Minister promises NGOs more financial, technical opportunities

Representatives from 16 civil society organisations working in the areas of gender, child, social development, youth advocacy and HIV awareness and prevention attended the first day of the two day workshop ‘Group Up Growth: Cultivating Capacity in Gender and Child-Focused NGOs’, on Thursday at the Central Administrative Services Tobago. 

In attendance was Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, with responsibility for Central Administrative Services Tobago (CAST), Gender and Child Affairs (GCA) and the National AIDS Coordinating Committee (NACC), Ayanna Webster-Roy, who affirmed the government’s commitment to build NGOs capacity to “implement more efficient and effective programmes, ensure accountability and transparency in operations, and increase their access to funding opportunities that can support their invaluable work.” 

According to a media release, Webster-Roy also noted that the government is also committed to “providing an enabling environment that features technical, financial and social networking opportunities.”

She said: “In applying the ‘all of society approach’, we will continue to intentionally pursue robust collaborations with the civil society to improve the lives of all citizens.”

The minister also affirmed that NGOs remain “critical agents who reach, identify and serve the most vulnerable within communities across Trinidad and Tobago.”

“NGOs are highly regarded as indispensable partners. Thus, in building their capacity, the country has increased successes in promoting equality, safeguarding the well-being of our children, and addressing the diverse challenges faced by vulnerable groups,” the minister said.