Overview : The TAP Project was designed as a follow up to the support provided to Solomon Islands over the previous decade, through the joint UNDP-UNODC Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Project (UN-PRAC), a regional anti-corruption project funded by the Australian Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). UN-PRAC supported the development of the Solomon Islands National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) in 2015. The NACS was eventually endorsed by the Parliament and the Cabinet in 2017 which “recognizes that corruption undermines development and sustains poverty, inhibits economic growth, drives political instability, enables the unsustainable use of natural resources, impacts the delivery of services and undermines good governance and the rule of law”. Subsequently, in order to progress with the NACS’ implementation, UN-PRAC provided technical advice and support to develop the Anti-Corruption Act, which was passed by Parliament in 2018. That Act clarified the key criminal provisions dealing with corruption and established the legal framework for a new Solomon Islands Independent Commission Against Corruption. UNDP subsequently developed the Project for Strengthening the Capacities to Combat Corruption (SCCC), which was used to support 12 months of project initiation activities in 2018. The TAP Project took over that work from 2019 and has a four-year implementation timeframe. The TAP Project has an overarching outcome which aims to support the Solomon Islands Government to address corruption, through the establishment of strengthening of key government institutions and independent bodies, and complementary partnerships with civil society, the media and the private sector. The Project has three core outputs, which are designed around existing national laws, strategies and priorities, in particular, the NACS and the 2018 Anti-Corruption Act. UNDP Solomon Islands is leading the implementation of the TAP Project but continues to access high-level technical experts working on Regional Anti-Corruption Projects and the UNDP Global Anti-Corruption Initiative (GAIN) for the benefit of Solomon Islands. In Solomon Islands, in implementing the project, UNDP works with Solomon Islands Independent Commission Against Corruption, and other integrity institutions such as the Office of the Ombudsman, Leader Code Commission, Director of Public Prosecution, Financial Intelligence Unit, Office of the Auditor General, Internal Audit amongst others. In implementing corruption prevention activities, the project works with non-state actors, notably the media, private sector, academic institution, CSOs, youth and parliament. To assist the project to deliver its activities in 2023, UNDP is seeking to recruit a consultant to support the Office of the Ombudsman and the TAP Project on FOI legislation drafting, including consultations, workshops and discussions with key Government partners as well as consultations with the Parliament on the effective FOI legislation and regime.Currently, the Solomon Islands Government has indicated that the Freedom of Information will be administered by the Office of the Ombudsman. The specific objectives are as follows: - Review and draft amendments to the Freedom of Information Act draft, based on recommendations from the consultations and in close collaboration with Office of the Ombudsman, the Project team, key stakeholders and Parliament.
- Support and facilitate the consultations, discussions, workshops and FGDs as appropriate, including with the Parliament.
- Conduct up to 3 consultative workshop on FOI draft law and its finalization with stakeholders.
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