Issue
SUNGO aims to build the effectiveness of community-based organisations in Samoa by improving their planning, budgeting, and project management skills.
How we are helping
We are supporting SUNGO to deliver a practical, participatory training course to equip local organisations with the skills to manage and sustain community development work.
About the project
The Foundation’s capacity strengthening grants stream supports smaller Commonwealth civil society organisations in smaller Member States, building their expertise and enhancing their capacity to influence policy.
The Samoa Umbrella for Non-Governmental Organisations (SUNGO) provides coordination and support for civil society organisations across the country. To strengthen its contribution to community development and policy engagement, SUNGO is integrating capacity building into its programming. This grant will enable SUNGO to deliver a three-day training course to equip grassroots groups to more effectively manage community projects and participate in broader decision-making processes by strengthening their planning, budgeting, and governance skills.
The key actions for this project are:
- Training and capacity building
- Conducting a three-day ‘managing organisations’ course for community-based organisations.
- Delivering sessions through participatory learning, practical exercises, and group work.
- Covering key topics including committee management, communication and planning, and financial management.
- Training support and delivery
- Facilitating the course through two qualified and experienced trainers.
- Hosting training sessions in accessible urban or rural locations, coordinated with local village councils.
As a result of the project, it is hoped that SUNGO will enhance the capacity of its member organisations to plan, manage, and sustain community-based projects through hands-on, practical training to strengthen organisational governance and resource management. SUNGO staff and trainers will also refine their facilitation skills, contributing to the long-term delivery of high-quality training throughout Samoa.
Project Partners
The Samoa Umbrella for Non-Governmental Organisations (SUNGO) is guided by a vision of a competent and confident civil society sector in Samoa that promotes a sustainable quality of community life. Activities focus on capacity building and training for members, alongside advocating on behalf of members based on the most pressing issues for local communities.
SUNGO is governed by an Executive Council appointed each year at the Annual General Meeting of more than 200 member organisations. One of the key roles of the Council is to ensure that the goals and objectives of SUNGO, as set out in its strategic plan, are achieved through the efforts of both the Council and the skilled and committed staff team of SUNGO.
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