Raising Pacific Voices logo

The shaping of regional and global policymaking by civil society organisations is an ongoing and challenging process in the Pacific. Through relationships with partners and relationship with Pacific civil society networks and alliances, Raising Pacific Voices supports this vision through the institutional strengthening of civil society partners and the wider Pacific civil society community.

Raising Pacific Voices (RPV) is a three-year pilot program supported by the European Union with 2.3 million euros (FJ$5.46m) aimed at strengthening Pacific civil society organisations’ effectiveness in shaping national and regional policy-making.

The project is implemented by Oxfam in the Pacific, working in partnership with Pacific Disability Forum (PDF) and members of the Pacific Regional Non-Governmental Organisations Alliance (PRNGO Alliance) in Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Samoa, Cook Islands, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands.

Oxfam in the Pacific has contributed 250,000 euros (FJ$592,036) to the overall program budget of 2.55 million euros.

Raising Pacific Voices (RPV) rolled out its pilot in partnership with country civil society organisation (CSO) partners in each of the three sub-regions – Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia.

Our partnership with in-country CSOs is vital to achieving two of RPV’s four result areas.

Country CSO partnerships are required for:

  1. implementing the capacity development program to strengthen governance and transparency of national CSOs; and
  2. strengthening national CSOs’ capacity to effectively represent constituency voices in relevant local- and national-level governance spaces, customised and tested in each of the three sub-regions.

The three initial country CSO partners in the three sub-regions are:

  1. Vatu Mauri Consortium in Vanuatu for Melanesia
  2. Radiation Exposure Awareness Crusaders for Humanity – Marshall Islands for  Micronesia
  3. Civil Society Forum of Tonga, for Polynesia

RPV’s Pilot Civil Society Partners

Melanesia

Vatu Mauri Consortium members

In Vanuatu, Vatu Mauri Consortium is a network of national NGOs and umbrella bodies with a track record of community implementation and broad representation including the National Council of Chiefs, churches, women, and youth leaders. The consortium achieved registration as a charitable association in 2015.

Micronesia

REACH-MI members

In the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Radiation Exposure Awareness Crusaders for Humanity (or REACH-MI) was established in 2015 and is working to raise awareness about, and seeking justice for, the legacy of nuclear testing.

Polynesia

CSFT members

The Civil Society Forum of Tonga is the umbrella body for CSOs in Tonga, established in 2001. CSFT aims to create a conducive environment for the development of CSOs through open dialogue, equal participation, partnership, collective decision-making, and consensus building. It provides CSOs with opportunities for capacity building and leadership development.

Oxfam in the Pacific
Oxfam in the Pacific

The Raising Pacific Voices (RPV) is implemented by Oxfam in the Pacific, working in partnership with Pacific Disability Forum (PDF) and the Pacific Regional Non-Governmental Organisations Alliance (PRNGO Alliance). Oxfam in the Pacific’s regional platform was established in 2015 to coordinate Oxfam’s work in Pacific countries, in Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and in the Polynesia/Micronesia sub-region.

Pacific Regional Non-Governmental Organisation Alliance (PRNGO Alliance)
PRNGO Alliance

The Pacific Regional Non-Governmental Organisation Alliance (PRNGO Alliance) and its members’ networks located in 10 Pacific countries are the primary beneficiaries of this program, with plans to spread the benefits widely and sustainably across the region.

The RPV program’s uniqueness is that it will produce capacity-building packages contextualised for each sub-region – Melanesia, Polynesia and Micronesia.

Pacific Disability Forum
Pacific Disability Forum

The Pacific Disability Forum (PDF) is a regional peak body that works in partnership with Disabled Persons Organisations in the Pacific region.

PDF’s aim is to build the capacity of these organisations and improve the lives of persons with disabilities in the Pacific through advocacy. PDF is an implementing partner with Oxfam in the Pacific for the Raising Pacific Voices project.

Raising Pacific Voices Team Members

Rodney Yee Oxfam

RODNEY YEE

RPV TEAM LEADER
Alanieta Vakatale Oxfam

ALANIETA VAKATALE

RPV PROGRAMME LEARNING & EFFECTIVENESS ADVISER
Filipo Masaurua Oxfam

FILIPO MASAURUA

RPV CAPACITY BUILDING ADVISER
Sushil Narayan Oxfam

SUSHIL NARAYAN

RPV FINANCE MANAGER
Mereia Carling Oxfam

MEREIA CARLING

RPV INFLUENCING CONSULTANT
Nancy Niubalavu Oxfam

NANCY NIUBALAVU

RPV PROGRAMME OFFICER
Ricardo Morris Oxfam

RICARDO MORRIS

RPV MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
Kajal Matthew Oxfam

KAJAL MATTHEW

RPV INTERN