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7th NGO Week and 17th AGM Day
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Hon. Minister T. Thahane says NGOs are effective and efficient
engines of growth for better environment towards development, he
said this at the second day of the LCN’s 7th NGO Week and its 17th
Annual General Meeting (AGM) (4th- 8th December, 2006) held at the
Lesotho cooperative College in Maseru.
The Minister was making a presentation on “The Socio – Economic
challenges for Lesotho: Lessons from the 40 years Independence
Walk”. He also said, what we should be saying is whether we have the
ability to play a constructive role in the global world. He added
that our cultural practices in development are very important and
there’s a need to lessen our dependence on the handouts.
Speaking at the same occasion in another session, EU Head of
Delegation, Ambassador Peter Christiansen says non state actors of
Lesotho are now recognized as essential in helping to ensure the
relevance and impact of cooperation policies and programmes between
ACP (Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific) and the EC (European
Commission). He added that over the next 3 years the EC intend to
spend 55 million Maloti to support the government’s decentralization
efforts in three northern districts and develop non state actors
participation throughout the country.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday (06/12/2007), LCN has organized a session
for local political parties to make presentations on “what are the
campaigning issues for 2007 elections”. Their presentation would be
based in depth on what are the poverty reduction campaigning issues
for 2007 elections.
Each year the Lesotho Council of NGOs organises Lesotho NGO week,
where NGOs are invited throughout the country to take part in
workshops, discussions and debates on issues of national importance.
This year the theme for the NGO week is “Overcoming hurdles of 40
years of slow public policy implementation: Challenges facing civil
society organisations”. At this event, the NGOs are expected to
explore the major issues related to Lesotho’s development, economic
growth and poverty reduction strategies.
During the past year more than one hundred and fifty (150) NGOs
throughout Lesotho attended the 6th NGO Week, and the Council
expects representatives of at least two hundred (200) Civil Society
Organisation to participate this year. The civil society fraternity
considers the NGO Week as a great opportunity for Basotho involved
in development work to meet and continuously forge ways of
overcoming numerous problems encountered during implementation of
development activities as well as a time to re- dedicate ourselves
to the service of humanity.
The NGO Week is a gathering where Lesotho Council of NGOs reflects
on its own progress during 2005 and looking forward to the future.
Last year’s theme was “Getting to Good Governance: Overcoming
hurdles of Poverty, HIV/AIDS and Weak Governance”.
This thematic issues will be dealt with in depth, The trends of
Lesotho’s economic growth and social development over 40 years,
Leading an HIV/AIDS Competent Lesotho, Enhancing Civil society and
government collaboration to protect and reclaim Lesotho’s Soil,
Understanding lack of effective public policy implementation in
Lesotho geared towards poverty reduction, Enhancing the role of
Civil Society in the Decentralisation Process, Enhancing Development
aid Coordination and effectiveness in lesotho, What are the
campaigning issues for 2007 elections?, Towards a corruption free
society and Enhancing civil society legal frameworks in lesotho.
Lesotho Council of NGOs 7th NGO Week and 17th Annual General Meeting
(AGM) is held at the Lesotho Cooperative College in Maseru from the
4th -8th December, 2006.
Thandiwe Solwandle
Information Communications Officer
Lesotho Council of NGOs
Tel: 22317205/22325798
www.lecongo.org.ls
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