
By Uche Amunike
Anambra State Community and Social Development Agency (ANCSDA) recently carried out project launch activities in the thirteen focal poor communities whose Community Development Plans (CDPs) as well as six Vulnerable groups whose Group Development Plans (GDPs) were approved by the agency and the first tranche of project funds disbursed to those communities and groups.
Speaking to Fides, the Communication Officer of ANCSDA, Mr. Nnadi Onwuzulike explained that the thirteen communities are Okpeze, Ndiowu, Ndiokpaleze (Orumba North LGA), Ukwalla, Inoma, Umuenwelum (Anambra West LGA), Urum, Amanuke (Awka North LGA), Umunankwo, Obeagwe, Ohita (Ogbaru LGA), Mkpunando (Anambra East LGA) and Nawgu (Dunukofia LGA) while the six vulnerable groups(VGs) were Chukwuemeka VG (Nawgu), Obioma VG (Urum), Udoka VG (Ezi Anam), Chidera VG (Ifite Anam), Ngozika VG (Umuikwu Anam) and Onneh Amaka VG (Onneh).
In line with the operational procedure of CSDP-AF in ensuring good use of project funds, ANCSDA sent a Project Monitoring and Evaluation team, comprising of technical staff of the Agency and relevant desk officers (DOs) from the Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) to all the project sites in the thirteen communities and six vulnerable groups with different on-going project implementation under CSDP-AF.
The State Agency monitoring team led by the Monitoring & Evaluation Manager (MEM), Mr. Chuddy Nworah on behalf of the GM ANCSDA, Mr Chudi Mojekwu, include the Project Officers in charge of Supervision, Procurement, Internal Audit, Accounts and also the relevant Operation officers (OOs) assigned to each of the communities and groups. The technical staff from relevant Ministries in the state such as Works, Education, Health, Public Utilities etc. also formed part of the SA monitoring team. At the various project sites, the team interfaced with the chairman and other members of the Community Project Management Committee (CPMC) of each of the communities and Group Project Management Committee (GPMC) of each of the vulnerable groups who then took them round the sites to monitor and evaluate the work done so far with the 1st tranche of funds released by the ANCSDA to them for the project implementation. The team thoroughly checked the financial records, bank documents and cash transactions of the CPMCs and GPMCs to ensure that the funds released to them by the State Agency were properly utilized. They also evaluated the construction works being done at the project sites to ensure that they meet the required standard as approved in their various Bill of Quantities (BOQs). The team while expressing satisfaction with the physical progress and quality of work done also pointed out areas for corrections and improvement in the on-going micro project works.
In their separate reactions, the CPMC and GPMC chairpersons of the various communities and vulnerable groups expressed their joy at the visits and promised to amend the corrections noted by the monitoring team on the micro projects being implemented. The people of the communities who were visibly happy with the interventions thanked the state governor, HE, Chief Willie Mmaduaburochukwu Obiano who ensured that the CSDP-AF became effective in the state, and also, the Agency for their commitment in funding and technically supporting the communities and groups in the implementation of their approved micro projects (MPs) promising that the project will be completed in record time and will meet the approved standard. According to them, they are elated because ANCSDA hearkened to their cry for help and described the project as a most timely intervention.