme team will involve a total of nine staff (including the Programme
Coordinator/Parliamentary Advisor and the Civic Education & Advocacy Specialist) and are
located in the PMU, the Parliamentary Secretariat, the Civil Society Forum of Tonga
(CSFT), and the Tonga Electoral Commission (TEC). These staff members are a key
element in addressing the TGSP’s aim to help strengthen and build the capacity of the
Parliament, civil society and Tonga Electoral Commission.

The TGSP team when fully staffed includes:

 One Programme Coordinator & Parliament Advisor
 One Civic Education & Advocacy Specialist
 Six specialists who will provide technical support and assistance to the three

components.

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 One Programme Associate.

The status of the balance of the programme staff positions as at December 31st was as
follows:

No. Name Commenced/Commencing Position
Appointment

1. Manase Faukimoana 04 Nov 2013 Parliamentary Education
Officer

2. Lesieli Lokotui Nai 04 Nov 2013 Civic Education Research
Assistant (TEC)

3. Haitelenisia Uhila 11 Nov 2013 Civic Education Research
Assistant (CSFT)

4. Loupua Pahulu Kuli 14 Nov 2013 Parliamentary Research
Officer

5. Hortensie Ngalu 18 Nov 2013 Civic Education Research
Assistant (Parliament)

6. Silivia Atiola 06 January 2014 Parliamentary Research
Officer

7. Appointment process Programme Associate
progressing

Overall, the TGSP has been fortunate in the quality and qualifications of the programme
staff recruited.

An induction training programme has been planned with the UNDP MCO in Suva providing
Finance, HR and procurement specialists for training the TGSP team in Nuku’alofa in early
January.

PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION

Engagement with Stakeholders: During this initial stage of the programme, a first round
of familiarization and working consultation meetings have been held with most key
stakeholders such as:

 The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
 The Clerk and Deputy Clerk of the House

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 Ministry of Finance & National Planning - Secretary for Finance and National
Planning

 Tonga Electoral Commission - Chair, Commissioner, and Assistant Supervisor
of Elections

 Civil Society Forum Tonga – Chairperson and Executive Director
 Ministry of Internal Affairs – CEO
 Ministry of Finance & National Planning - Principal Economist
 Australian High Commission – High Commissioner; First Secretary, Second

Secretary, and the Senior Program Manager, Economic and Public Sector &
Climate Change
 NZ High Commission - High Commissioner; Deputy High Commissioner
 Director of the Australian Aid Program’s Polynesia & Micronesia Section
 HRH Princess Mele Siu’ilikutapu
 The Attorney General
 Ministry of Education - Acting Director
 Embassy of Japan – Ambassador

Subsequently, a number of follow-up meetings have been held, and more scheduled,
addressing specific programme outputs/activities including:

 the re-scheduling of the Women’s Practice Parliament to April 2014;
 the scheduling of an MPs annual briefing/workshop for March 2014;
 improved office space and equipment for Parliamentary Secretariat staff;
 a back-up computer system and shared networking system for the Tonga

Electoral Commission;
 Parliamentary committee hearings including in the outer islands.

All of these were subsequently included in the 2014 Draft Work Plan (discussed below).
Further meetings are scheduled with other key stakeholders, including Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and Minister of Education.

In addition, with particular reference to the Political Governance Output, informal dialogue
has also commenced with a number of MPs, and the Clerk of the House, with formal
meetings being scheduled, to begin to review professional, procedural and issues training,
and professional development needs and priorities for Parliamentarians and the
Parliamentary Secretariat.

TGSP staff also attended and participated in the IPU Pacific Parliaments Conference
hosted by the Tongan Parliament in Nuku’alofa in November.

It has been important to acknowledge to stakeholders the delays in completing key
appointments during 2013, and the resulting slippage in the 2013 TGSP Work Plan. The
Programme staff have emphasized to stakeholders their commitment to progressing the
programme objectives as effectively and in as timely a manner as possible. Accordingly,
discussions with stakeholders have focused on programme activity priorities across all of
the programme outputs, and in particular on possible 2013/14 work plan adjustments.

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Stakeholder Meeting/Workshop - "Defining Priorities for 2014 Work Plan": Building on
this early dialogue, and recognizing that it is essential that key local stakeholders are not
only consulted, but also involved in shaping the draft 2014 Work Plan, a combined meeting
with key stakeholders was organised for November 20th. Key invitees to this
meeting/workshop included:

 Gloria Pole'o - Clerk of the Legislative Assembly

 Lopeti Senituli – CEO Ministry of Internal Affairs

 Pita Vuki – Supervisor of Elections & Commissioner – Tonga Electoral
Commission

 Siale ‘Ilolahia - Executive Director of the Civil Society Forum of Tonga

 'Emily Moala Pouvalu - Director of Education

 Lilika Fusimalohi - Australian Aid

 Natalia Palu Latu – Principal Economist – Ministry of Finance & National
Planning

 Milika Tuita – Country Development Manager – UNDP

 Dr. Sione Vikilani, Deputy Clerk of the Legislative Assembly

The Workshop was very successful, with the input from stakeholders helping to produce a
draft Work Plan that has credibility with local stakeholders, and which provides assurance to
them that identified programme priorities are going to be implemented. This stakeholder
input was significantly reflected in the Draft 2014 Work Plan (AWP) provided to the first
meeting of the TGSP Board the following week.

First Meeting of the TGSP Board: The TGSP Board held its first meeting on November
28th with members reflecting the interests of the Government and Legislative Assembly of
Tonga, and UNDP - who carry co-chair responsibility; along with senior supplier and senior
local partner representatives.

The Board received and discussed a status update, financial report and the Draft 2014
Annual Work Plan. The Board expressed its satisfaction with progress now being made,
and following detailed consideration and deliberation, approved the Draft 2014 Annual Work
Plan.

Programme Outputs: In addition to the staff appointments and activities outlined above,
further progress has been made with a number of activities across the primary Programme
Outputs including:

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Output 1 Legislative Assembly strengthened to effectively carry out its oversight,
representative and legislative functions

 Work has commenced on the revision of the Handbook for Members of
Parliament

 Work has commenced with the Clerk of the House and the Attorney General on
planning for an annual briefing session for MPs

 Planning work has commenced in conjunction with the Parliamentary Secretariat,
for a series of joint committee briefings, enquiries and 14 hearings for 2
committees around Tongatapu and the outer island groups [Related preliminary
work has commenced on building complementary civic education activities to
support effective 2 way engagement through the committee process]

 The review of draft staff policy and guidelines to include sensitive Equal
Employment Opportunity Policy has been allocated to a team member and work
will commence in Q1 2014.

 Procurement of key IT equipment has been actioned and renovations made to an
area of the Secretariat Office floor to enable more effective use of the space, and
to establish a secure Parliamentary Library.

Output 2: Capacity of CSOs, education providers and communities strengthened for
increased participation in law making, policy and oversight processes

 Preliminary scoping and research work has commenced on mapping exercise on
process and policies on access to information of Government and Parliamentary
processes for preparation of legislation, the national strategy and budget to
identify key opportunities for engagement with CSO

 Preliminary work has commenced on baseline research and analysis to identify
community understanding of democracy, human rights and the process of reform
to date

 Options are being explored, including linking this function to an existing Civil
Society Leadership Committee, to establish a steering committee to review
research findings and based on the research, agree on content and coverage
and propose schedule of civic education activities

 In order to ensure the most appropriate material is developed for use by
teachers, discussions have been held with a number of stakeholders to begin to
establish an understanding of existing, proposed, and potential Form 3-6 and
form 7 curriculum materials.

Output 3: Capacity of Tonga Electoral Commission enhanced to ensure the effective
conduct of free and fair national and local elections

 Discussions held to advance the staging of a BRIDGE workshop and follow-up
curriculum development and trainer trining

 Preliminary scoping of equipment upgrade to provide server, router and back-up
system in TEC office. Australian Electoral Commission consulted on technical
specifications.

R. Mark Burton

TGSP Parliamentary Advisor & Programme Coordinator
Tonga Governance Strengthening Programme

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