The Pacific Islands Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (PIANGO) has urged the new Australia-funded Pacific Australia Skills(PAS) programme to prioritise women, accountability, and climate action in regional training and development.
PIANGO Executive Director Emeline Ilolahia met with programme representatives Veena Singh (GEDSI Lead) and Ledua Vakaloloma (Climate Change Lead) on Monday to outline the network’s priorities.
“We shared PIANGO’s priorities, including skills development for women impacted by the PALM scheme, training for community development, and our commitment to localisation and accountability through our IAM Self-Assessment Toolkit,” Ilolahia said.
She stressed the need for targeted support for women left behind by the PALM scheme.
“Women left behind by the PALM scheme often take on dual roles and responsibilities and what are the targeted training available so they can drive their own development,” she said.
On accountability, Ilolahia pointed to PIANGO’s IAM Self-Assessment Toolkit.
“Our National Liaison Units use it to ensure we are living up to commitments of localisation and a strong, effective civil society and seeing donors and partners also walking the talk,” she said.
On climate action, she said the focus was ensuring international debates translated into grassroots action.
“We continue to focus on bridging the gap between national, regional, and global on climate campaigns that we discuss at the COP summit is translated to the communities and making sure giving youth the space and platform to be vocal and lead the discourse,” Ilolahia said.
Pacific Australia Skills replaces the former Australia Pacific Training Coalition (APTC) and will work with regional partners to drive skills development across the Pacific.
