Japan funded program for strengthening legislative capacity in Pacific Island countries launches
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- Published: Sunday, 23 December 2018 23:43
- Written by Bill Jaynes
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Embassy of Japan
September 13, 2018
Palikir, Pohnpei—On September 13, 2018 His Excellency Ryoichi Horie, Ambassador of Japan attended the launching event of the Strengthening Legislatures’ Capacity in the Pacific Island Countries Project at the FSM Congress in Palikir, Pohnpei.
The project “Strengthening Legislatures’ Capacity in the Pacific Island Countries” is a three-year project (2018-2020) that focuses of strengthening the six Pacific Parliaments: Federated States of Micronesia, Independent State of Samoa, Republic of Fiji, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Republic of Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands. The goal of the projects is for the lawmaking bodies to become more effective, efficient, inclusive and transparent. The project contributes to strengthening the capacity of legislatures to undertake their legislative, oversight and representation mandates, with a special focus on engaging with key development issues. It aims to build capacities of Members of Parliament and the professional skills of parliamentary staff, as well as parliaments and the budget process.
The Government of Japan signed an “Exchange of Note” for the program with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on March 5, 2018 in Suva, Fiji. The project is implemented by the UNDP through funding of USD 5.2 million provided by the Government of Japan.
The Hon. Wesley Simina, Speaker of the FSM Congress thanked the Government of Japan and UNDP for the opportunity to learn more about the roles of the Congress in the democratic system. He said that the program would provide a variety of trainings that target not only the congress members but also the staff members of the FSM Congress.
His Excellency Ryoichi Horie, Ambassador of Japan presented his remarks stating that Japan has been providing technical assistance in the field of capacity building. He said that Japan adopted the democratic parliamentary system more than one hundred years ago and has been continuously changing and improving the democratic system since then. He added that each country should develop and improve its democracy based upon its own culture. He said that he hoped the project would improve the democracy and political systems of the FSM.
Following Ambassador Horie’s remarks, Mr. Jean-Raphael Giullani, the Parlimentary Development Specialist of UNDP congratulated FSM Congress for launching the project and expressed his sincere gratitude to the Government of Japan.
