National policies must deliver real results, leaders told

Leaders at a national policy dialogue in Suva yesterday were told that strong plans mean little without effective delivery.

The dialogue brought together Government agencies, development partners, civil society and the private sector to examine how national priorities are funded, implemented and measured under Fiji’s National Development Plan 2025–2029 and Vision 2050.

National Planning Permanent Secretary Peni Sikivou said Fiji had a clear development direction, but progress depends on how well priorities, funding and implementation are connected.

He said well-designed policies could fail if financing was unclear, coordination weak and accountability systems not strong.

“Better results do not come from good intentions alone,” Sikivou said.
“They come from strong systems, reliable data and coordination across institutions.”

He said Fiji’s National Budget runs from August 1, 2025, to July 31, 2026. It requires ministries to prioritise spending carefully and align programmes with national goals. When this link is weak, projects can stall and expectations may not be met.

He said decisions must be based on evidence and supported by strong monitoring systems to track whether programmes are working and allow adjustments when needed.

The dialogue also examined how national planning connects with regional commitments, including the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, which promotes resilience, inclusion and sustainable growth across Pacific nations.

United Nations Development Programme Deputy Resident Representative Abduvakkos Abdurahmanov said public finance must focus on people, not just policy frameworks.

“Public finance is about how decisions on paper affect lives in practice,” he said.

He said stronger links between planning, budgeting and delivery help governments manage risks such as climate disasters and economic shocks, challenges that continue to affect development progress in Fiji.

Abdurahmanov also acknowledged improvements in transparency, including digital access to budget information, which he said strengthens public trust and accountability.

Officials said the central message of the dialogue was clear: national plans must translate into better services, stronger opportunities and greater resilience for communities.

Meanwhile, Sikivou said sustained co-operation between Government and partners was essential to ensure development commitments produce real results.

“When we talk about policy and budgets, we are really talking about whether people experience better lives,” he said.