The Daily Observer (Banjul)
Alhagie Babou Jallow
5 November 2009
A three day capacity development training for extension workers on the concept of community based performance and monitoring, organised by the Department of Community Development Office in Kerewan, in collaboration with Community Driven Development Project has recently begin in Kerewan.
The objective of the forum is to build the capacity of extension workers to closely work with communities on the effective use of funds by implementing teamwork and promote the role of Village Development Committees. Delivering the opening statement on behalf of the governor, Aba Gibba, Director of Planning and Development at Kerewan Area Council underscored the importance of capacity development of extension workers. He added that they are the interface between development partners and the grassroots people to bring about positive change in the lives of people.
Community Driven Development Project intervention is in conformity with local government reforms and decentralization process by empowering the community to lead all development implementation at their own level. He however added that this can only be achieve if there is correct and consistent transfer of skills and knowledge by MDFTS that can contribute to poverty reduction and improve the livelihood of the people at the grassroots level.
He said the council is very committed to the human resources development of village structures with the view to bring sustainable development through the design of their own projects and sustainability. "Community Based Participatory Monitoring is an ongoing empowerment process carried within the transient of a systematic community participation in public policing. It dissembles a hybrid of a technique of social audit, community monitoring, and strategic planning and action process". He concluded.
Bakary Gaye, Community Development Officer for NBR emphasised the important roles of MDFT's in ensuring effective transfer of skills and knowledge in carrying out monitoring of both CDDP 2008 - 09 intervention community sub projects so as to learn best practices and improve on the short fall during project implementation.
Mr. Gaye used the occassion to commend the communities for their active participation in the overall implementation of World Bank funded Community Driven Development Project (CDDP), noting that the entire projects identified by the communities would contribute immensely in poverty reduction; he also urged them to ensure that the project objectives are achieved in the long term.
Alagie Jawara, the Community Development Facilitator of North Bank Community Development Project, underscored the importance the project attaches to capacity development of stakeholders notably institutional structures like the Village Development Committee so as to ensure the smooth implementation of community projects at grassroots level.
The project would empower communities to make inform choices of designing comprehensive projects that would contribute to poverty reduction and improve the livelihood of rural households.
The training of MDFT would enable them to use Community Based Participatory Monitoring tools to help communities to carry out project evaluation on the national standard bench mark generate indicators. The use of participatory tools would enhance democratic process of good governance at grassroots level.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2009 The Daily Observer. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
