Pacific Floating Budget Office Mission 2025 Commences at Legislative Assembly of Tonga

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The Pacific Floating Budget Office Mission 2025 has officially commenced its work at the Legislative Assembly of Tonga, under the Pacific Parliamentary Effectiveness Initiative (PPEI). The mission aims to strengthen parliamentary budget oversight and support informed decision-making by Members of Parliament.

Over the next 10 days, a team of nine researchers and one consultant from the Parliaments of Fiji, New Zealand, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu will collaborate closely with the Tongan Parliament. Their objective is to deliver budget briefings to assist MPs in preparing for the upcoming national budget deliberations.

The mission was officially launched by Dr. Sione Vikilani, Deputy Clerk of Parliament, who welcomed the regional delegation.

“We are honoured to host this important regional initiative. It reflects our shared commitment across the Pacific to improving financial oversight, budget transparency, and policy effectiveness,” said Dr. Vikilani.

He highlighted the value of partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and other Pacific parliaments, noting that the Floating Budget Office model serves as a vital tool for building parliamentary capacity.

“This mission empowers our MPs to ask informed questions, scrutinize proposals effectively, and engage meaningfully in the national budget process,” he added.

The Floating Budget Office Mission is supported by UNDP through the Pacific Parliamentary Effectiveness Initiative (PPEI).

This initiative not only strengthens Tonga’s legislative capacity but also enhances regional collaboration through the sharing of expertise and best practices among Pacific parliaments.