‘No Fijian Left Behind’ - Government Pushes for Results-Driven Implementation

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Biman Prasad, has reaffirmed Government’s commitment to ensuring that “no Fijian is left behind” as it moves to turn the National Development Plan workshops (NDP) 2025–2029 into real, measurable results.

The two-day National Development Plan Implementation, Monitoring, and Evaluation Workshop aims to help ministries and agencies strengthen their capacity to deliver on the NDP’s goals.

It focuses on turning strategies into action, improving coordination between ministries, enhancing data systems, and ensuring that every government project is monitored and evaluated effectively.

The workshop also brings together key development partners, including the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) and the Pacific Community (SPC), to align Fiji’s national priorities with global commitments such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Opening the two days' workshop in Suva today, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad said the implementation stage was where “real change happens,” describing it as the heartbeat of Fiji’s development efforts.

“The National Development Plan is not just a document; it is a living roadmap for the nation’s progress. Implementation is where real change happens,” he said.

“This plan is deeply rooted in the realities our people face every day,” Professor Prasad said. “Every policy, every dollar invested must reflect our pledge that no Fijian will be left behind.”

Acting Head of Strategic Planning in the Ministry of Finance, Poonam Singh, said the workshop provides an important platform for ministries to strengthen knowledge and coordination in implementing the NDP.

“This workshop is about building teamwork and ensuring that monitoring and evaluation are not just reporting exercises, but tools that lead to better service delivery,” Ms. Singh said. 

“We are promoting transparency and accountability so that every ministry knows how its work contributes to Fiji’s broader development goals.”

Mr Prasad also revealed that 50 implementation books have been developed across ministries to ensure every goal in the plan is backed by accountability, timelines, and measurable progress.

However, he also confirmed that the 2025–2026 National Budget, with an expenditure of $4.83 billion, is fully aligned with the NDP.

“The success of any budget depends not only on how smartly we allocate funds but on how effectively we execute them,” he said. “Good policy can also be good politics when it delivers for the people.”