CSO Discussion to leverage Development Effectiveness as Post Covid-19 Priority
Development cooperation that is effective manifests in reduced poverty and sustainable and inclusive development.
At the opening of the Fiji Council of Social Services (FCOSS) Development Effectiveness Week yesterday, its umbrella body, the Pacific Islands Association of Non -Governmental Organisation (PIANGO) reiterated that amplifying voices of the communities and holding government to account are imperative to accelerate development that is effective and just.
FCOSS President who is also the Board Secretary of PIANGO, Sepesa Rasili said now is the time for members to be open to uncomfortable conversations as they increase understanding of their roles in ensuring their communities’ voices are heard.
“Development is about building relationships, linking their different priorities, making the connections and engage with leaders at the national, regional and global levels,” Mr Rasili said.
PIANGO Board Secretary and President of the Fiji Council of Social Services (FCOSS), Sepesa Rasili left with Evalutation Monitoring & Learning Officer, Melaia Kubuabola-Vatubua and Programme Manager, Josaia Jirauni at the Development Effectiveness Week workshop at the Pacific Theological College in Suva.
PIANGO Deputy Executive Director, Josaia Jirauni emphasized the mutual accountability mechanism to be able to track and monitor and at the same time push for a stronger CSO voice when holding governments to account.
Mr Jirauni said as development actors in our own right, CSOs must be committed to take pro-active actions to promoting rights based approach while being fully accountable for the assistance they receive from development partners to advance social and economic development.
He said to demonstrate CSO accountability to the people and the community they serve is important in the effort to demonstrate development effectiveness.
The four-day Development Effectiveness Week aims to strengthen CSO awareness and application of effective development cooperation principles.
“The Busan Principles, as the compass for effective development cooperation, is a topic we should be revisiting with our development partners post Covid-19 as well as after the multiple disasters we have experienced because we need to reconfigure how we do development so that includes those who have been left behind,” said FCOSS executive director, Vani Catanasiga.
While a workshop for FCOSS members continues today at the Pacific Theological College, Minister for Economy, Aiyaz Saiyad Khaiyum is expected to open the National CSO Forum on Effective Development cooperation at the Holiday Inn tomorrow.