This capacity-building workshop is within the framework of the implementation of the project," Lake Chad Management Improvement Support Project "- a regional initiative funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF)and jointly implemented by UNDP and the LCBC. The main objective of this project is to assist the LCBC, and its member states achieve integrated and resilient ecosystem-based management of the Lake Chad.
The 3rd component of the project aims to create an enabling environment for the implementation of the LCBC Strategic Action Program (SAP) by strengthening the capacity of stakeholders and promoting a participatory approach to the resolution of problems related to the management of natural resources in the basin. This will be done by improving the capacity of the lakeshore communities to effectively support the sustainable management of the natural resources of the Lake Chad Basin.
To achieve this, the LCBC selected five national NGOs and CSOs (ACEEN, OHD, CODICOM, E.S.E, SECCO) following a call for offers , to train and sensitize the communities within the Lake Chad Basin area. The general objective of the training workshop was to harmonize the different training methodology proposed by the selected NGOs and CSOs to be used in their respective countries. Considering that Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) is at the heart of GWP’s activities, the LCBC solicited the technical support of GWP -CAf and an agreement was signed between the two parties for GWP-CAf to develop and deliver pre-identified training modules to the selected NGOs and CSOs and support them in the preparation of the training to be conducted at the community level.
While speaking at the opening of the workshop, the LCBC Technical Director, Mr. Hycinth Banseka encouraged the NGOs to “work efficiently, and effectively to achieve set goals in accordance with the project expectations”. The workshop featured presentations by UNDP and LCBC on theproject and specificities of component 3, clearly outlining the expected outcomes of the community-level trainings.Experts from GWP-CAf trained the participants on gender and Communication for Development(C4D), to enable them to capitalize on the techniques and principles of these themes during theircommunity-level trainings.
To ensure the training modules and methodology will serve the purpose of the community trainings and meet the needs of the communities, participants carried out a stakeholder analysis and each NGO presented a draft training matrix. After group deliberations, a single matrix was developed based on what was presented by the NGOs and this will be used by all five NGOs during community trainings. Participants also worked in country groups to develop tools for monitoring and evaluating the training sessions – an important part of the project implementation.
The regional capacity-building workshop ended with a word of appreciation from the LCBC to the project’s financial and technical partners as well as to the NGOs for engaging in this change process to foster community-led management of natural resources within the basin by the communities. The community-level trainings are set to begin across the Lake Chad basin area in the last quarter of the year.