By PFNOSCM, Forus member in Madagascar.

During the Third National Convention, held on 17 and 18 December 2020 in Antananarivo, a specific approach was adopted to make the most of the two-day event funded by the European Union and AFD, supported by Forus.  

The aim was to see, together with delegates from the 22 regions, how to revitalise the PFNOSCM, and above all to improve the way it engages with a restricted civic space. In most regions, local authorities take advantage of their rights to public power, far from the central government, abuse their authority and view the emergence of civil society in a negative light. The aim is to find approaches and means to improve the impact of their interventions on the population, despite these toxic environments. The approach adopted by PFNOSCM aligns with the thoughts and proposals that emerged from the Antsirabe assessment and capitalisation workshop. An intellectual approach that follows the five steps below: 

• Step 1: Sharing information and common understanding of the gravity and number of continuing public interest issues 
• Step 2: Increasing collective awareness of the inadequacy or absence of individual accountability as a civil society when facing the gravity of the situation 
• Step 3: Identifying shortcomings and limitations of interventions that continue to burden public life, despite some efforts to resolve them 
• Step 4: Exploring a new strategy to improve the manner of engagement 
• Step 5: Improving the organisational system and particularly the PFNOSCM statutes to adapt to the improved manner of engagement 

This has allowed participants to together understand the gravity of the situation in which populations of the 22 regions are living; the shortfalls or even lack of responsibility taken as civil society. It should, however, serve as a marker for all pitfalls, but also as a spokesperson for the voiceless. It was in the wake of this reflection process that the participants sought a way to improve the approach in which the organisation engages at both national and regional levels.  

Amélie Razafindrahasina, President of the PFROSC of Haute-Matsiatra and Secretary General elect of the new office, summarised it in the following way: "We have identified at least twelve public interest issues to begin working over the next year. The PFROSCs have been supporting the QIPs. Each will engage PFROSCs in other regions to identify resolutions and to advocate for them so as to have a more positive impact on vulnerable populations in the country."   

Thus, the strategic plan for 2021-2030, and all organisations to be set up within the PFNOSCM and the PFROSCs, must comply with the new approach. This is the case for revising the statutes. They have been adjusted to comply with an ultimate goal: to make the PFNOSCM and its branches more effective at providing responses to the population's concerns and wishes.