The Government of Japan has handed the Samoa Umbrella for Non-Governmental Organisation its newly constructed one-storey concrete training Centre.
Acting Prime Minister Mulipola Anarosa Ale Molio’o in her keynote address spoke about the importance of the centre, remarking the day was more than just the opening of a building, it was also an opening of possibilities.
Adding that the centre is more than just bricks, it is a beacon of hope where government, civil society and partners can build a resilient Samoa our people deserve.
The opening of the centre also marks a milestone in Samoa’s national journey, where the government, civil society and its international partners stand shoulder to shoulder to build a stronger Samoa.
Mulipola extended her deepest appreciation to the Government of Japan and her people for their generosity and enduring friendship.
Noting also the two nation’s lengthy partnership, and commenting on how Japan has supported Samoa humbly yet that assistance has been transformative from education and health to climate resilience and infrastructure.
Japan’s assistance has strengthened communities and changed countless lives and the training facility is not just government aid, ‘it is a bridge of trust, respect and shared values’ between the two countries.
Mulipola also remarked that Japan and Samoa ‘change lives in collective action’ and this is central especially to civil society where this training facility unites over 100 non-governmental organisations and community based organisations reaching thousands of Samoans in every district.
“In times of disaster during covid and throughout community recovery SUNGO stood at the frontline ensuring that the voices from the grassroots are heard, respected and acted upon.”
But challenges remain she said, too many village committees still lack access to formal training in accountability and governance and they continue to face gaps in skills, resources and systems to strengthen their impact.
Mulipola said this new facility will help to close those gaps in building knowledge capacity and confidence that our communities and civil society leaders need to serve effectively.
The centre plays a critical role in achieving knowledge exchange, capacity building, and collaboration for all civil society organisations in the country.
Funded through Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects (GGP), the official handover ceremony took place on Thursday morning at Vaitele-tai at SUNGO’s place of business.
Valued at USD 137,222 (approximately SAT 379,800), the centre will serve as a central hub for 230 Non-governmental organisations and community stakeholders.
The construction of the single-storey concrete facility with a floor area of 232.8 square meters took 6 months, following the official signing of the grant between the two parties in February this year.
It features a large conference room, a small meeting room, an office equipped with essential amenities, kitchen and restroom designed for accessibility and inclusivity.
Designed to provide an appropriate and accessible environment for civic education and community training on crucial topics such as governance, civil society development and climate change mitigation, the centre will have a significant impact on village communities by enhancing their knowledge and skills to address key human security challenges.
It is expected to provide 50 training sessions through the year, with each session expecting between 30 to 60 participants.
SUNGO President Lavea Lua Nafoi expressed a thank you to the Government of Japan, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Samoa His Excellency Susuki Ryotaro and staff for their assistance with this project providing the organisation with the much needed training centre.
GRASS-ROOTS HUMAN SECURITY PROJECTS (GGP)
Japan’s GGP programme is a funding initiative designed to support development projects that directly benefit local communities, providing small but flexible assistance with a clear purpose of strengthening the foundations of human security.
Established in 1991, the programme has made substantial contributions to Samoa’s development particularly in the areas of education, health, public welfare and environmental protection.
SUNGO
The organisation was established in 1997 and has served civil society for many years with the vision to have a competent and confident civil society sector in Samoa that promotes a sustainable quality of life for our communities in Samoa.
The organisation focuses on capacity building and training for its members, providing them with key information, as well as advocating on behalf of our members based on researching issues which concern civil society.
SUNGO is governed by an Executive Council appointed each year by the Annual General Meeting of its over 200 member organisations. One of the key roles of our Council is to ensure that the goals and objectives of SUNGO as set out in its Strategic Plan are achieved through the efforts of the Council and the staff of SUNGO.
