Around 200 participants coming from the different sectors, institutions, NGOs and POs, Security Groups, and Government Offices/BLGUs/Regional/National Agencies of Zamboanga City and Basilan gathered last February 9 for the 6th Annual Partnership Forum on Local Governance held at Marcian Convention Center, Zamboanga City.

The aim of the forum is to present to the partners and different stakeholders the major accomplishments of the project on Local Governanceby ZABIDA with the consortium of other four organizations namely KKI, PAZ, ROOF, and NFI with auspices of AECID and Manos Unidas. The forum provides a platform for innovative collaboration and in doing so promotes sustainable development and positive change at a regional level.

Showcasing achievements, impacts, results, and very strong good practice examples of effective capacity strengthening and advocacy interventions through the small grant like the logistical support and that these need to be documented and compiled into models of good practice that can be replicated by other partners.

Today’s economic and social challenges can no longer be addressed through traditional investment vehicles or simply through development assistance. The needs of the underprivileged or the marginalized groups cannot be solved unilaterally, but require multiple constituencies to collaborate in support of common goals – through the multi-stakeholder partnerships. The benefits of collaboration and solidarity amongst CSO’s at the national and regional levels were highlighted, stressing that this would also show government that it is not only a few people concerned about the issue at hand, but that there is national and regional solidarity around the issue. Using the leadership of the private sector, the normative role of the public sector including the governemnt, the expertise of academia, and successful delivery mechanisms of civil society, our focus areas are on poverty reduction, DRRM, and conflict transformation will no less than be achieved.