IAAN, Foundation Set To Host First Ladies’ NGOs Forum

Poised to creating global awareness for NGOs through regional and international networking, the International Association of African NGOs (IAAN), will between September 18 and 19, bring all NGOs from the African, the Caribbean and Latin American regions under one umbrella, to work together, learn from one another’s expertise, create and galvanise a symbiotic relationship with their different aims and objectives. The executive director of IAAN, Joyce Rogers Halliday, in this interview with DANIEL ANAZIA, spoke on the objectives of the organisation and the First Ladies and NGOs Forum.   

What is IAAN about and when did it come into existence? The International Association of African NGOs (IAAN) is the voice for thousands of Africans, the Caribbeans and Latin Americans non-governmental organisations (NGOs), who are engaged in charity work.

It is an international organisation that creates global awareness for NGOs through networking both regionally and internationally and assists them in enhancing their programmes and activities in the area of restructuring for global competitiveness. It also empowers the NGOs through education and training, and resource mobilisation.

We share a vision in which people are empowered to improve their daily lives. As an international organisation, our primary objective is to create global awareness and help harness resources internationally to enhance the services of NGOs to their various communities.

IAAN was officially formed in 2012, by well-meaning individuals who want the voice of the poor and marginalised in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean to be heard. Our major objective is to bring many NGOs as possible from all these regions under one umbrella so that they can work together, lean from each other’s expertise, create and galvanize a symbiotic relationship with their different aims and objectives. What values does IAAN promote? As a body, we promote social accountability and good governance.

At IAAN, we believe that NGOs are at the centre of sustainable social and economy development, poverty reduction and environmental protection. We also believe government alone cannot do all these, so we strive to bring these NGOs up to international standard, empower them and when they are empowered, the community and society at large benefits.

What are the challenges of NGOs? NGOs major challenges in their efforts to meet the MDGs are largely due to lack of resources and funding. These NGOs are often founded by poor folks, who, despite their financial challenges are doing the best they can to better the lives of others in their community. In today’s complex world, it’s increasingly important for private sectors and governments to work collaboratively with NGOs to help meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Africa enhance the standard of poor and less privilege in Caribbean and Latin America.

How can one become a member of IAAN? To become a member of our organisation as an individual or NGO is quite easy. NGOs and Individuals involved in charity work can become members of IAAN.

Also, students interested in charity work can join the Youth arm of IAAN. For an NGO to become a member of IAAN, it must have clearly articulated vision, mission and goals. We critically look at the following before admitting any NGO into IAAN: working governance structure, documented administrative policies and procedures, monitoring system, accountability, and membership fees.

For individual or student registration, we require, copy of your driver’s license, a statement of reason(s) for membership, and three references. What are the upcoming events you have? We are preparing for the First Ladies and NGOs Forum, which is coming up on September 16.

Presidents of all countries will converge on New York City, United States for the United Nations General Assembly meeting during the period, and it is on this platform that the International Association of African NGOs (IAAN) and OMENKA Foundation will host the First Ladies and NGOs Forum, scheduled for September 18 and 19, at the One UN Plaza Hotel, One United Nations Plaza, New York.

The theme Forum is “Social Accountability for Poverty Reduction and Inclusive Prosperity.” It will bring together First Ladies from Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean and other stakeholders to discuss how to leverage social accountability to spur poverty reduction and inclusive prosperity. Social Accountability and good governance is the key to sustainable economic development, peace and democracy.

Discussions at the Forum will shed light on strategies for achieving and supporting sustainable accountability and good governance initiatives to reduce poverty and increase economic growth.

During the Forum, the participating First Ladies will discuss their various social accountability initiatives that help to alleviate the sufferings of the poor and marginalized in their respective countries focusing on these sub-themes — Social Accountability and Dynamics of Change, Role of Education in Development, Strategies for Achieving Women’s Economic Empowerment, Transparency for Better Accountability, Role of Media in Social Accountability. Which organisations are participating and how can somebody be part of the forum? Already, we have, World Bank Executives, USAID, Governments, Private Sector, NGOs/CSOs and of course First Ladies from Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

To participate in the program people can logon to our website www.inafricangos.com or send an email to info@inafricangos.com or info@omenkafoundation.com.

What are the benefits of participating? Like I said earlier, International Association of African NGOs (IAAN) is the voice for thousands of Africans, the Caribbeans and Latin Americans non-governmental organisations (NGOs), who are engaged in great charity work.

We create global awareness for NGOs through networking both regionally and internationally and assist them in enhancing their programs and activities in the area of restructuring for global competitiveness.

Beyond that, IAAN empowers these NGOs through education, training and resource mobilisation. So, through Forum, we hope to create global awareness and help harness resources internationally to enhance the services of NGOs in and to their various communities. Our major objective is to bring many NGOs as possible from all these regions under one umbrella so that they can work together, lean from each other’s expertise, create and galvanize a symbiotic relationship with their different aims and objectives.