PiLGAN_LAAV Presentaion

LOCAL AUTHORITY ASSOCIATION VANUATU (LAAV) Presentation at The Pacific Local Government Forum Port Moresby Papua New Guinea 18th of May– 23rd of May 2014

Background Information Local Authority Association Vanuatu (LAAV) Was established on the 27th of June 2012 during the LAAV INAUGURAL Meeting at the Farea Matnapuka, SHEFA Provincial Government Headquarters in Port Vila, SHEFA Province.

Members of LAAV Vanuatu’s Six Provinces and Three Municipalities 1. TAFEA Province 2. SHEFA Province 3. MALAMPA Province 4. PENAMA Province 5. SANMA Province 6. TORBA Province 7. Port Vila Municipality (within SHEFA Province) 8. LUGANVILLE Municipality (within SANMA Province) 9. LENAKEL Municipality (within TAFEA Province)

LAAV Objectives 1. Sharing of Idea’s and Co-operation 2. Lobbying Advocacy and Promotion 3. Local Government Development and Performance 4. Developing Financial Sustainability 5. A Sustainable Association

Luganville Municipality

Port Vila Municipality

Lenakel Municipality

• LAAV was registered on the 1st of March 2012 at the Financial Services Commission • LAAV is still working on its Work plan and Budget

Institutional Framework • LAAV constitution completed on the 24th of February 2012 and Signed by all LAAV members on the 27th of June 2014 • Vanuatu’s Charitable Association’s Act (CAP 140) allows and governs the operations of LAAV in Vanuatu • Provinces are established under the Vanuatu’s Decentralization Act (CAP 230) • Municipalities are established under the Vanuatu’s Municipalities Act (CAP 126)

Governance Mechanism LAAV executive is made up of the following people. Chairman: President of Shefa Provincial Government Council, Hon Edward George ATAVIMARATA. Vice Chairman: Lord Mayor of Luganville Municipal Council, Hon Morris EMBOY CEO: Vacant- Interim CEO, Secretary General of Shefa Provincial Government Council, Mr Michel Kalnawi KALWORAI. The LAAV constitution provides for quarterly meetings annually, due to financial constraints experienced by LAAV the committee has met twice since 2013.

Resource Mobilization • LAAV has a 2012-2014 Cooperate Plan but needs to be revised with a more realistic budget Main Donors of LAAV • LAAV was established through ARIAL Program with funding from EU as a ELGAF In the Pacific with KILGA through FSPI in Suva Fiji in Co-operation with CLGF Pacific in Suva Fiji • LAAV member fees of 100,000 vatu is paid per year by members as stipulated in the LAAV constitution. • Annual average revenue from LAAV is 900,000 vatu from it’s 9 members.

Level of Engagement • LAAV was officially launched on the 27th of June 2012 by Mr Paul HAKWA who was then the 1st Political Advisor to the Minister of Internal Affairs Minister George WELLS • The leader of the Vanuatu Delegation to the PLGA Forum is the First Political Advisor to the Ministry of Internal Affairs Mr Clarence MARAE along with the following people: 1. Madame Cherol ALA, Director of the Department of Local Authorities of Vanuatu Government. 2. Honourable Edward ATAVIMARATA, President of Shefa Provincial Government Council, Chairman of LAAV 3. Honourable Ulrich SUMTOH, Lord Mayor of Port Vila Municipality 4. Mr Ronald SANDY, Town Clerk of Port Vila Municipality 5. Mr Michel Kalnawi KALWORAI, Secretary General of the Shefa Provincial Government Council and Interim CEO to LAAV.

•LAAV has held meetings with NZ Aid, Aus Aid and the French Embassy in Port Vila Regarding Funding Opportunities

Accomplishments • Representing the Pacific Local Authorities in the Pacific in the steering committee meeting in Brussels Belgium to seek more support for LGA’s in the Pacific and especially lobbying for the support and establishment of the Pacific Local Government Association.

• 0n 13th of June 2012 LAAV and Shefa Provincial Government Council hosted the ACP Secretariat, His Excellency Dr Mohamed Ibin Chambas and delegation with the Ambassador of Vanuatu to Europe, His Excellency Roy Mickey Joy and Staff

• April 2014 LAAV meeting with Hon Prime Minister for Vanuatu Hon, Moana Carcas Kalosil for the amendment of Vanuatu’s Business License Act to increase revenue collection for LAAV members which was recently gazetted on the 7th of May 2014. • Seek more EU funding through VNG to the Pacific through FSPI in collaboration with CLGF Pacific for more ELGAF’s, two more established makes four ELGAF’s in the Pacific under the ARIAL Program. • Lobbying support for the establishment of the Pacific LGA. • LAAV also lobbied for more funding support for the Local Government Development under the 11th EDF.

• Lobbying to support the TVET program to members • TVET Aus Aid funding second phase in SANMA and MALAMPA, third phase in TORBA Province and requesting for TVET program to be established in other provinces in Vanuatu. • In May 2012 LAAV attended the 9th Local Authorities Forum at the Headquarters of PENAMA Province at SARATAMATA, Ambae Island in Vanuatu, solidarity for LAAV members. • LAAV AGM at SANMA Province, August 2013 • HOU DLA Meeting, LED Awareness, April 2014 • Next LAAV AGM, TORBA Province, June 2014

TANKIO TUMAS