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The maiden edition of the annual “Rivers State Stakeholders’ Conference on Sustainable Development” has been approved to hold from 12th – 18th October 2008. This followed the formal Commissioning of concept developer and event manager Southernfield Development Partners by the principal sponsor and promoter, the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA), Southernfield is working in partnership with Youth Advancement Initiative (YAI) and other resource individuals and organizations on implementation of the conference plan.
BACKGROUND
The Government of Rivers State Under the Leadership of Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi determined to ensure rapid and sustainable rural transformation, has pass a law providing for Funding and Vehicle through an independent and professionally managed agency the RSSDA for delivering on set goals. Communities are expected to make accountable plan that feed from the 15–year intervention framework of the agency. Development plans such as this require wide range of services and competences. The conference is a platform to create an environment for such linkages to skills, resources and markets necessary for this.
PHILOSOPHY:
The conference is guided by the RSSDA Framework philosophy which are as follows;
- Bottom up with top down support
- Inclusion and Participation
- Development as Business and not Charity (Sustainability)
- Demand Driven and Community Ownership
- People centeredness
The implication is for empowerment of communities through supports that help them development and implement technical sound programmes and project into their strategic cluster development plans through professional facilitation.
GOAL
The Goal of the conference is: “To promote annual interaction, develop linkages and implement a common vision among stakeholders for accelerated rural development in Rivers State”.
OBJECTIVES
The objective of the conference includes:
- To mobilize and sensitize stakeholders toward self-driven action for rural development
- To create a sense of shared vision and common destiny for rural development
- To provide a forum for interaction, learning and productive partnerships.
- To recognize outstanding individual and institutional contributions to rural development.
- To exhibit products, ideas, knowledge and services useful to rural socio-economic transformation
- To set standards, monitor and evaluate progress across sectors.
- To provide avenue for collective oversight, accountability and stewardship in the use of common resources.
- To promote peace, social values and harmony.
JUSTIFICATION
Re-build rural peoples confidence in the development agenda of the State.
- Combat prevailing cynicism in society on ability of government and developmental partners to delivery on development.
- Creating awareness of the responsibility and mission of RSSDA, and those of its stakeholders and partners.
- Presentation of plans, strategies and annual progress reports.