From Abubakar Rabilu, Gombe
In a bid to enhance its program effectiveness, the Gombe State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning has organized a three-day step-down training for officers tasked with implementing the ‘Gombe Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus’ (GO-CARES) program.
The training focused on the grievance redress mechanism, aimed at resolving complaints from beneficiaries.
Abdulkarim Obaje, the National Coordinator of NG-CARES, which was domesticated in Gombe State, emphasized the importance of addressing grievances, particularly those related to gender-based violence, to ensure the success and credibility of the program.
He praised the Gombe State Government for organizing the training and involving key local government officials, including desk officers and grievance officers, in the workshop.
Obaje noted that the program has reached over 50 million beneficiaries nationwide, with $750 million invested to support the initiative. He stressed the significance of addressing any violations of gender rights or child protection concerns, aiming to make the program more impactful.
He encouraged the public to use the grievance redress mechanism if they face issues such as non-payment or unfair treatment, assuring them that their concerns would be attended to and rectified.
Salihu Baba Alkali, Gombe State’s Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, highlighted that NG-CARES is a World Bank-funded project, now locally managed by the state to support vulnerable populations. Alkali pointed out that, over the past four years, the program has significantly reduced poverty in Gombe by empowering disadvantaged individuals.
“Grievance redress is a crucial mechanism in programs like this. It’s vital that beneficiaries and implementers have the opportunity to voice complaints. This is why we are organizing this training—to ensure everyone understands their rights and the steps to take when challenges arise,” Alkali said.
Earlier, Michael Habila, the state program coordinator for GO-CARES, expressed gratitude to Governor Inuwa Yahaya for providing sufficient funds to ensure the successful implementation of the program.