Africa-Press – Mauritius. A workshop focusing on the National Social Inclusion Foundation (NSIF) Organisational Capacity Assessment Framework for Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), opened this morning, in the presence of the Minister of Social Integration, Social Integration, Social Security and National Solidarity, Mrs Fazila Jeewa-Daureeawoo, at the Hennessy Park Hotel in Ebène.
The event regrouped around 200 NGOs and has, as objective, to familiarise social workers on the principles and guidelines of the Capacity Assessment Framework. Three retired staff of NGOs were also presented awards in recognition of their contribution to social work.
In her address, Minister Jeewa-Daureeawoo reiterated that Government is doing its best possible to implement new policies and decisions for the welfare of the population with the support of NGOS, who according to her, are valuable partners.
She underlined the need to enhance public-private cooperation along with the civil society and NGOs to improve the quality of lives of the most vulnerable.
“It is time to professionalise the NGO sector by investing in capacity building programmes and providing concrete frameworks for more transparency and accountability”, stated the Minister.
Government, she emphasised, is engaged in finding the right equilibrium between economic development and social welfare. She observed that the range of social security benefits allocated to help families in need has increased to some Rs 46 billion as compared to Rs 18 billion in 2014.
This, she said, demonstrates the commitment of Government to place humanity and solidarity at the centre of its strategy to cater to the needs of the most vulnerable ones. Mrs Jeewa-Daureeawoo further spoke of the need to support capacity development of social workers.
As regards the Assessment Framework, she indicated that it has been developed by the NSIF with the help of the University of Mauritius and will serve as a self-assessment tool to analyse capacities of organisations and identify main areas for improvement.
She also mentioned that the one-off recognition scheme was introduced in the previous budget for retired NGO staff members to valorise their significant contribution to social works.
To this end, she expressed confidence that the scheme will motivate NGO staff to pursue their career in the sector and urged more youth to embrace social work.
Also present at the event, the Chairperson of the NSIF, Mr Medavy Pillay Munien, dwelt on the operations of the NSIF and highlighted the importance of having an operational framework for more transparency and accountability in social activities.
He informed that most NGOs are compliant with the frameworks but added that some are still facing problems to adopt the basic principles and values. The Assessment Framework, he said, will better guide social workers in their activities and funding contract agreements.
Mr Munien observed that the workshop will contribute to professionalise the NGO sector and will foster a stronger public-private partnership with the NGOs.
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