Christian Aid ends training workshop in Anambra, emphasizes on ECID policy strategy

By Odogwu Emeka Odogwu

A-2-day training workshop on Advocacy and Policy under the Evidence and Collaboration for Inclusive Development, (ECID) project for Civil Society Groups and four local government areas in Anambra state has ended in Awka with emphasis on the need for effective use of data for for planning at both communities, local government and state.

The four local government areas in Anambra benefiting from the training were Awka North, Ayamelum, Anambra West and Ogbaru. Some of the partnering organizations are Hope Givers Initiative (HOG-I), Civil Rights Concern, JPDC Onitsha among others.

The ECID training was facilitated by Christian Aid, Nigeria. Christian Aid UK is a relief and development agency of 41 Christian Churches in UK and Ireland, supporting sustainable development, eradicating poverty, supporting Civil Society and relief to four continents of Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and South America.

The Country Director, Nigeria, Christian Aid (CAID), Charles Usie was represented by Mrs Uzoma Uzor, Senior Program Co-ordinator Christian Aid Nigeria Anambra. ECID is a four year program to reduce poverty, improve well- being of most marginalized in Nigeria, Zimbabwe and Myanmar as well as realize rights.

The most marginalized in the context for Nigeria, Anambra state are adolescent boys and girls, people with disabilities and poor rural women.

Speaking on ‘Partnership for change: the power to end poverty’ , Program Associate, Christian Aid Abuja, Faith Idachaba reiterated that the ECID project is all about data collection, reaching out to the downtrodden, dealing with government targeted at reducing poverty in the selected communities.

Idachaba who is also the Focal person for Community Response Mechanism insisted that having enough data on the marginalized three groups adolescent girls and boys, poor rural women and people with disabilities in the society is a big step to resolving their predicament.

www.odogwublog.com reports that in his paper , ” ECID Nigeria Program design”, the Project Lead Nigeria and Senior Program Co-ordinator, Policy and Advocacy, Christan Aid, Victor Arokoyo, informed that the ECID project is also targeted at how to engage Government using data collected, effectiveness of CSO’s in using data as evidence to engage and change situations in education, Agriculture, infrastructure, health, gender equality.

Arokoyo informed further that ECID will facilitate evidence based policy and decision making the effective use of data to address the issues of marginalized groups.

Arokoyo said also that the ECID project has four outcome including improved access to services by the target groups in Nigeria; increased participation in decision making processes foe key target groups in Nigeria; improved effectiveness of Civil Society and other actors at all levels in addressing the priorities of the target groups in Nigeria and more accountable and responsive power holders (duty bearers) to the priorities of the target groups in Nigeria.

Earlier, the Senior Program Co-ordinator, Christian Aid Nigeria, Anambra, Mrs Uzoma Uzor who spoke on ‘ Basics of Advocacy , CSO’s mapping and SWOT analysis used illustrations to enhance the capacity of the trainees in winning an advocacy brief against all odds by being armed with evidence based data.

Uzor noted that social justice advocacy campaigns yield real improvements in people’s lives as well as strengthen Civil Society’s role in decision making as well as expand people’s awareness of their rights and responsibilities as citizens.

Similarly, Blessing Osagie Christopher, Research, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, Christian Aid Nigeria in his presentation entitled: ‘ Monitoring Advocacy Outcomes’, insisted that advocacy wasn’t about global best practices but about what works for you, pointing out the need for setting interim targets to enable successful policy analysis that would help determine what success looks like.

In her remarks, the Executive Director, Hope Givers Initiative (HOG-I), a Non-Governmental and non profit organization for orphans and vulnerable children, women and youth, Mrs Onyeka Okey-Udegbunam colloborated the teaching that with data we can change many things going wrong in thw society through evidence based advocacy sequel to data analysis used to engage stakeholders and government agencies. She concluded by saying that data remained the ultimate perspective changer as with data we can better educate.

The Executive Director , Civil Rights Concern, Okey Onyeka led the civil society groups and people with disabilities while the Program Manager ,Hope Givers Initiative, (HOG-I) Endurance Udegbunam led Town Union leaders, poor rural women leaders and the media and others to the training.

Chairperson, FIDA Nigeria, Anambra State Branch ,Prof Ogugua Ikpeze ; the Executive Director , Gender Perspective and Social Development Center (GPSDC), Mrs Anaekwe Eucharia represented; Prof Mercy Anagbogu of CIRDOC Anambra , Engr Aniebue Anthony of Society for Sustainable Development (SSD) and Comrade Ugochukwu Okeke , Chairman JONAPWD as well as Francis Okoye Project Officer , JPDC Onitsha, Ify Unachukwu of the ABS and Victor Ononye KSM, of Trinitas , the President General,Isu Aniocha town union Awka North Ambassador Frank .O. Mkpume and Woman Coordinator from Achalla Community, Awka North Dr Mrs. Enwelibe Josephine Ngozi were among those who attended the training.

www.odogwublog.com reports further that Christian Aid’s facilitated trainings are always unique in approach and delivery.