The European Union (EU) has provided funding assistance of EUR200,000 (T594,640) to the Samoa Umbrella for Non-Governmental Organisation (SUNGO) in its continued efforts to building the capacity of civil society organisations in Samoa to competently and constructively engage with the Government of Samoa in areas of policy dialogue, good governance and social accountability. 

This initiative will allow SUNGO to continue to benefit from capacity building and institutional strengthening activities to further underpin its communication and information sharing with other civil society organisations; and to undertake and support policy, advocacy and research with and on behalf of civil society in Samoa. 

The support will also ensure that SUNGO is able to continually assist and support Samoa’s Civil Society Organisations to foster a competent and confident civil society sector that promotes sustainable development and improved quality of life for the people of Samoa.

The Head of Cooperation at the Delegation of the European Union for the Pacific, Christoph Wagner said: ‘’The civil society umbrella organisations are vital partners for decision-makers, as they are tasked to coordinate and represent civil society. They know of the needs of the more vulnerable parts of society. We are pleased to see and to support the role of SUNGO and the registered CSOs as key actors for development in Samoa.’’

Fuimaono Falefa Lima the Chief Executive Officer of SUNGO said: “The Samoa Umbrella for Non-Governmental Organisations (SUNGO), acknowledges with appreciation the generous assistance from the European Union, in funding SUNGO activities to support Civil Society Organisations in Samoa. Given this EU assistance, SUNGO is confident in realizing the objectives of its Strategic Plan in the next three years.”

The EU support will also encourage innovation and creativity in SUNGO and the civil society organisations, helping to develop capacity and foster collaboration with various stakeholders, including the government. 

SUNGO is a not for profit organisation with a total membership of 180 CSOs from both urban and rural areas across Samoa. Established in 1997, the organization has an ongoing commitment to developing the capacity of CSOs to both provide social services and aid development at the grassroots and also to meeting standards of accountability and transparency required by donors and government partners.