Government of Samoa Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF SAMOA ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN, COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT For the period ended June 30 2005 To be laid before the Legislative Assembly GOVERNMENT OF SAMOA OFFICE OF THE MINISTER FOR WOMEN, COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT The Honourable Speaker The Legislative Assembly of Samoa In compliance with Section 18 (2) of the Ministry of Women Affairs Act 1990, Section 17 (2) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Act 1995 and Section 17 (1) of the Ministry of Youth Sports and Cultural Affairs Act 1993/1994, I have the honour to lay before you copies of the second Annual Report for the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development for the period of July 1 2004 to June 30 2005, for tabling before the Legislative Assembly of Samoa. This report documents activities implemented by the Ministry within this financial year, in accordance with the above identified Acts. Hon. Fiame Naomi Mataafa MINISTER FOR WOMEN, COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT 2 GOVERNMENT OF SAMOA Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development Honourable Fiame Naomi Mataafa MINISTER FOR WOMEN, COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT In accordance with Section 18 (2) of the Ministry of Women Affairs Act 1990, Section 17 (1) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Act 1995 and Section 17(1) of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Cultural Affairs Act 1993/1994, I hereby submit the second Annual Report for the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development for the period of July 1 2004 to June 30 2005. This report contains a summary of the operations of the Ministry for this financial year, in accordance with the requirements of the above-identified Acts. Luagalau Foisagaasina Eteuati Shon CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page INTRODUCTION 5 1. SECTION 1: THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT (MWCSD) 1.1 Mandate 7 1.2 Vision 7 1.3 Mission Statement 7 1.4 Objectives 8 1.5 Functions 8 1.6 MWCSD Organisational Structure 9 2. SECTION 2: ACHIEVEMENTS AND INITIATIVES 2.1 Office of the Honourable Minister 11 2.2 Office of the Chief Executive Officer 12 2.3 Division for Internal Affairs 13 2.4 Division for Women 19 2.5 Division for Youth 22 2.6 Division for Research Policy Planning and Information Processing 25 2.7 Division for Printing 26 2.8 Division for Corporate Services 28 3. SECTION 3: STAFF DEVELOPMENT 30 5 SECTION 4: REPRESENTATION 31 6 SECTION 5: CONSTRAINTS 32 7 SECTION 6: MWCSD BUDGET APPROPRIATIONS -2004/2005 34 8 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 35 9 ACRONYMS 36 4 INTRODUCTION This is the second Annual Report on the operations of the Ministry of Women Community and Social Development (MWCSD) since its establishment in May 2003. The report is an account of the Ministry’s continued commitment to realize its vision and mission as set out in its three-year Corporate Plan 2004 - 2007 which reflect its efforts to work towards the achievement of Government’s strategic objectives identified in its Strategy for the Development of Samoa 2005-2007. It highlights the major achievements of the Ministry facilitated by a number of positive developments and initiatives made possible by government funding and support as well as with the kind assistance of donor countries and agencies. The most notable achievements of the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development during this financial year were the: 1. official launching of the Ministry’s Corporate Plan 2004 - 2007 2. completion and official launching of the Tusi Faalupega o Samoa 3. completion of the Ministry’s Service Charter 4. completion of the Ministry’s Manual of financial and administrative systems and procedures 5. development of the Ministry’s Capability Plan 6. appointment of Government Women Representatives from traditional villages 7. inclusion for the first time of an output for the Protection of Children in the Ministry’s budget for 2004/2005 The successful implementation of the Ministry’s programmes and activities during this period was made possible by the ongoing participation and continuous support of the Ministry’s key stakeholders in Government, Non-Governmental organizations, the Private Sector, and churches. The valuable contribution of village communities through the village mayors, Government women representatives and youth leaders was crucial in the progress made during the year under review. The challenges experienced during the first year of the amalgamation were minimised over this second year as each Division quickly realized the importance of moving forward as one Ministry instead of Divisional territoriality. To be expected, one major challenge that continued into the second year of the Ministry’s operation was the slow adjustment of the public to the realignment of former Ministries and Divisions into the MWCSD. There continued to be references to the Division of Internal Affairs as the Ministry for Pulenuu, the Division for Youth as the old Ministry for Youth Sports and Culture and the Division for Women as the Ministry for Women Affairs. However, the public’s understanding of, and orientation to, the Ministry and its organizational structure gradually took hold Village mayors, Government Women Representatives and Youth Leaders played an active role in facilitating the awareness of communities about the MWCDS and its work. 5 The successful completion of the second year of operation is adequate reflection of the level of the Ministry’s commitment to achieve its strategic purposes despite the challenges and intrinsic constraints of the realignment process. 6 SECTION 1: THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN, COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT 1.1 MANDATE The Ministerial and Departmental Arrangements Act 2003 sanctioned the amalgamation of the MWCSD. However, the Ministry still did not have its own governing legislation during this financial year. In the absence of a governing legislation, the MWCSD’s work continued to be administered under the following mandates: Government's Strategy for the Development of Samoa (SDS) 2004-2007 Ministry of Women Affairs Act 1990 and Amendment 1998 Ministry of Youth Sports and Cultural Affairs Act 1993 (provisions pertaining to Youth) Ministry of Internal Affairs Act 1995 and Amendments 1998 UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) ratified by the government of Samoa in 1992 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) ratified by the government of Samoa in 1994 1.2 VISION: “To be the lead agency in Samoa in the provision of community welfare and social services to advance the attainment of quality of life for all” 1.3 MISSION: “To work in partnership with stakeholders to strengthen the social structures of Faa-Samoa to ensure the sustainable development of the spiritual, cultural, social and economic wellbeing of families and communities” The Ministry’s Vision, Mission and Objectives were identified in its Corporate Plan 2004 – 2007 7 1.4 OBJECTIVES: The MWCSD identified the following five broad objectives for its work in its three-year Corporate Plan: a. To provide quality advice on national policies and plans to promote the spiritual, cultural, social and economic development of families and communities a. To coordinate the provision of effective and efficient community and social development services to enhance social harmony and economic well being of families and communities b. To promote a gender responsive orientation in national initiatives so as to provide more choices and opportunities for women, men, youth and children c. To provide quality and affordable printing services for government and private customers d. To strengthen Human Resources Management as well as Corporate Services systems, to support the efficient and effective delivery of services 1.5 FUNCTIONS To realize the achievement of its objectives, the Ministry continued to perform the following functions during the period under review: (i) Provision of policy advice (ii) Provision of Ministerial support (iii) Policy development, planning and conduct of research (iv) Establishment of appropriate Information systems (v) Coordination and implementation of activities relating to the CEDAW & CRC (vi) Provision of Community development services for women (vii) Provision of relevant programmes and training for women, youth, Pulenuu and Sui o le Malo * (viii) Dissemination of information to women and youth and community on issues of women and youth (ix) Promotion of Village based development through Pulenuu and Sui o le Malo (x) Provision of quality Printing services * Government representatives from non-traditional villages 8 1.6 MWCSD ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE 1.6.1 MINISTER FOR WOMEN, COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT Honourable Tuala Ainiu Iusitino continued to hold the portfolio of Minister for Women, Community and Social Development during this year. As well, the Member of Parliament Safuneituuga Paaga Neri Fepuleai continued as the Parliamentary Secretary for the Minister of MWCSD. 1.6.2 CHIEF EECUTIVE OFFICER Luagalau Foisagaasina Eteuati-Shon remained as the Chief Executive Officer for the MWCSD. 1.6.3 DIVISIONS The Ministry maintained its organisational structure as of its realignment in 2003 with six Divisions namely the Division for Internal Affairs, Division for Women, Division for Youth, Division for Printing, Division for Research, Policy Planning and Information Processing and Division for Corporate Services. An Assistant Chief Executive Officer (ACEO) who was directly responsible to the Chief Executive Officer, as shown