Economic analysis & Research

Transforming Parliamentary Budget Oversight throughout the Pacific

Enhanced parliamentary budget oversight capacity through the design, development and deployment of analytical tools across four Pacific Island nations for UNDP, Fiji.
Client: UNDP Fiji
Sector: Parliamentary Governance & Public Financial Management
Category: Data Analytics, Public Policy Advisory, Capacity Building

Key achievements and results

  • Reduced budget analysis processing time: Repetitive budget analysis that previously took days to complete could be completed within hours. 
  • Enhanced budget oversight capacity: Enabled resource-constrained parliaments to conduct comprehensive budget analysis for parliamentarians despite severe resource constraints.
  • Sustained institutional adoption: The tool has been actively used across Pacific parliaments four years after initial deployment.

Problem

Pacific Island parliaments faced critical constraints in budget oversight capacity. Most lacked dedicated budget offices and operated with minimal analytical resources, leaving parliamentarians to vote on complex national budgets with inadequate independent analysis. The budget approval process lasted only 3-7 days, with documents often available only on introduction day, creating intense time pressure for parliamentary researchers who relied on manual processes prone to errors and requiring multiple quality assurance layers.

Approach

I designed a comprehensive Excel-based Budget Analysis Tool using robotic process automation frameworks. The solution automated key analytical processes while remaining accessible to users with limited technical capacity. Working closely with parliamentary analysts, MPs, civil society organizations, and international experts, I conducted detailed assessments of existing practices across Pacific parliaments and developed standardized processes that could work across different Pacific contexts while maintaining analytical rigor.

Results

The tool transformed budget analysis capabilities across Pacific parliaments, enabling comprehensive analysis despite severe time and resource constraints. Four years after initial deployment, the solution continues active use across the region, with analysts consistently reporting significant improvements in both analysis quality and quantity provided to MPs before critical votes. The automated system enhanced parliamentary oversight capacity and strengthened democratic processes across the Pacific, with multiple requests for expansion to additional parliaments demonstrating its sustained value and effectiveness.

Enhancing parliamentary oversight capacity and community participation in the budget process across the pacific

Gender and Resilience Officer from Live and Learn Fiji, Joseva Ravula.

Image source: UNDP, 16/9/2024, “Empowering Pacific Parliaments through Floating Budget Office”, https://www.undp.org/pacific/stories/empowering-pacific-parliaments-through-floating-budget-office

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