24 March 2016
Building Resources in Democracy, Governance and Elections workshop in the Solomon Islands
Electoral officials from across Melanesia benefited from a regional Building Resources in Democracy, Governance and Elections (BRIDGE) workshop in Honiara recently.
Funded by the Australian Government through the Pacific Islands, Australia and New Zealand Electoral Administrators (PIANZEA) Network, the workshop was designed to build participants understanding of different electoral systems and explore the reasons why countries choose different electoral systems.
Australian High Commission Andrew Byrne and Permanent Secretary of Home Affairs, Mr George Palua attended the certificates presentation ceremony on completion of the workshop.
“Australia is pleased to support opportunities for electoral officials from across the region to come together to develop their skills and knowledge”, said Mr Byrne.
“The PIANZEA Network offers really valuable support to member countries including through the delivery of high quality training and mentoring on key electoral management issues”.
The workshop included 24 participants from Fiji, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands. The Melanesian participants are from each of country’s electoral bodies and the workshop will be jointly delivered by a team of election officials from Australia, Fiji, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.
The Pacific Islands, Australia and New Zealand Electoral Administrators (PIANZEA) Network, a regional association of 17 electoral management bodies from across the Pacific, is delivering the workshop in partnership with the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission (SIEC).