UN Training strengthens Parliamentary response

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UN Training strengthens Parliamentary response to the achievement of the MDGs.

Friday 7th October, Apia - The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) became the focus of attention when the Samoa Parliament, gathered on Wednesday October 5th to receive training on how they can engage with the MDG’s. The Post Election MDGs Training for Parliamentarians was a joint initiative between the Legislative Assembly and the UN System and was held at the Tofilau Eti Alesana Building.

Ms Nileema Noble, UN Resident Coordinator stated “This training comes at a time when Samoa is poised well to meet all of its MDGs by 2015, as it has made good progress so far and it has in place, most of the accelerators needed to achieve them. This event is a step towards strengthened commitment from the Government of Samoa to achievement of the MDGs. “

With effective governance being a key underlying mechanism for achieving the MDGs, Parliament has a lead role to play in terms of oversight, legislation and leadership. The training provided many practical ideas for how the Members of Parliament can help ensure that Samoa meets its MDG commitments. The establishment of the MDG Special committee within the Parliament, the use of MDG progress reporting and the examination of national legislation and budgets to ensure an MDG focus are all opportunities for parliament to accelerate progress on the MDG promises.

Samoa’ s 2nd MDG Progress Report 2010 recorded that a good overall progress has been made towards the achievement of most of the MDG targets since 1990. Even though at an aggregate level Samoa is on track to meet the MDGs, progress has been slow over the past five years and in some cases slipped despite the overall good national achievements in development outcomes. In some target areas, Samoa has shown early national achievement, however there are concerns of a possible derailing due to key issues such as declines in immunization completion levels, increase in the population falling below the Basic Needs Poverty Line, low student school retention levels, low representation of women in parliament, low rates of contraceptive usage and low access to safe drinking water.

Ms Noble noted, “The most important lesson learnt is that Samoa can achieve the Millennium Development Goals. We have the resources and knowledge to accelerate progress, what is now required is the increased commitment and strengthened efforts from the Government and development partners including the United Nations System to build on the good work so far and to see through the strategies, policies and interventions.”

Achievement of the MDGs is not an expensive undertaking in most cases but needs commitment and follow-through at all levels in terms of service delivery and putting into effect appropriate policies and systems.

The MDG Training was well attended by the Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers and Members of Parliament, and the sessions were chaired by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Honourable Laauliolemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao.

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