Five non-government organisations were provided funding by the European Union to strengthen democracy, promote transparency, accountability, and inclusive participation in Samoa.

The Samoa Umbrella for Non-Governmental Organisations Inc. held a signing ceremony on Wednesday to formalise the new partnerships in the Initiative on Empowerment of Civil Society in Democratic Samoa (IOE Samoa Project).

Five organisations were awarded support under the project’s sub-granting component: Tofasinasina Inc, Apelu Sports Inc, Youth For Christ Samoa, Brown Girl Woke, and Goshen Trust Mental Health Services.

The project is funded by the European Union and implemented by International IDEA, an intergovernmental organisation that supports democratic development worldwide.

The total funding for the IOE Samoa project is €461,000, with €415,000 (close to SAT1.2 million) provided by the European Union and the remainder by International IDEA.

In an interview with the Samoa Observer, International IDEA Senior Programme Manager Adhy Aman said the project focuses on helping civil society organisations promote transparency, accountability, and inclusive participation.

He said this is done through training programmes and discussion forums that allow organisations to engage with each other and with government officials on policy issues.

Aman said that over the past 18 months, the project has improved understanding among civil society groups and the public about the importance of transparency and accountability.

He said organisations are also gaining skills to better engage with policymakers, including government officials and members of parliament.

However, he noted that stronger connections between civil society and policymakers are still developing.

“The project has only been running for about 18 months, so there hasn’t been enough time yet to fully build those connections,” he said.

The IOE Samoa Project began in April 2024 but faced early challenges due to competing national events, including CHOGM and a general election, which diverted attention from civil society activities.

Despite this, Aman said they aim to strengthen collaboration between civil society groups and decision-makers in the coming year.

International IDEA has 35 member countries and works with organisations such as the United Nations, the Pacific Islands Forum, and the European Union to support democratic institutions.