NWADO Nourishes CSOs on Land Tenure and Public Contracts Policies/Procedures
Over 100 CSOs came together, through the efforts of North West Association of Development Organization (NWADO), for a working session to understand the policies and procedures guarding Land Tenure and Public Contracts, to ensure that public contracts are properly executed in the Northwest region.
Bringing together CSOs to brainstorm on activities that will cause government to change some policies and set records on how civil society can constitute themselves and function, in the follow up on public Investment projects.
Some of the participants were happy to have the stakeholders concerned with land tenure and public contracts present in their midst, while the CSOs sharpened their skills to get informed and be part of the follow up commission for projects to be implemented in the different communities in the region.
Sali Django Program Coordinator for MBOSCUDA NWR as participant says the workshop is relevant, bringing Civil Societies together to better organize themselves and engage in a focused direction. “CSOS have been weak and fragmented, coming together as one is a laudable initiative, as it will strengthen our advocacy efforts and make our work more impactful”
“Challenges faced are general for many CSOs who never have access to Information, those who are responsible to provide information are reluctant, probably because they are involved in the bad practices. Procedures were not very clear to CSOs and one cannot work on issues without having knowledge on the subject matter. With this workshop, the picture is clearer” Sali Django said.
Mala Celencia, CEO of light Africa Cameroon, as a participant was void of knowledge on how projects or contracts were followed up but appreciated the workshop for the knowledge recieved.
“I have been able to get more knowledge on contracts, how it is awarded and the follow up needed to meet up with the demands of the beneficiaries. As a CSO we have need to play the role of follow up on what needs to be done, to deliver quality services while meeting the aspirations of the people. There is so much I didn’t know untill now, and I thank NWADO for this initiative, bringing CSOs together for a common good” she said.
Tombir Stanley, The Coordinator of NWADO told Civiclensthat it’s a network of civil society Organizations of the Northwest region and the workshop is organized within the framework of the project funded by the Acting Citizenship Strengthening Program 11th European Development Fund.
“The project is amplifying, civil society voices for quality services delivery public sector in the Northwest Region; targeting 2 sectors, the land tenure and the public Contracts Sectors. The objective is to help Civil Societies to master the institutional framework and policies guiding the land tenure and the public contracts Sectors, so that they can monitor, step by step and carryout advocacy actions to bring about relevant changes in institutional arrangements or policy level” Coordinator of NWADO.
As to why he choose to target these two sectors he had this to say
“These two sectors are very crucial for development in our region and again they top the list in terms of corruption and wrongdoing in the public sector. We have to work to ensure a more transparent and accountable public sector that meets the needs of citizens. Where does public contract money come from? Some is either our taxes or loans from Development financial Institutions and we need to understand clearly the mechanisms for contract award processes and make sure we participate and make our voices hears in these processes”
“For the land sector, with the rate of unemployment we are thinking that gov’t should relax the policies and procedures for acquiring land certificates so that it benefits young people. Land is an important factor of production, as we all know so this is part of the advocacy we are talking about. We have to mobilise young people and grassroots citizens to be more informed and champion these actions which we are initiating. Thanks to our financial partners.
Shei William is lead facilitator at the training for CSOs, he says the participants are expected to “develop and Implement advocacy strategy to influence the public contract sector beginning at local level, because there are instruments put in place, but many are not able to use them, so advocacy is also about knowing how to use these instruments make a claim.” Facilitator said.
By Ndefru Melany
