CPA Secretary-General visits Parliament of Samoa to sign memorandum of understanding following Democratic Benchmarks self-assessment

The Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Stephen Twigg visited the Parliament of Samoa in Apia on 24 October 2024. 

The CPA Secretary-General met with the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Samoa, Hon. Papalii Lio Oloipola Taeu Masipau and briefed Members of the CPA Samoa Branch on the latest activities of the CPA, its work in the CPA Pacific Region and preparations for the 67th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Sydney this November. 

The CPA Secretariat delegation was in Samoa for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2024 taking place from 21 to 26 October. The Speaker of the Samoa Legislative Assembly updated the CPA Secretary-General on the progress of the conference and preparations for the Commonwealth Foreign Ministers Roundtable with Civil Society and Associated Organisations. As part of the conference, the CPA also organised a side event on inclusive leadership, focussing on barriers to political participation for marginalised groups that featured Members of Parliament from Fiji, South Africa and New Zealand. 

During the CPA Branch visit, the CPA Secretary General and the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Samoa signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the outcomes of the CPA Democratic Benchmarks Assessment that took place earlier this year and outlining a roadmap for technical assistance over the next two years from November 2024 to November 2026. These activities align with the outcomes of the CPA Benchmarks for Democratic Legislatures Self-Assessment Report for Samoa in June 2024. 

The CPA Recommended Benchmarks for Democratic Legislatures are a set of indicators that Legislatures can measure themselves against. They are a 'minimum' set of standards and are applicable to large and small, unicameral or bicameral Legislatures across the countries and jurisdictions of the Commonwealth.   

As part of the visit to the Samoa Parliament, the CPA Secretary General and the Speaker also discussed a new report that highlights the success of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association’s Good Governance Project, with funding from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The aim of the project is to further parliamentary democracy and good governance across the Commonwealth. 

The Commonwealth Good Governance Project 2023/2024 Outcome Report has been developed to provide a summary overview of the project and assess its success against planned outputs and outcomes. The report provides a background to the project, a summary of outcomes and key learnings. The report also provides a case study from Samoa, as well as from Fiji, Tonga, Namibia, The Maldives, Kiribati, Lesotho and The Gambia. 

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The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association connects, develops, promotes and supports Parliamentarians and their staff to identify benchmarks of good governance and the implementation of the enduring values of the Commonwealth. The CPA is an international community of around 180 Commonwealth Parliaments and Legislatures working together to deepen the Commonwealth’s commitment to the highest standards of democratic governance.

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