South Pacific Officials Learn More about the Commonwealth Secretariat

Pacific attachment officers Rence Sore from Solomon Islands; Rokobua Veronika Naiyaga from Fiji Islands, and Pyon Deiye from Nauru.

Three officials from the South Pacific are on an attachment with the Commonwealth Secretariat to learn more about its technical assistance programme to promote sustainable development in the Commonwealth. During their three-and-a-half month training programme from September to mid-December 2005, they will be attached to various divisions in the Secretariat that are related to their duties in their respective countries.

Rokobua Veronika Naiyaga, Chief Planning Officer from the Policy Analysis Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister of Fiji Islands, has been attached to the Secretariat's Social Transformation Programmes Division (STPD) since 1 September 2005.

"I'm learning about the work at STPD and its projects on education, gender and health. I'll soon be moving to the Strategic Planning and Evaluation Division, which will be useful for my experience in developing my knowledge and skills in policy analysis and strategic planning," said 49-year-old Ms Naiyaga.

Pyon Deiye, Director of Foreign Assistance and Co-ordination at the Department of Foreign Affairs of Nauru, is keen to learn about co-ordination work at an international organisation such as the Commonwealth Secretariat. He was attached to the Political Affairs Division and is currently with the Special Advisory Services Division.

"Multilateral co-operation is an area that I am involved in, so it is great if I can pick up some useful tips on technical assistance in various areas of expertise that the Secretariat is noted for, including advisory services in various fields," said 31-year-old Mr Deiye.

Rence Sore, Deputy Secretary for Policy in the Office of the Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, is attached to the Project Management and Referrals Unit of the Secretariat, where he will observe how development assistance projects for Commonwealth countries are managed.

"I would like to learn about how the mandates that have been set by the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting are translated into programmes and projects by the Secretariat. I am particularly interested in the evaluation process of project proposals by governments for technical assistance that is undertaken by the Secretariat and financed by the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation," said 36-year-old Mr Sore.

He said the attachment exercise will also enable him to play a role in strengthening links between Solomon Islands and the Secretariat in joint efforts to promote growth and development.

 

CNIS - Commonwealth News and Information Service Issue 254, 28 September 2005

Key Links:

• Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation