A Cross-Sectoral Group on Local and Community Development was established in May 2017 to develop a five-year implementation plan for the Government’s Framework Policy on Local and Community Development. The Group is chaired by my Department and comprises members drawn from the relevant stakeholder sectors, including the community development, local development and community & voluntary sectors, as well as local and central government.
The Group has met on six occasions to date, focusing primarily on developing actions for the implementation plan. The actions will be informed by the extensive consultation process undertaken by my Department; it will draw on the feedback received from the original consultation on the Framework Policy in 2015, outputs from the National Forum on Local and Community Development held in November 2016, and outputs from a cross-sectoral workshop held by my Department in November 2017.
I expect a draft plan to be submitted for my consideration in Q2 2018. I hope to bring it to Government for approval shortly thereafter.