The RMI government took an unprecedented step to strengthen its partnership with civil society last week with the signing of a new Partnership Framework Agreement with the Marshall Islands Council of Non-Government Organizations (MICNGOs).
The new partnership agreement supports President Hilda Heine’s Agenda 2020, which aims to improve social, environmental, and economic well-being in the country.
MICNGOs is the national umbrella organization for civil society groups, composed of numerous organizations that address a wide range of development challenges.
Although government has worked with various groups in the past, this is the first time that a formal partnership agreement with civil society has been forged. Under the agreement, government will provide an annual grant of $120,000 to strengthen MICNGOs and its member organizations, and in return these groups will provide advice and support to government on its objectives under Agenda 2020 and the National Strategic Plan.
The historic agreement was signed on 8 November at the Cabinet Conference Room by President Hilda Heine and MICNGOs Chairman Alson Kelen. “Including civil society strengthens the conversation about sustainable development among key stakeholders,” said President Heine during the ceremony.
Kelen thanked President Heine for her pioneering leadership and commitment to helping Marshallese people improve their lives.
Read more about this in the November 16, 2018 edition of the Marshall Islands Journal.