A 3 day capacity building workshop has ended in Limbe with participants acquiring an enhanced understanding of

activities implementation and compliance requirements. The workshop was organized by the Community Based Inclusive Development II (CBID) Project for some SEEPD Program staff and partners. It had as objective to build staff capacity on effective implementation of the project’s activities and to build team spirit amongst project staff and its stakeholders. The training took place from May 3^rd to 5^th 2023 at the MARCSONS Hotel in Limbe Southwest Region.

In his welcome remark, the SEEPD Program Manager Jacques Chirac Awa applauded staff for their commitment in contributing to the mission of the Program. He expressed that over the years the Program has witnessed growth as a result of collective efforts. He noted that the workshop was an opportunity to put in place systems and processes to enable the effective implementation of projects in the SEEPD Program. The Program Manager regretted the fact that international funding for community development is declining specifically in Africa a situation which is disturbing. He said there is need for quality results to assure funding from funders.

The CBID Project Manager Awa Jacques Chirac, in his presentation on the CBID concept, defined CBID as a negotiated process of influencing social change to foster the inclusion of marginalized groups in the context of conflict of goals, values, and interests. He further explained that CBID concept was birthed in 2017 and is a strategy for development adopted with funding partners to achieve project goals.  The Program Manager underlined the role of project staff which is that of capacity building, sensitization, resource mobilization, advocacy, and direct service delivery. He also presented the projects under the Services for Persons with Disabilities and the organogram put in place under the SEEPD Program.

On his part, the Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) Services Field Supervisor Kenchi Joseph drilled participants on CBR services. He defined CBR as a strategy that facilitate community development to equalize, strategies, rehabilitate and foster social inclusion, and poverty reduction. He encouraged project staff to work in collaboration with CBR to provide valuable services for persons with disabilities.

During the workshop, participants brainstormed in group work on monitoring and evaluation tools alongside other tools which will be reviewed and adopted for use to ensure effective implementation and outcomes of activities.  Staff were also drilled on reporting, organizational dynamics, and safeguarding Gender.

Participants at the end of the workshop attested that the workshop was timely and enriching given that they were exposed to innovations put in place in the program.  Achataseh Godwill in his role as the Quality and Assurance Manager stated that the content of the workshop will enable him to pay attention to the quality of activity implementation. The Director of IDF Oussematou Dameni expressed gratitude to the SEEPD Program and described the training as one of its kind. She acknowledged that she faced difficulties with compliance in activities implementation which were properly clarified in the training. “After this workshop I hope my organization will be able to contribute to the overall objective of the CBID Project” she noted.

At the close of the workshop, the CBID Project Coordinator Lohshie Eugene said the workshop was an opportunity for staff to acquire skills that will enable them to see the program through a broader lens. He appreciated CBM and the SEEPD Program Senior Management Team for supporting the organization of the training. He hopes to see a paradigm shift that will impact the lives of the beneficiary population.

This activity was implemented with support from CBM.