Melanesian NGOs Statements on the Future of Melanesia as Region and People

Over February 27th – 29th the Pacific Islands Association of NGO convened deliberations in India Honiara, Solomon Islands to

· Gather the perspectives of its Melanesian national liaison units (NLUs) on a ‘Transformative Partnership for a Free, Secured and Sustainable Pacific.

· Demarcate areas of common development interest and challenges and foster discussions for future partnerships and collaboration aimed at enhancing Melanesian people’s voice and agency for meaningful participation in nation building 

· Share and build collective knowledge on influencing regional and international platforms and tools such as the Sustainable Development Goals to ensure that development interventions at all levels remain effective and meets the needs of Melanesia

· Strengthen our solidarity as a Melanesian collective to scale up our efforts for a Free West Papua by 2030, in line with the spirit of the SDGs and leaving no one behind. 

At the conclusion of the 2020 PIANGO Melanesian Subregional Meeting, we the Melanesian affiliates of PIANGO, comprising: 

a. Development Services Exchange, 

b. Fiji Council of Social Services, 

c. PNG Environmental Defenders Alliance and the 

d. Vanuatu Association of NGOs

reaffirm our commitment to working in partnership and collaboration to deliver effective solutions for the development challenges of our sub region. 

Our firm resolve is to reassert our indigenous identity, redefine and narrate our own development efforts and contributions guided by the values and the spirit of Wantokism, marked by our reciprocity, our deep sense of responsibility for each other and commitment to just and equitable development for our communities. 

The Melanesia we envision for our future generation is an arc of stability and prosperity for the Pacific region, where leaders serve and citizens thrive. 

A sub region that values sustainability over land grabbing, extraction and profit, where conservation of resources is the standard and the protection of its vulnerable, kustom. 

To achieve this vision for a Peaceful, Prosperous and United Melanesia., the Melanesian Spearhead Group can no longer operate on a business as usual approach.

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