SOCO PROJECT: STAKEHOLDERS FROM TWO REGIONS UNDERGO TRAINING
Twenty – one beneficiary Municipal and District Assemblies (MDAs) of the Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion (SOCO) project have undergone a three-day intensive monitoring and evaluation training programme in Bolgatanga.
Mr Percy Anaab Bukari, the Lead Facilitator of the training programme, said the objective of the training was to provide them with the requisite knowledge on the project’s concept of Training Theory of Change (ToC) to enable the stakeholders achieve the desired results.
He explained that the knowledge on the project’s results framework included results measurement at output, outcome, impact levels and the expected results of all the project components.
“Be assured that this training will clarify all doubts on reporting arrangements and procedures including reporting templates at all levels and frequency of reporting, the role and responsibility of each key stakeholder in the monitoring and evaluation of SOCO Project,” he said.
Mr Bukari, who is from the Trust Limited, a Consultancy Firm which provides training capacity for donor funded projects, advised the focal persons both at the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) and the MDAs to endeavour to understand how to complete the monthly and quarterly reports to ensure timely completion for regular payments to contractors.
Speaking at the opening session of the programme, the Upper East Regional Minister, Hon. Stephen Yakubu, urged the participants to share practical experiences and knowledge with each other to facilitate the project.
He described the SOCO project as a “Game- Changer” and called for quality work so that the projects, including health facilities, school blocks, market structures culverts among others would last to serve unborn generations.
Sharing his field experiences on the SOCO Projects during monitoring, the Regional Minister said some of the Contractors had advanced in their respective projects with quality standards, but questioned the reason for the delay in payment.
He encouraged officers in charge of the project at the RCC and various MDAs to promptly submit returns to facilitate the timely payment of funds to the contractors to avoid any possible depreciation in the value of their money.
The participants included Planners, LED Focal Persons, MIS Officers, Environmental and Social Safeguard Personnel among others from MDAs in both the Upper East and North East Regions.
