Find Civil Society expertise in Samoa

Samoa has a variety of NGOs and international NGOs which aid its development and help create an active civil society such as health, the environment and natural disaster relief and providing human rights support. The Samoa Family Health Association is assisting the Ministry of Health in delivering reproductive health and family planning services. Mapusaga o Aiga, a women and children human rights body, is raising public awareness of domestic violence issues and providing counselling services and practical support to victims of violence and abuse. Due to Samoa’s close proximity to New Zealand and Australia, international NGOs such as Caritas, Oxfam and Rotary help with humanitarian relief support in circumstances such as the 2009 tsunami.

The Samoa Umbrella for Non Governmental Organisation (SUNGO) is the country’s most recognised NGO apex body. SUNGO works in capacity building, advocacy and trains its member NGOs in network management and sustainable collaboration.

The national trade unions of Samoa include: the Samoa Trade Union Congress (STUC) and the Samoa Public Service Association (SPSA). About a fifth of all workers have been unionised, though strikes are a rare occurrence.