Tokelau and UNDP to Advance Governance and Leadership

Apia, Samoa – 04 March 2025 – The Government of Tokelau and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are coming together in a historic partnership to strengthen governance and leadership on Tokelau’s three atolls.

Under the Tokelau Governance and Leadership Initiation Plan Project, the two entities will work together to set up the governance structure and mechanism, as well as the management unit needed to get this project underway.

The project aims to strengthen governance institutions to make informed and transparent decisions, strengthen policy and legal frameworks, and enhance governance and leadership capacities in line with Tokelau’s National Strategic Plan 2021-2026.

The Tokelau Governance & Leadership Project was formulated through extensive consultations with national stakeholders endorsed by both the Council for the Ongoing Government of Tokelau, and UNDP.

“The Government of Tokelau is committed to strengthening its governance and leadership as articulated in our national plan, and the Tokelau Governance and Leadership Programme provides an excellent opportunity to work collaboratively with our development partners to deliver the expected outcomes,” said Aukusitino Vitale, General Manager, Office of the Council of the Government of Tokelau.

Fono a Tokelau in session. Image/ Government of Tokelau

“As such, the Government of Tokelau acknowledges with gratitude initial funding made available through current partnerships between New Zealand MFAT and Australia DFAT as well as seed funding provided by UNDP.”

Initial discussions were held in 2021-2022 between the Government of Tokelau and UNDP on a potential partnership opportunity to conceptualize innovative ideas to address the governance challenges faced by Tokelau. This later transpired into the development of the Tokelau Governance and Leadership Project (TGLP) Document.

Through extensive consultations with national stakeholders regarding the project design, three specific development challenges were identified which the TGLP will aim to address: understanding of governance structures, roles, and processes; capacity of governance systems to deliver roles and responsibilities; and inclusive public participation in political governance.

“The UNDP Multi Country Office in Samoa is fully invested in the success of this project. Undertaken in close collaboration with the Government of Tokelau, this Governance and Leadership initiative serves to meet the aspirations of the people of Tokelau as documented in Tokelau’s National Strategic Plan 2021-2026, and the Tokelau Governance and Leadership Programme. The planned activities are home-grown solutions and will be led and driven by the Taupulega, civil servants and the recipients of the project in Tokelau, with UNDP support,” said Aliona Niculita, UNDP Resident Representative.

This initial stage of the project will focus on several key activities that include conducting a gender-sensitive stock take and audit assessment of governance operational processes, and developing gender-responsive Standard Operating Procedures, designing and rolling out a centralized digital governance database, and designing and delivering an inclusive governance and leadership training curriculum for Taupulega (village council of elders) members and civil servants.