Civil Society has made a fundamental difference to the way in which government thinks about the community, says New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta.

Mahuta who made the comments whilst delivering her keynote address at the Pre PIFS CSO Forum in Suva said this helped positioned government support when CSOs collaborated with them to respond to challenges facing the community.

Over 80 Civil Society Leaders from Fiji, Tonga, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, Federated States of Micronesia, Niue, Australia and the diaspora community in Australia and New Zealand joined online and gathered in person in Suva, yesterday for the Pre PIFs Leaders Meeting CSO Forum.

She told Pacific CSOs and Development partners who were also part of the PIANGO-FCOSS event that their unique perspectives, essential input and voices have contributed to a strong and ambitious draft Pacific 2050 Strategy, that we can all be proud of.

“The 2050 Strategy is a Pacific needed solution and a testament to the regions commitment to stay connected and to work together to achieve a shared vision of a resilient pacific region of peace, harmony, security, social inclusion and prosperity that ensures all Pacific people can be free and healthy in their productive lives, Mahuta said.

PIANGO Board Secretary Sepesa Rasili stressed the significance of the 2050 Strategy in our regional architecture because it will be inherited by our children and that the opportunity to further amplify the voices of CSO sector and secure the region’s future against the challenges of today and the coming decades-for a free, safe and prosperous region was vital.

“As CSOs, we are development actors in our own right thereby complementing the role of our Pacific Islands governments in the implementation of the 2050 Strategy with a key role to ensure it is in line with the principles of development effectiveness that focuses on, Ownership, Focus on results, Partnerships and Transparency and shared Responsibility, concluded Fiji Council of Social Services (FCOSS) Executive Director, Vani Catanasiga.

Participants discussed what is at stake for our regionalism ahead of the Non State Actors dialogue with the leaders today before the endorsement of the Pacific 2050 Strategy.

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