Orelope-Adefulire applauds CSOs in fight against HIV/ AIDs, others 

By Adeola Tukuru,  Abuja

Princess Orelope-Adefulire

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, SSAP-SDGs, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, has applauded the multiple functions of the ‎Civil Society Organisation (CSOs) in the HIV/AIDS pandemic and governance at both local and global levels, saying the Federal Government would explore areas of strategic partnership and collaborations with them during the implementation of Nigeria’s Sustainable Development Goals.

A press statement signed by the Head, Communications‎, OSSAP-SDGs‎,Janent McDickson said Mrs Orelope-Adefulire made the remarks while speaking at the side event on achieving 2030 Agenda for sustainable development during the just concluded 55th Session of the United Nations Commission for Social Development, CSocD55 in New York.

In her presentation titled: “the Strategies for innovative partnership between Government and Civil Society Organisations in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Nigeria”, the presidential aide maintained that in order to ensure that Partnerships effectively, contribute to attainment of the SDGs, governments would need to: forge partnerships that are need-based and aligned with country priorities as well as the priorities for SDGs, promote multi-sectoral and multi-dimensional partnerships, simplify the rules of engagement for partnerships, while managing risks, encourage public-private partnership and evolve ways and means of leveraging Private Sector Resources/Expertise as well as that of the Development Partners.

Addressing the main challenges of Poverty and Environmental degradation, conflict and disaster, the HIV/AIDS pandemic and governance at all levels she also commended to role of the CSOs, which, according to her, are increasingly playing  influential roles in setting and complementing
Development Agendas throughout the world.

“Many have been in the forefront of advocating principles of social justice and equity. OSSAP-SDGs actively encourages engagement with a wide range of organisations and associations whose goals, values and development philosophies accord with its mandate.
Princess Orelope-Adefulire added that OSSAP-SDGs had and has continued to build and forge strategic partnerships with all critical stakeholders, inclusive of the CSOs.

“The office in collaboration with the Private Sector and Partners has held strategy sessions aimed at developing a framework for OSSAP-SDGs engagement with the Private Sector and the CSOs. Consequently, a Private Sector Advisory Group (PSAG) is to be instituted that would serve as think-thank for Partnerships and Private Sector engagement.”

“The growing strength and sophistication of CSOs as Actors in the Development Arena presents us with new challenges in building multi-faceted and creative alliances with the CSOs.

“ To design and sustain genuine partnerships with CSOs, it is essential to understand the civil society
sector, assess its capacities and weaknesses, and develop appropriate and effective tools and instruments to engage with.” She added.

“The SDGs will build and expand on the 8 goals of the MDGs by focusing on critical dimensions of sustainable development including human rights obligation, good governance, social justice, equity within & between countries, sustainability, vulnerability and the inclusion of marginal populations and the poorest of the poor.

“These universal goals, are expected to create a bench mark that ensures the balancing of economic
development and global environmental goal with poverty reduction objective,” she said.