PIANGO’s New Strategic Plan: Reshaping the Pacific for Future Generations
Participants at PIANGO Council Meeting
Date: 18 November 2016
Suva – The 8th Council meeting of the Pacific Islands Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (PIANGO) drew to a close today with the presentation of the organisation’s Strategic Plan 2016-2020. With the overarching theme “Reshaping the Pacific for our future generations,” the new strategic plan focuses on five primary thematic areas namely, strengthening Civil Society Organisations (CSO) platforms in the Pacific; development effectiveness; evidence-based policy advocacy; Pacific developmental leadership and CSO capacity strengthening.
Outgoing Board Chairperson Siotame Drew Havea said: “In crafting our next plan for 2016-2020, we have considered that our vision, mission and focus areas are still relevant but we still need to embrace CSO capacity strengthening; CSO accountability and the development of our Code of Minimum Standards, a programme for our Next Generation Leadership and responding to the need for humanitarian assistance. We have also become more vocal on advocating for decolonization and self-determination, specifically in support of West Papua.
“Our responsibility is to see PIANGO relevant in the Pacific for the next 25 years. PIANGO can do this with the support of its members, being inclusive and setting the development effectiveness agenda; engaging with the SAMOA Pathway, the Suva Declaration endorsed by Pacific leaders and championing the Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2030 at all levels,” Mr Havea said.
The PIANGO Council, which had as its theme “Leaving no one behind in reshaping the Pacific we want”, also elected its new Chairperson and Board today.
Incoming Chair Sarah Thomas Nededog is from PIANGO’s National Liaison Unit (NLU) Payuta in Guam and new Board representatives consist of PIANGO members from the Cook Islands, Fiji, Nauru, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa and the Solomon Islands.
New PIANGO Board Sworn In
Ms Nededog said that was overwhelmed with emotion and humility at the trust and responsibility that bestowed on her as new Chair of PIANGO.
“This is the first time that Guam has been elected as PIANGO Chair and it makes a statement that regardless of our political, cultural and social differences we all hold the best interests of the Pacific at heart. PIANGO has entered into a new era and none of it would have been possible without the support of all PIANGO’s members, its Board, secretariat and Executive Director,” she said.
The 8th PIANGO Council was attended by National Liaison Units (NLUs) from Aotearoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Guam, Kanaky, Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu as well as representatives from Papua, Bougainville, CIVICUS, regional and international organisations.
ENDS