On 11 June 2019, the last regular meeting of the NGO Networking Group was held at the Ledra Palace Hotel in the UN Buffer Zone, Nicosia. Junior Achievement-Cyprus, a nongovernmental organisation, presented their work at the forum which was followed by a discussion among participants on the challenges faced in ensuring their ability to address the needs of all communities on the island.
The NGO Networking Group was initially convened under the auspices of UNFICYP’s Civil Affairs Section in July 2017 with the objective of facilitating connections between nongovernmental organisations, academics and other like-minded groups committed to promoting confidence and trust on the island.
Since its inception, members of the Group have been holding monthly meetings at the Ledra Palace Hotel, a location that enabling ‘easier’ contact and dialogue between the communities. The sessions are open to the public and include presentations on upcoming initiatives as well as open discussions on the trials faced by individuals or organisations in their quest for a shared future in Cyprus.
In this context, efforts have been made to reach out to civil society beyond Nicosia in the last nine months. Of note is a visit by Nicosia-based NGOs to meet counterparts in Deryneia and Famagusta which focused on issues ranging from culture, arts, youth engagement, elderly engagement and sport. A similar activity is being planned for the Lefka/Lefke area.
As mandated, UNFICYP continues to support Cypriot civil society organisations who have dedicatedly taken the lead in ongoing cross-community collaborations on the island in past years.
The new schedule of similar meetings shall be announced in September.