CI-NEWS

Regional stakeholders advocate extension of PRESEC &RESILI(A)NT in crucial steering committee meetin

2019-10-01

No: 449

Regional stakeholders advocate extension of PRESEC &RESILI(A)NT in crucial steering committee meetings.

On 10 and 13 September 2019, PRESEC & RESILI(A)NT consortia organized the third edition of their Regional Steering Committee Meetings for the Far North and North Regions that brought together government officials, municipal activities, extension service workers and civil society actors at the conference halls of CNPS Maroua and Garoua Community Urban Council. The consultative meetings aimed at presenting and assessing the progress of the implementation of the project activities of PRESEC and RESILI(A)NT during the first semester of the year and were chaired by the representatives of the governors of both regions

This particular edition of regional steering committee meetings was quite crucial as it marked the transition into the final year of the twin projects which should normally phase out on June 2020. Discussions that oozed out of the deliberations were quite rich and far-reaching; the participants in their advisory and supervisory role as members of the steering committees made constructive recommendations that helped to determine the fate of the continuity of the two projects and ensure the sustainability of project activities for positive behaviour change and community ownership on the ground after closure.

The most outstanding of the recommendations among many others focused on the creation of regional task forces under the leadership of regional governors in a bid develop advocacy actions to persuade the European Union for the possible extension and/or second phase of the two projects. For this to happen, the steering committee members decided to plan and prepare the necessary argumentations for such advocacy move; proactive mayors were designated to lead the process per region with the technical support of PRESEC & RESILI(A)NT project teams. It was also unanimously decided that project activity reports must be shared systematically with extension service workers and municipal authorities for constant updates. Project staff members are obliged to participate in and contribute actively in sector-based coordination or cluster meetings involving various key stakeholders at all levels in order to avoid duplication of project activities on the ground. It is equally important to enhance visibility of project activities towards beneficiaries of both the EU and the councils that are co-financing these projects.

It is important to note that ever since the last meeting that took place in early February 2019, much progress has been recorded in target municipalities, particularly in terms of increased access to basic services such as water, sanitation & hygiene (WASH);nutrition & food security; diversification and sustainable intensification of agricultural production systems; concerted and inclusive management of natural resources and the creation of inclusive, nutrition-sensitive and employment-creating value chains.

However, there are some hitches on the ground that need to be thrashed thanks to the continuous support of regional steering committee members as regards the improved performance of both projects and possibility of scaling up specific development approaches that are saleable and above all impact-driven.

With a budget of just over 20 billion FCFA, the PRESEC and RESILI(A)NT projects fall within the framework of the Program of Response to the Impact of Internal and External Population Movements in the three regions of the North (Adamawa, North, Far North). This program is funded by the European Union through the Emergency Trust Fund for Africa created in November 2015, at the Valletta Summit, which brought together European and African leaders.

The dual projects are led by two consortiums: PRESEC and RESILI(A)NT that are managed by international and local NGOs. RESILI(A)NT on one hand is implemented by Action contre la Faim in collaboration with Première Urgence Internationale, Croix-Rouge Française, CARE France et Solidarités Internationale as a consortium; it covers 12 councils with 3 in the North Region (Pitoa, Ngong and Garoua) and 9 in Far North Region (Hina, Mokolo, Koza, Roua, Tokombéré, Ndoukoula, Gazawa, Mozogo, Kousséri). PRESEC, on the other hand, is executed by another consortium led SNV the Netherlands Development Organisation in partnership with two local NGOs APROSPEN and CADEPI; they targets 11 communes in the three Northern regions: 3 in Adamawa (Meiganga, Nyambaka and Ngan-Ha), 2 in the North (Guider and Lagdo) and 6 in the Far North (Mogode, Mora, Waza, Logone-Birni, Goulfey and Makary).

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Regional stakeholders advocate extension of PRESEC &RESILI(A)NT in crucial steering committee meetin