Fijian Parliament leads Pacific push for parliamentary digital transformation

The Fijian Parliament has taken a leading role in advancing digital transformation across Pacific legislatures, as highlighted in an update by the Secretary-General to Parliament, Mrs Jeanette Emberson at the 151st Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly’s Association of Secretaries General of Parliaments (ASGP) Meeting.

During the session on IPU Centre for Innovation in Parliament, the Secretary-General to Parliament shared key developments since the Fijian Parliament assumed co-ordination of the Pacific Regional Hub for Digital Transformation and Innovation in April 2025.

This transition was formalised through a Co-operation Agreement signed during the 150th IPU Assembly in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, between the IPU’s Secretary-General Martin Chungong and the Fijian Parliament.

“Digital transformation is the most pressing issue facing our region,” Mrs Emberson stated, reflecting on the outcomes of the Hub’s first online meeting held in June, which included representatives from Kiribati, Palau, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and the Federated States of Micronesia.

The Hub’s foundation was laid in March with a three-day workshop in Suva, co-hosted with the UNDP Fiji Parliament Support Project, bringing together clerks and IT managers from 12 Pacific parliaments.

Some of the key challenges identified by Pacific legislatures include low digital literacy amongst Members of Parliament and staff; budgetary constraints; and lack of IT governance and limited IT staffing and technical expertise.

Recently, the Hub launched a monthly webinar series focused on practical solutions which featured sessions on Fiji’s AI-powered transcription tools, showcased alongside Barbados in September and a joint presentation by the Parliaments of Vanuatu and Fiji on parliamentary website management in October.

Mrs Emberson highlighted that the attendance has grown steadily, with participation from IT managers, public information officers, and clerks across eight Pacific parliaments.

Looking ahead, she noted that the Hub – under the leadership of Fiji’s ICT Manager Mr Maika Lakeba and with support from the IPU Centre for Innovation – will host webinars on cybersecurity, cloud migration, and AI applications, aiming to build a sustainable platform for regional collaboration.

“Even small Parliaments, working together, can drive meaningful digital transformation. Fiji remains committed to strengthening co-operation with the IPU and Pacific parliaments on this vital priority area,” Mrs Emberson concluded.