Vanuatu congratulated for undergoing peer review

Vanuatu congratulated for undergoing peer review

PRESS RELEASE (25/11)
20th April 2011

Vanuatu is the first of the larger Forum Island Countries (FICs) to participate in a peer review under the Cairns Compact on strengthening development coordination in the Pacific endorsed by Forum Leaders in August 2009.

The peer review is currently underway in Port Vila, Vanuatu.

“I congratulate the Government of Vanuatu for volunteering to be a part of this important exercise,” said the Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Tuiloma Neroni Slade.

“Peer reviews are an opportunity for mutual learning between FICs and development partners, about how best to address development challenges,” explained Mr Slade.

“There is much to learn from the lessons and experiences of our Pacific peers. The peer review is based on the idea of sharing insight on these important lessons, and devising strategic and realistic avenues for improving development coordination in light of countries’ unique and mutual challenges.”

The peer review will focus on Vanuatu’s national development planning, budgeting, public financial management and aid management systems and processes.

“These are very important mechanisms that countries need to perfect to achieve national priorities, as well as regional and international aspirations such as the Pacific Plan and Millennium Development Goals (MDGs),” added Mr Slade.

Smaller Island States (SIS) Nauru and Kiribati were the first to undergo peer reviews in 2010, both now reporting improved development coordination at the national level.

A peer review is carried out by government officials from other FICs, plus a development partner representative, all selected by the country that volunteers to undertake a peer review.

In Vanuatu’s case, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and New Zealand, as a development partner, have been invited to carry out the peer review.

The Vanuatu peer review team consists of Mr Joseph Turia from Papua New Guinea, Ms Litara Taulealo from Samoa, Mr Rick Woodham from the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and a support team from the Pacific Island Forum Secretariat.

The peer review team will carry out consultations throughout the week with representatives from various Vanuatu Government Ministries, Development Partners, Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) and the private sector.

This year peer reviews will also be carried out in Tuvalu and Niue.

ENDS

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