Tuesday 28 January 2014

CROSS RIVER STATE CIVIL SOCIETY BASIC/ STRATEGIC INFORMATION GUIDE



CROSS RIVER STATE CIVIL SOCIETY BASIC/ STRATEGIC INFORMATION GUIDE
VISION:A Strong and Vibrant Non Profit, Non Governmental, Non Sectarian, Non Partisan Civil Society Sector in Cross River State  where all Citizens, Sustainable Development Volunteers and Civil Society Organisations actively  champion and participate in the Sustainable Development and Good Governance of Cross River State and are considered  as  indispensable third sector partners by the government and the private sector.
STATUS/MISSION: A  Registered Non Profit, Non Governmental, Non Sectarian, Non Partisan Civil Society Network of Responsible Citizens, Sustainable Development Volunteers and Civil Society Organisations in Cross River State dedicated to being an effective and democratic platform for facilitating and ensuring Civil Society’s participation in the Development and Governance of Cross River State in particular and Nigeria in general.
AIMS/OBJECTIVES
1.       To mobilize Citizens, Sustainable Development Volunteers and Civil Society Organisations in Cross River State to campaign, advocate and demand for Good Governance, Public/Social Accountability, sustainable development, protection of fundamental rights of Citizens and Civil Society Organisations, fiscal responsibility and transparency from government or other relevant public institutions and individuals.

2.       To initiate and implement human, social and community development projects in Cross River State using best approaches to sustainable development in partnership with the membership of the Network, development organizations, others Civil Society Organisations, government or Private Sector.

3.       To actively engage or dialogue with the government or the Private Sector in Cross River State and beyond on public policies, alternative policies, public budget, public procurement, socio-economic impacts, programmes and legislations for the interest of all persons and communities in Cross River State.

4.       To carry out Capacity Building Activities for all members and officers of the Network and other  Civil Society Organisations and Sustainable Development Volunteers working in Cross River State.

5.       To Train and Orientate selected Citizens and Sector Leaders in Cross River State on the virtues of Transparency, positive  values, good civics and social norm, accountable and responsible leadership, security, ethnic harmony, environmental health and wellbeing, social justice, human dignity etc.

6.       To create opportunities for Networking, peer review and peers support among the Leadership and membership of the Network and with other Civil Society Organisations/Networks on Sustainable Development and Good Governance in Cross River State.

7.       To build and  foster partnerships for sustainable development and governance with the government, development partners, donor agencies , the private sector, responsible citizens and other civil society organizations.

8.       To carry out research, study and intellectual learning events on Civil Society, Volunteerism, Responsible Citizenship, Democracy Good Governance and Sustainable Development and widely disseminate the findings or outcomes.

9.       To identify individuals and organizations, who have exhibited conduct or achievements, for public awards or Honor.

10.   To promote mechanism and policies that enable effective Volunteering for sustainable development by Citizens and interested foreigners.



Wednesday 8 January 2014

REPORT OF THE 2013 INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEER DAY

PREAMBLE
Cross River State Civil Society, through the Leadership of its Acting President, Mr. BEN USANG, resolved to collaborate with other stakeholders in the Civil Society, Government, Private Sector as Well as Community Groups to celebrate the 2013 International Volunteer Day in Cross River State with a Community Focus on Diamond Hill Calabar Municipality. The Network therefore sent letters to all the proposed Partners to join a Central Organizing Committee and work together to celebrate the event. Agreement to participate in the Committee were received from several Civil Society Organizations, The State Directorate for Volunteer Service, The State Department for Civil Society/NGOs, The Ministry of Youth and Sports Development as Well from Diamond Hill Community in Calabar Municipality. The sum of two hundred thousand naira only was the final budget of the committee for holding the event successfully though only a fraction of this amount was raised.
 Two meetings of the Central Organizing Committee were held at the Supreme Coalition office at Diamond Hill, Calabar on the 2nd and the 4th of December,2013 having the representatives of the collaborating institutions under the Chairmanship of Mr.BEN USANG of Cross River State Civil Society. The theme of the 2013 International Volunteer Day which was also adopted by the Central Organizing Committee was YOUNG.GLOBAL.ACTIVE: Young people as Agents of Change in their Communities.
Notably, at the Flag Off Event, at the Federal secretariat Conference Hall, Comrade Ukeme Albert Ekong won the Distinguished Young Volunteer of 2013 Diamond Award, Mr. Ntol Augustus won the Distinguished Young Volunteer of 2013 Gold Award while Mr. Christian Chinedu Andrew won the Distinguished Young Volunteer of 2013 Merit Award. The Three young Volunteers have also been incorporated into Cross River State Civil Society Agents of Change Hall of Fame and will be showcased until the next International Volunteer Day as role models of Volunteer Service to young people in Cross River State.
 
THE FLAG OFF EVENT
The Flag off event of the International Volunteer Day was held in Federal Secretariat Conference Hall, Diamond Hill, Calabar and began at 10:00am with the Goal of:
 (i)Educating and Orientating Stakeholders on Effective Volunteerism
(ii) Building policy consensus among Stakeholders on Volunteerism policy and programmes in the State.
(iii) Mobilizing young persons to volunteer in their Communities
(iv) Celebrating young people who are models of youth volunteerism in their communities.
THE FLAG OFF EVENT FEATURED:
(i)A Welcome Address by the Acting President of Cross River State Civil Society
(ii) Remarks from the Sarah Masale, the United Nations Fund for Population Activities                            (UNFPA),CRS Sub Office,Calabar.
(iii) A Good will Message from the Head of Administration, CRS Department for Civil Society/NGOs.
(iv) A Good will Message from the representative of the Village head of Diamond community.
(v) An Opening Address by the Representative of the Secretary to the Cross River state Government.
(vi) Remarks, comments, inspiration talks and questions from many of the other participants.
(vii)Free and Voluntary HIV/AIDs Counseling and Testing by Partner organizations.
(viii) Presentation of awards to three persons as Distinguished Young Volunteers of 2013.
(ix) Light refreshment of the participants.
(x) A Call for Volunteer Service in Diamond Community Square
(xi) Registration of Participants of the Flag off Event.
PARTICIPANTS WERE DRAWN FROM:
(i)  Three secondary schools in Calabar.
 (ii) Three Volunteer Clubs in tertiary institutions in Calabar established by the Directorate of Volunteers.
(iii) Several Civil society Organizations in Calabar.
(iv) Diamond Hill Community, Calabar
(v) United Nations Fund for Population Activities, CRS sub Office,Calabar
(vi) The Directorate for Volunteer Service, Office of the Secretary to the CRS Government,Calabar
(vii) The Department for Civil Society/NGOs, Governor’s Office, Calabar.
 
RECOMMENDATIONS/RESOLUTIONS OF THE ORGANISERS AND PARTICIPANTS OF  2013 INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEER DAY IN DIAMOND HILL CALABAR MUNICIPALITY
The following recommendations and resolutions were captured at the end of the flag off event of the 2013 International Volunteer Day at the Federal Secretariat Conference Hall, Calabar:
(i) The need for Collaboration/synergy between Cross River state Civil society, the department of       Volunteer service and the Department of Civil society/NGOs for the development of Volunteerism in the state and the management of an adequate Database of local and     international volunteers in the state.
(ii)  The funding and Construction of a Cross River State Center for Volunteer and Civil Society             Development.
(iii) The establishment of a Commission in Cross River State that will harmonize the functions and     mandate of the State Directorate of Volunteer Service and the State Department for Civil  Society/NGOs.
(iv) The Early commencement of the planning and organization of the yearly International Volunteer             Day among all partners.
(v) The designation of airtime in the State broadcasting out to focus on the Activities and challenges             of Volunteers working in the State and beyond.
VISIT TO THE VILLAGE HEAD OF DIAMOND COMMUNITY,CALABAR MUNICIPALITY
A Cross section of the participants paid a courtesy visit on the Village head of diamond community in his residence. The Village Head express his support for the activities of Cross River State civil society and other members of the organizing committee and the choice of Diamond Hill for the celebration of the Volunteer Day. He welcomes the group to the community and used the occasion to intimate the group of            the history of the community and invited the group to the annual anniversary of the community at the end of the month.
VOLUNTEER SERVICE IN DIAMOND COMMUNITY SQUARE EVENT
The Volunteer Service team carried out the following activities at the community square:
(i) Sweeping and parking of refuse (ii) Cutting and weeping wild Grasses
(iii) Free and Voluntary HIV/AIDs Testing (iv) Free and Voluntary Hepatitis testing(v) Blood Pressure        Testing.
 
 
 
 
CHALLENGES
Despite the achievement of the central organizing committee in successfully holding the above    events in          commemoration of the 2013 International Volunteer day, the group was confronted          with the following challenges:
(i) Inability to raise more than seventy of the budget for the successful organization of the            Volunteer Day.
(ii) Inability to secure the participation of the proposed Principal Resource Person for the Flag off             event.
(iii) Poor financial Commitment from partner organizations/institutions.
(iv) Poor refreshment of the participants at the Volunteer Day events.
(v) Inability to provide transport reimbursement for the secondary school students and other      persons who participated at the flag off event.
(vi) The private sector did not participate in the organizing committee or support financially the events as would have been desired by the organizers.
(vii) Late commencement of the planning for the 2013 Volunteer Day event.
LESSONS LEARNT
The following lessons were learnt in the course of organizing the 2013 Volunteer Day:
(i) To begin the planning for the International volunteer day four Months before the designated   date.
(ii) To mobilize partner organizations and secure their financial commitment Three months before          the designated date of International Volunteer Day.
(iii) To immediately build on the benefits of the collaboration between Civil Society organizations            and Government Ministries Departments and agencies.
(iv)To ensure a framework is immediately put in place to ensure that the Central organizing          committee members will effectively participate in ensuring a successful hosting of the Official           Volunteer Day for the State.
(v) To devise creative strategies that will be appealing to the Private Sector to gain their    participation and sponsorship of the International Volunteer Day event.

Monday 26 August 2013

DEMAND FOR THE CREATION OF CRS COMMISSION FOR CIVIL SOCIETY/NGOs



CIVIL SOCIETY vOICE
 AN EDITORIAL PUBLICATION OF CROSS RIVER STATE CIVIL SOCIETY   EDITION 001
DEMAND FOR THE CREATION OF A CRS COMMISSION FOR CIVIL SOCIETY/NGOs


In recent times the activities of Civil Society Organisations/Non-Governmental    Organisation has continued to make substantial impact on human, social and sustainable development across every corner of the globe. The role of Civil Society in governance has enabled the advancement of democracy in fragile and even developed societies by their defense of values, principles and social behavior without consideration  for parochial interest.

Undoubtedly, Civil Society Groups have set the global agenda in addressing poverty, HIV/AIDs, environmental emergencies, humanitarian crises, human right abuses etc.    In many countries today, representatives of Civil Society Organisations have been appointed to governing council/boards of public institution. Public and International Donor funds have been allotted to Civil Society Organisations to undertake development projects thereby complementing the responsibilities of Government institutions and international development organizations while also demanding that these institutions effectively perform their duties to the people.
One thing is clear, for Civil Society Organisations to truly be the cornerstone of society, just like the role Civil and Public service plays, it is required that they remain Non partisan without  loyalty to any political party but championing the collective interest of the society without discrimination. It is on this note that we call on the government of  Cross River State to take a step ahead by supporting the call by the Civil Society Networks in Cross River State, arising from their meeting at the Global Dreams hotel, Calabar on the 16th of August, 2013, for the establishment of  a Cross River State Commission for Civil Society/Non-Governmental Organisations that is backed by law, through a legislation of the Cross River State House of Assembly, having Civil Society practitioners as Chairman, Vice Chairman, and Commissioners.

The proposed Commission should be provided with adequate public funds to support the development projects of accredited/ competent Civil Society Networks and regularly monitor the organization for internal democracy, financial transparency and leadership accountability. This commission will also be expected to facilitate the participation of Civil Society in government activities and programs while ensuring that their independence and Non Partisan status is not compromised.

We commend the Governor of Cross River State for the creation of a department for Civil Society/NGOs but  now call on him to move a step further to support the establishment of a more sustainable Commission that will not be limited to one administration.

Wednesday 19 June 2013

AIMS/OBJECTIVES
1.   To mobilize citizens,development volunteers and Civil Society organizations in Cross River State to demand for Good Governance, Public/social accountability from office holders.
2.   To work for the protection of the rights of Citizens,Development Volunteers and Civil Society Organisations in Cross River State.
3.   To initiate and implement human, social and community development project in Cross River State using best approaches to sustainable development in partnership with the membership of the Network.
4.   To actively engage the three arms of Government and the private sector in Cross River State on public policies, programs and legislation for the interest of all stakeholders and vulnerable persons in Cross River State.
5.   To initiate programs and activities to build the capacity of the membership of the Network.
6.   To train and orientate citizens, developments volunteers and other leaders in the society on positive values,civics and social norms that will ensure peace,prosperity,transparency and accountability security,harmony etc in Cross River State.
7.   To create opportunities for networking,peer review and peer support among the leadership and membership of Civil Society Organisations in Cross River State.
8.   To build and foster partnerships with the government,development partners,donor agencies and private sector and other civil society organizations that will lead to the accomplishment of the mission of the network without compromising the status,principles and values of the network.
9.To carry out research and intellectual learning events on the role of civil society as the third sector in society

Saturday 1 June 2013

CRS CIVIL SOCIETY STATUS/MISSION:a non profit, non governmental non sectarian non partisan civil society network of citizens,development volunteers and civil society organisations in CRS dedicated to being an effective and democratic platform to facilitate citizens, development volunteers and civil society organisations participation in the sustainable development and good governance of cross river state and for the protection of civil, political,economic and social rights of citizens development volunteers, communities and organisations in CRS
CRS CIVIL SOCIETY VISION:A strong and vibrant civil society sector in CRS where all citizens. development volunteers and civil society organisations actively participate in the sustainable development and good governance of CRS and are accepted as an indispensable partner by the government and private sector.
Cross River State Civil Society is a Non Profit,Non-Governmental,Non-Partisan, Civil Society Network of Citizens,Development Volunteers and Civil Society Organisations in Cross River State.