Kingston, Jamaica – A Joint Advocacy Forum was convened recently, marking the first of a series of meetings aimed at strengthening the collective voice and impact of civil society organisations (CSOs) in Jamaica.
The forum, hosted by the Council of Voluntary Social Services (CVSS) with funding from the European Union (EU), is part of a broader 36-month initiative to enhance governance and development through civil society engagement.
The forum’s inaugural session, which took place both in-person and virtually, recently brought together representatives from a diverse range of organisations.
Nancy Pinchas, executive director of the CVSS, emphasised the importance of collaboration among civil society organisations to influence national and local policies which impact the civil society sector as a whole. She explained that this forum is the culmination of 12 months of training on advocacy. These training sessions were designed to equip participants with the necessary skills to advocate for governance and policy changes.
“This forum is about moving from training to action,” said Pinchas. “We are now focused on using the skills developed to formulate strategies that address key issues affecting civil society in Jamaica. Today marks the beginning of a collective effort to make a tangible impact on policies and governance.”
Pinchas outlined the forum’s primary goal, which is to develop policy papers addressing civil society concerns. These are expected to be finalised by the end of the project, and used as tools of engagement with relevant decision-making and implementation agencies. Pinchas added that the forum will serve as a space for leaders of civil society organisations to work together to advance the common needs and interests of the sector.
Carol Narcisse, a development specialist and key speaker at the event, emphasised the significance of the forum as part of CVSS’s broader mission to strengthen the capacity of civil society.
She stated, “Capacity is strengthened when you can translate information and skills into actionable strategies that can transform society. The joint advocacy forum aims to create a collective voice that amplifies the power of civil society to influence positive change.”
“The strength of this collective voice,” she said, “lies in numbers. If we can strengthen the entire sector, it benefits every organisation within it.” Narcisse urged attendees to consider the macroenvironment in which civil society operates, pointing out that many policies fail to take the sector’s diversity into account.
Narcisse also underscored the forum’s potential to improve the visibility of civil society issues and solutions while advocating for a more active role in decision-making processes at both national and local levels.
“The extent to which the environment enables our efforts to live, work, raise families and do business—our Vision 2030—depends on how supportive that environment is. Are there barriers preventing us from doing our work effectively, and how can we work together to remove those obstacles?” she asked.
One of the main concerns discussed was the one-size-fits-all approach that often dominates policies for non-governmental organisations. Narcisse highlighted that civil society is far from homogenous, with varying capacities and structures. The forum, she argued, would address those differences by advocating for policies that recognise the sector’s diversity.
Meanwhile, AnnMarie Kirlew Evering, programme manager at CVSS said that the forum was well attended which signals that the sector is ready to move forward as one voice to advocate at a national level to address areas impacting the voluntary sector.
“The CVSS is proud to be partnering with the EU to facilitate the beginning of what is shaping to be a significant mobilising discussion platform to ignite change,” she said.
