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PIANGO Monthly 2.4

The production of the PIANGO MONTHLY is made possible through funding from the Commonwealth Foundation CCFD and NZODA.

Editorial

The month of April saw increasing fundraising activities for the Strategic planning workshop in July, Port Vila, Vanuatu. With less than 3 months to the Workshop, the Secretariat needs all the support it can get to make the workshop a success. Any assistance offered will be greatly appreciated.

Piango To Manage Millennium Project

PIANGO has been given the mandate to manage the 'Civil Society in the New Millennium' project - Pacific region. The Commonwealth Foundation-funded Millennium project was previously administered through the department of International Justice and Applied Legal Studies (IJALS) at the University of South Pacific, Suva, Fiji., through the guidance of Ms. Caren Wycliffe who is returning home to Aotearoa/New Zealand at the end of May 1999.

The Millennium project aims to identify ways to strengthen, promote, encourage and catalyse the wide variety of iniatives by citizens to address issues and problems in their everyday lives. The project has involved analysing the factors which encourage citizens to take actions ont heir concerns, and those which hinder them. From this will emerge insights in to the nature of civil society, the relationship between civil society and the state - and especially, the relationship between the individual citizen and the state.

The final result of the project will be a major report analysing key dynamics and issues concerning the role and development of civil society. The report will set out priorities and recommendations for action to strenghtn the role of the citizen in the New Millennium.

The report will be presented to the Third Commonwealth NGO Forum to be organised by the Commonwealth Foundation in South Africa in 1999, and then to the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting which will follow later this year.

(The majority of Pacific participants are members of PIANGO. Issues identified so far in this project within the Pacific region will be accommodated into the PIANGO Strategic Planning workshop to be held in Vanuatu in July 1999).

Pacific NGO Community Loses A Great Leader

We are sad to announce to our readership the sudden passing away of PIANGO's Environment Working Group Convener and O le Siosiomaga Society's President and Chairman of the Board, Dr. Semisi Semisi on Wednesday 21 April 1999. His funeral service took place on Wednesday 28 April 1999 in Apia, Samoa.

Dr. Semisi had been the President of the Siosiomaga Society since March 1997 and had served as a member of the Board for many years and was one of the founding members of the Society. It was under the late Dr. Semisi's leadership that the Board last year critically reviewed the activities of the Society and clarified its Vision.

As Convener of the Environment Working Group of PIANGO, Dr. Semisi was instrumental in getting the Working Group together in Nadi in November 1998 to go through a 2 day strategic planning session which has set some directions for future activities. Dr. Semisi will be missed by the Pacific NGO community. PIANGO wishes to extend its condolences to the nation of Samoa and families of Late Dr. Semisi. May his soul rest in Peace.

July Workshop Update

Planning for the July workshop is going ahead well. An organising committee has now been set up by VANGO to assist in planning for the workshop. The team consists of; Hilda Taleo (CUSO); Andonia Lynch (Private); Lai Sakita (National Community Development Trust), Harry Umpkon (VANGO), George Pedro (Wan Smol Bag), Edi Kalopele (Mele Community), Ashley Karae and Henry Vira (PIANGO).

T-Shirts and polo shirts promoting the PIANGO July workshop are now on sale at VANGO. VANGO's contact is: P.O Box 096
Port Vila, Vanuatu
Tel/fax: 678 26034
E-mail: vango@wantok.org.vu

Transparency International - Vanuatu Chapter?

Transparency International has been approached by various interest groups within Vanuatu, including the Ombudsman's office to look at the possibility of setting up a Chapter in Port Vila, Vanuatu. PIANGO was invited by the Ombudsman's office to take part in a meeting in Port Vila on the 14th of April 1999 to consider the proposition. Some of the other organizations that were represented included; National Union of Labour, Ombudsman's office, Financial Services Commission and Police Department. Transparency International was represented in the meeting by Mr. Peter Rooke from the Australian Chapter.

The meeting was organized with the help of Friedrich Ebert Stifung (FES), a German-based Development Agency. FES has been the main funding agency supporting the Pacific Islands Broadcasting Association (PIBA).

Piango Member Profile
Fiji Council Of Social Services (FCOSS)

Mission Statement:
FCOSS exists to provide a focal point for Fiji Civil Society Organisations and supports people centered development initiatives of the community, fostering strength and self sufficiency of local organisations.

FCOSS was established in 1957 and currently has membership of over 300. Areas of involvement has included:

  • fostering development of Civil Society Organisations across Fiji
  • influencing government's social and economic policies
  • ensuring concerns of member organisations are heard in the public arena and by the authorities
  • producing well informed researches to highlight needs of low income earners and disadvantaged people and to identify gaps in service provision
  • fostering links between member agencies and with other organisations which have similar objectives
  • assist member organisations in delivering humanitarian services effectively and efficiently.

Services to members
Liaison

  • maintains links with mebers agencies, coordinating their views and interests
  • publishes “Voluntary Action Network” Quarterly
  • holds meeting with member agencies
  • liases with politicians, government departments and policy makers
  • serves as Fiji's national member to the International Council of Social WElfare (ICSW), CIVICUS International, Asia Pacific Forum for family and International Association of Volunteer Effort and PIANGO

Advocacy

  • preprares submissions to government and advisory bodies. Recent submissions have addressed issues related to poverty, taxation, crime and social welfare services
  • create forums fo networking voices concerns on issues affecting the voluntary sector

National Conference on Social Development
Annual gathering of CSOs to address issues of community concern

Training
To strengthen management capabilities of CSOs through regular training programmes. Recent workshops and seminars have included organisational strengthening, financial accountability and project management.

Development and Project Fund
To provide support for self reliance activities which enhances the social and economic development of small groups, provides skills, training and improves quality of life.

FCOSS Contact:
The Director,
FCOSS
P.O. Box 13476
Suva, Fiji

Phone: 679 312649 / 315412
Fax: 679 302936
E-mail: fcoss@is.com.fj

Australia Consultation / Networking (10-17 April 1999)

PIANGO Coordinator was in Australia from the 10th to the 17th of April 1999 networking and attending various consultations with donor agencies for possible assistance for the July Workshop in Vanuatu.

The week-long trip covered Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney. Organizations met during the trip included Australia Volunteer International (formerly OSB), Community Aid Abroad, World Vision, Asia South Pacific Bureau of Adult Eduation (ASPBAE), AusAid, Canada Fund, ACFOA, National Council of Churches - Australia, Uniting Church - Australia. The Coordinator also met with members of PIANGO's Indigenous Rights Working Group based in Australia.

The trip also included giving a talk to Community Development Students at the Victoria University of Technology. The Coordinator was also requested and assisted in briefing Australia Volunteers International volunteers bound for the Pacific. Due to time contraints, the coordinator was only able to meet a limited number of people while in Australia.

The PIANGO Coordinator wishes to thank the following people for their assistance: John Taylor (CIDA/UNDP), Bill Armstrong (OSB), Cathy Emery (OSB), David Feith (OSB), Damian O'Keefe (CAA), Gwen Gibbon (OSB), Bernie Lovegrove (ASPBAE), Janet Hunt and her staff (ACFOA), Rosemary McKay (AusAid), Lyn Vassalo (Canada Fund)/

(The trip to Australia was made possible through funding from Canada Fund.)

INTERNATIONAL FORUM ON CAPACITY BUILDING (IFCB) /ASIA SOUTH PACIFIC BUREAU FOR ADULT EDUCATION (ASPBAE) NGO CONSULTATION

PIANGO coordinator represented the organization at the IFCB/ASPBAE Capacity Building consultation with Polynesian NGO leaders. This was a follow-on from the Port Moresby consultation which was held with Melanesian NGO leaders. Participants were grouped into particular island countries to discuss own country experiences on Capacity Building. Groups were then required to prioritize areas of concern. Donor agencies also took part in the deliberations and also discussed priority areas for themselves. The following points were high lighted as major areas of concern; Community Engagement, Leadership, Planning, Vision, Articulation of philosophy, Identity, Management, Relationships Among NGOs, Networking, Relationship with Government, Relationship with Business, and Relationship with Donors. PIANGO coordinator argued for untilization of the existing PIANGO network rather than re-invent the wheels. The majority of participants at the workshop were PIANGO members and affiliates. PIANGO activities and planned activities, including the council in July were presented to participants at the workshop. Participants requested that the Council in July be a follow-up to the Melanesian and Polynesian Capacity Building consultations.