JDPC Nnewi launches 5-year strategic plan to drive community development
Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
Justice, Development and Peace Caritas (JDPC) Nnewi, a faith-based nongovernmental organization has embarked on a 5-year strategic planning process aimed at strengthening its impact on community development in Anambra State and beyond.
The initiative is part of the CAPS Project, supported by the Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria (CCFN) under its Small Grants program.
At the CAPS Regional Consultation and Capacity Building Workshop, JDPC Nnewi’s Director, Rev. Fr. Ben Okolo, stressed that the 5-Year Strategic Plan will strengthen governance, improve internal coordination, and attract development partnerships.
According to him, “the Plan is expected to strengthen institutional governance and accountability systems, improve coordination between regional and diocesan structures, and position JDPC Nnewi as a stronger partner for development collaborations and donor engagement.”
Rev. Okolo said the inputs gathered from the consultations will inform the drafting of JDPC Nnewi’s 5-Year Strategic Plan, which he said will serve as a guiding framework for strengthening the organization’s humanitarian and development work in Anambra State and beyond.
“The CAPS Project presents an important opportunity for us to collectively reflect, learn, and build stronger capacities that will enable our institutions and communities to respond more effectively to the challenges we face,” he said.
“Through dialogue, shared experiences, and collaborative engagement, we hope this meeting will deepen our understanding and strengthen the partnerships needed to achieve the goals of this project,” he added.
Ikengaonline reports that the workshop, held at St. Michael Catholic Church, Amakwa Ozubulu, brought together stakeholders from various parishes and communities to contribute to the strategic planning process.
Addressing the stakeholders, JDPC Nnewi Programme Officer, Mr. Onyekachi Ololo explained that the CAPS Project is a CCFN initiative aimed at empowering JDPCs, like JDPC Nnewi, to improve their organizational systems, advocacy, and development work, as part of Caritas Nigeria’s 15th anniversary celebrations.
“The CAPS Project is supported by the Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria, CCFN under its Small Grants program for the Justice Development and Peace Caritas/Commissions as part of its efforts to celebrate Caritas Nigeria’s 15th anniversary to empower Justice, Development, and Peace Commissions (JDPCs) by strengthening their organizational systems and structures, helping them to advance advocacy, influence policy better, and carry out development and humanitarian interventions efficiently in their respective dioceses.”
Ololo further explained that JDPC Nnewi was selected for Onitsha Province, and its CAPs project was designed to strengthen institutional capacity, promote collaboration, and enhance community-centered interventions.
“Through this consultation and capacity-building engagement, the CAPs project seeks to create a platform where stakeholders can reflect on current realities, identify gaps, and collectively build the knowledge and skills required to improve program delivery and impact within our communities,” he said.
One of the facilitators, Onyekachukwu Ebenebe led a session on the strategic planning process, using global and local development indicators to guide the SWOT analysis and gather insights from community leaders, parish JDPC members, volunteers, and stakeholders at the event.
The consultations identified several institutional challenges facing JDPC Nnewi, including lack of a long-term strategic roadmap, limited visibility of JDPC activities, and difficulty attracting long-term donor partnerships.
Stakeholders also identified opportunities for growth, such as the strong church and parish network, large base of volunteers, and existing partnerships with national and international development organizations.
The development of the 5-Year Strategic Plan by JDPC will follow a participatory and consultative methodology, consisting of three major stages: regional consultations, a diocesan validation workshop, and finalization of the strategic plan.
