PIANGO to Hold CSO Forum in Pohnpei

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PIANGO to Hold CSO Forum in Pohnpei

Date: 1 September 2016

Suva - About 80 regional civil society representatives are expected to converge in Pohnpei, FSM for a roundtable on the eve of the 2016 Pacific Island Leaders Forum meeting.

Organised by the Pacific Islands Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (PIANGO), the Civil Society Roundtable will bring together regional and national Pacific civil society actors to reflect on the PIF Leaders agenda as well as other issues of civil society issues of concern.

“Not only is it an opportunity for regional actors to dialogue with national civil society actors on the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting agenda but also to strengthen CSO Partnerships for Development Effectiveness between Northern Pacific CSOs and CSOs in the South and Western Pacific,” said PIANGO executive director, Emele Duituturaga.

Duituturaga said it’s also an opportunity to engage in a multi-stakeholder discussion of CSO enabling environment and exchange on information on current priority development issues affecting CSOs in the Northern Pacific.

“Key themes that the roundtable will include are Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals, Framework for Pacific Regionalism, Decolonisation and Self-determination - the case of West Papua, Compact of Free Association, Women and Gender development, Next Generation Leadership and the role of umbrella platforms,” she said.

“No doubt, at the national level, a large number of civil society groups are still unaware of the SDGs and new Framework for Pacific Regionalism, nor do they have access or the capacity to influence regional policy dialogue.”

“For both these policy frameworks to have meaningful impact on the lives of Pacific peoples, the vital role of civil society needs to be supported. CSOs are now recognised as equally important development actors in their own right with the emphasis on inclusive development and inclusive partnerships.”

She said while this is applauded, attention must be given to strengthening of CSO capacity, impact and influence of the regional and national development agenda.

“Most importantly, how policy outcomes translate into tangible development benefits at the local and community levels,” Duituturaga said.
ENDS

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