transparency
p. 10 · Read in the full issue
An exercise in transparency
The South Pacific Commission
(SPC) is undergoing a major exer
cise in what could best be termed “an exercise in transparency”, designed to ensure accountability, particularly in the face of tough competition for the region’s dwindling financial and other resources.
The commission first accepted donor funding to expand its fisheries programme in the 19705. It soon became hooked on the idea of enhancing its services to the Islands through competition for some of the bounteous extra-budgetary project funding floating around during the 1980 s.
But transition from the conservative use of guaranteed membership funds was not easy. Coupled with this, there was also
competition for extra-budgetary funds:
The changing nature of donor priorities; the discipline of accountability; and prob lems in negotiations with donors to con tend with.
Over the years, a lack of communica tion and financial accountability among many organisation has had aid donors per plexed and, in some instances, has shown the SPC to be an organisation which believed donors should simply give it money and then have the sensitivity not to be too pushy.
All this came to a head in the 1990 s when exasperated donors confronted a protective SPC - but to no avail.
This prompted Australia and New Zealand to field candidates for the job of secretary-general last year - the first time metropolitan countries had done so in 25 years.
The gesture demonstrated their com mitment to the long-term future of the organisation and signalled the need for operational change. And change, it seems, has since become the operative word of the commission’s new management team.
Variations have been made in the organi sation’s management style following the
appointment of new secretary-general
(Australia’s Dr Bob Dun) and his two deputies (Solomon Islands’ Dr Jimmie Rodgers and Guam’s Lourdes
Pangelinian).
This executive team has taken on a
more personal approach to running the commission and operational changes are
definitely having an impact.
With fierce competition for extra-bud getary funds from metropolitan states and a rapidly decreasing core budget, the SPC is diligently trying to make the best use of its current funds while watching various mouseholes for the proverbial “pot of gold”.
Dr Dun, in keeping with his initial pri
ority towards enhancing SPC’s reputation
with donors, made initial contacts with the big five in the Pacific - Australia, New Zealand, the European Union, the United
Nations Development Programme and
France.
Valuable contacts with the United Kingdom, who recently withdrew its membership of the commission, the United States and Japan have also been made.
“If we fix the problem of a lack of financial reporting, donor confidence will bounce back. We can’t serve the Islands well if the donors don’t trust us with their money ... more of their money,” Dr Dun says.
The US Congress, in a recent resolu tion, emphasised the importance of con tinued US membership in regional South Pacific organisations. While the resolu tion in itself lacks the force of law, it is a way for Congress to express its views on foreign policy and domestic issues and, if nothing else, makes for encouraging read
ing.
The resolution notes the need to con tinue to support efforts of regional coun tries in their quest for sustainable devel opment and recognises the role and finan cial contribution of the US to assist the SPC in achieving the gradual self-suffi ciency of its member countries.
And in keeping with the ideology of operational changes and cost-paring, the commission has begun various cutbacks
in executive expenditure, including
restricting travel to essential commit ments and the abolishment of travelling teams.
Electricity costs have been nearly halved with the SPC headquarters in
Noumea no longer being lit up like a bat
tleship at night.
Dr Dun insists, however, that these
savings are “just peanuts” and emphasises
the need for a major lift in efficiency in light of over-committed administrative and service costs.
The commission is also undergoing a major review, conducted by an indepen dent three-member team led by Savenaca Siwatibau of ESCAP’s Pacific Operations Centre.
The review team’s recommendations are currently being drawn up and will be tabled at the SPC’s conference in Saipan in October following consultation with member countries and territories.
So far, the team’s initial findings are encouraging and point to substantial cost
saving through restructuring of the com
mission’s present top-heavy framework.
The team was scheduled to meet in Suva in mid-July. But, following a study of the commission’s Noumea headquar ters, the team suggested a re-examination of the relationship between the conference and the SPC executive team with the lat ter adopting a stronger managerial-style role and the former maintaining its policy control.
The team also felt the secretary-gener al should be held responsible for all actions and decisions affecting the com mission. It stated that, as chief executive, he be judged on the organisation’s perfor mance and, if found wanting, dismissed.
While it is still early days to discuss programmes, it seems certain the review team will recommend a special pro gramme for the region’s small Island states.
And on the eve of this grand old lady’s 50th anniversary of .existence, Dr Dun sums it up when he says: “We’re in the game of co-operation and service in the Pacific ... and we’re going to be here for the next 50 better and brighter years.” ■ Debbie Singh, former editor of Pacific Islands Monthly, is the Information Officer with the South Pacific Commission’s Pacific Women’s Resource Bureau