Published on: 9 March 2016
The Brazilian Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (Associação Brasileira de Organizações Não-Governamentais: ABONG) held its Assembly on 3 March 2016 in Salvador. This was attended by 30 participants, representing 23 associate organizations from Bahia and Sergipe. The aim of the meeting was to present ABONG’s recent activities and elect the Bahian association’s new Board.
Professor Luiz Roberto Moraes, from the Federal University of Bahia, opened proceedings presenting technical studies about basic sanitation in the city of Salvador, focusing on aspects linked to the environment, public health, civil society action and the public authorities. The participants were able to debate the professor’s presentation, before moving on to the Assembly’s internal agenda.
Following this, Edmundo Kroger, General Coordinator of the Centre for Education and Popular Culture (Centro de Educação e Cultura Popular: CECUP) and State Director of ABONG-BA, provided a brief summary of the organization’s activities. He highlighted the “Sharing” project, which mobilized new organizations, and Bahian support in setting up ABONG in Sergipe. Damien Hazard, member of the National Executive, provided an overview of activities and community action promoted by ABONG.
Eliana Rolemberg (CESE) and Isador Salomão from the Integrated Reference Centre for Adolescents (Centro de Referência Integral de Adolescentes: CRIA) presented the Regulatory Framework for Civil Society Organizations (Marco Regulatório das Organizações da Sociedade Civil: MROSC), specifically highlighting the advances provided by new laws. Some of the positive points included legal instruments for organizations; greater possibilities for networking; the monitoring of results; and issues linked to the new format for contracting and remuneration.
In the final part of the Assembly, a discussion was held about the new composition of the ABONG Board in Bahia. By consensus, the organizations nominated Eliana Rolemberg (member) and Damien Hazard (substitute) for the State Board.
Representatives from members newly associated to ABONG, such as APALBA from Bahia and the Braços Institute from Sergipe, congratulated the meeting on its transparency and on the importance of ABONG in providing organizational networking and strengthening civil society.
(Source: Associação Vida Brasil)