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Last Updated: Feb 6, 2017 - 2:32:04 PM |
 Washington, DC - Bahamas Ambassador and
Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States (OAS)
Cornelius A Smith argued, Wednesday, May 5, for the retention of an OAS
fund that focuses on regional cooperation and sustainable development,
but whose future he believes is “in jeopardy”.
The ambassador
spoke on “Cooperation and Development” at the Civil Society Hemispheric
Forum plenary session on “Cooperation and Development” held in
Washington. He addressed the group in his capacity as Chair of the
Permanent Executive Committee of the Inter-American Council for
Integral Development (CEPCIDI).
The forum was organized by the
OAS Department of International Affairs with the support of the
American and Canadian governments, and was designed to stimulate
discussion, exchange ideas and propose recommendations by civil society
ahead of the 40th Regular Session of the OAS General Assembly, to be
held in June under the theme “Peace, Security and Cooperation in the
Americas”.
He cited the Organization of American States as the
central platform for multilateral cooperation in the hemisphere, and
noted that the fundamental approach of the OAS – consensus building –
provides all member states, regardless of size and economic power, the
opportunity to play a key role in the work of the organization.
The
ambassador focused his remarks on the future of FEMCIDI – the unique
hemispheric fund and its novel approach to development cooperation.
FEMCIDI is the Special Multilateral Fund of the Inter-American Council
for Integral Development (CIDI).
He told the forum he was “deeply concerned that the future of FEMCIDI is in jeopardy.”
FEMCIDI
is a fund established to contribute to the financing of national and
multilateral hemispheric cooperation programs, projects and activities
carried out under the OAS’ Strategic Plan for Partnership for
Development.
After addressing the history and purpose of the
fund, and discussion how projects are identified, the ambassador argued
that FEMCIDI “offers space for actors from member states to determine
and design solutions for their most pressing issues.
“FEMCIDI
also provides member states the option of focusing exclusively on
national interests through nationally focused projects or extending
projects to many countries which face similar challenges,” he said.
“This option is important as it builds upon and further strengthens the
ideals of hemispheric cooperation.”
Ambassador Smith pointed out
that FEMCIDI relies on the voluntary contributions of member states,
and that, therefore, the fund embodies the spirit of multilateral
cooperation. The fund, he said, has benefited member states
tremendously and its operations are governed by strict statutes, which
are carefully monitored by the Secretariat.
“Based on
statistics, the majority of member states, and in particular, the small
and more vulnerable states, have received multiples of their
contributions in terms of the value of projects from which they benefit
over the years– up to, and in some cases, over 10 times their
contribution,” the ambassador said.
He noted, however, that due
to budgetary constraints and growing concerns about the functioning of
FEMCIDI, member states are reviewing their level of financial support
to the fund.
“Recognizing this need to ensure its sustainability
and to create a better functioning, more effective cooperation
platform, a working group, under the able chairmanship of Canada, and
building on the progress of an earlier working group headed by the
United States, is presently reviewing FEMCIDI to make it more
transparent and relevant to member states’ development needs,” he
reported.
The ambassador said he hoped that whatever reforms are
made to FEMCIDI, preserve the fund and embody the ideals of the
effective cooperation.
“I am indeed confident,” he said, “that a
solution which is amenable to all member states to enable FEMCIDI to
continue to function in this current environment will be found and
implemented over the next few months.”
Ambassador Smith also
remarked on Civil Society participation in and benefits from FEMCIDI.
He pointed out that FEMCIDI has intimately involved civil society.
“This
grassroots approach to development does so much more than address the
urgent developmental needs in a country. FEMCIDI transfers important
project design, management and evaluation skills to its participants.
The
Fund enables civil societies to better become active participants in
meaningful development in their countries and through its strong
statutes, instil accountability and good project governance - traits
which translate into better citizenship and stronger democracies,” he
said.
“More importantly, though, FEMCIDI acts as a tool in our
communities to empower civil society. Again, I encourage you to seek
ways to work through FEMCIDI.”
He also outlined a litany of
projects funded by FEMCIDI, including the setting up of Business Labs
for a Young Entrepreneurs Training and Development Program, a 36-month,
16-country project for “School Management and Certification for
Development and Accreditation of Labour Competencies at the Upper
Secondary Level,” a multilateral Project on Drug Abuse Prevention in
Child Oriented Policies and a project focused on the Equalization of
Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities.
“While the
benefits of the fund are obvious to all, it is no secret that the fund
has been challenged in recent years,” Ambassador Smith said. “Indeed,
as Chair of CEPCIDI, I do have the strong concern that the fund may
cease to exist in the next few years.”
© Copyright 2010 by thebahamasweekly.com
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