CONSULTATION WITH CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS

Suva, Friday 14 July, 2017: A two-day consultation workshop initiated by the Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF) with a number of regional civil society organisations at the Fiji Commerce & Employers Federation conference room in Suva has ended successfully.

The workshop, which is a precursor to a national consultations workshop, scheduled for Fiji later this

month, focussed on enhancing awareness of the National Sustainable Development Boards (NSDB) to be established in every PIDF member country.

It also provided an opportunity for comment on the PIDF Strategic Plan 2017-2020, its Climate Roadmap and Pacific Climate Treaty.

“This workshop provided an opportunity for the regional civil society movement to gain first-hand knowledge of the NSDBs which will become a critical national tool for transformation to green-blue Pacific economies and bring about more transparency and accountability to regional decision making”, said the PIDF Deputy Secretary General Peni Lomaloma.

According to the Deputy Secretary General the workshop was also an exercise in finding consensus on the strategies necessary for regional change.

“We were able to provide the space for civil society to shape the organisations future through its strategic plan and climate roadmap so that it remains relevant to its members. We were able to identify deliberate, goal-oriented, inclusive regional efforts that will ensure the PIDF remains responsive to the needs of its members in the 21st century.”

The workshop was closed by PIANGO Board member Ms Litia Niumataiwalu.

The CSOs in attendance included representatives from Project Survival Pacific, University of the South Pacific, Empower Pacific, femLINKpacific, International Planned Parenthood Federation, PIANGO, Conservation International, Sustainable Environment Livelihoods for the Future & Corals for Conservation and Live & Learn Environmental Education.