MPP9 Etung Pilot Integrated Community Development Initiatives visits Ghana EDF Micro Projects Programmes in comparable environment

Exchange visits belong to the most efficient training tools for a broad overview of experiences and learning processes. The Etung Pilot Programme organized in cooperation with the Etung Local Government such information exchange and participation in experience sharing with Ghana. Chosen was Volta Region and Kpando District. Kpando has a comparable size and structure as Etung. Details are in the following report:

Report on:

The MPP9 Etung Pilot Programme (Micro Projects Programme for nine states in the Niger Delta Region) has organized an intensive one week information exchange programme in Ghana in the first half of October 2010. Participants were Etung Local Government executives, Cross River State government representatives, the MPP9 desk officer of the federal government and staff members of the MPP9 Etung Pilot Programme. Meetings with personnel in charge of European Development Fund supported micro projects programmes in Ghana were held in Accra and in the Volta Region. Of special interest were the visits to micro projects in Kpando District, a local government area which is comparable in size and structure to Etung Local Government in Cross River State. Also neighbouring districts were visited. Objective was to learn about principles of micro project preparation, planning and implementation in Ghana, where micro projects are part of European development policies since more than two decades. A highlight was a round-up meeting with the minister for the Volta Region on the evening before returning to Nigeria. During this meeting the possibilities of a continuation of contacts between Kpando and Etung as well as between the Volta Region and Cross River State were discussed; a South-South cooperation was seen as an opportunity for development promotion on local, state and regional levels.

The Volta Region and Kpando District were chosen for the information exchange because the area – its size, the population and economic structures as well as the climatic conditions – is comparable to Etung and Cross River State in Nigeria. Etung is one of 18 local governments in Cross River State; Kpando is one of 17 districts of the Volta Region (the creation of an 18^th Volta Region district is currently prepared). Both areas are located in the east of their nations and both are not far from borders to francophone countries (Togo and Cameroon); agricultural production is the income base for most inhabitants. However, compared to Nigeria, Ghana has more experience with micro project programmes. Six micro project programmes (MPP) have been launched with the support of the European Development Fund (EDF); the seventh MPP is currently negotiated for funding through the 10^th EDF.

Map of Ghana, Volta Region is between Volta Lake and the Republic of Togo

Map of Volta region with the 17 districts which are the equivalent of Local Governments in Nigeria

EDF supported micro projects in Nigeria were the first time planned after the democratic election and the end of military rule in 1999. The programmes were: MPP3 for Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers States implemented since 2002, MPP6 for Abia, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo, Imo and Ondo States, which began operation two years later; the present MPP9 is organized for the whole of Niger Delta Region. Etung Pilot Programme has a special role as it foresees about one hundred micro projects in one local government area alone – a similar number as planned for in each of the states of the Niger Delta Region. The pilot programme allows for and requires an intensive cooperation with the local government executive and administration. New for MPP9 in the Niger Delta is, that local governments and communities contribute to the project value with counterpart funding of 25 percent each. Etung has a special arrangement; here the local government contribution is 30 percent and the community contribution is 10 percent of the project value. This takes into account that communities may have more than one micro project.

During the information exchange programme, the Nigerian visiting team studied micro projects in different categories. To allow for optimal learning processes the Local Management Unit of the Etung Pilot Programme (LMU) had suggested, to be introduced to projects which are categorized as the best, included were projects of average performance, and also projects which had specific challenges. The LMU had also requested the opportunity to interact with persons involved in the implementation and operation of the different project types. In Kpando district the following types of micro projects were visited:

http://mail.aol.com/32823-111/aol-1/en-us/mail/DisplayMessage.aspx?ws_popup=true - _msocom_1. The impressions of the visited projects varied, following the requests for access to different categories of success stories. Factors for achievements as well as for complications and difficulties were discussed, such as:

In one village a successful mobilization for the establishment of a primary school was presented. Two three classroom blocks with office and store room had been built three years ago. The high quality implementation and good cooperation of community members was the reason that a second project followed immediately as request for teachers’ quarters which was approved and implemented. Because of the quarters better trained teachers had been attracted and a more efficient teaching was guaranteed. Also the additional buildings for school sanitation were clean and efficiently held functional. A Kumasi variation of the VIP latrines had been installed. A second school was seen in a neighbouring village. The result was similar but the way to achieve it had been longer and several difficulties in mobilization had been experienced and overcome. As a lesson for Etung projects the necessity to verify community involvement and participation in decision making from the beginning was seen as option. In theory it functions but practical difficulties may still occur. Etung Pilot programme did so far not consider staff quarters for teachers, but may review requests for this purpose.

The category food processing was of special interest, as the Etung Local Government plans implementation of such projects with counterpart funding to EDF grants. A gari processing plant was visited which was equipped with new machines and frying pans, however the full operation had not yet taken off, low supply with raw materials were given as reason, but also questions of operational and financial management were raised. An innovative fish smoker in a community at the Volta Lake was ready for use. But it was found idle – the operating women said that they wait for more fish being landed. The smoking of fish was done with the traditional practices using an improved tray smoking method.

Over time the types of micro projects in Ghana are largely influenced by actions of district assemblies, who mobilize the communities and implement the projects together with them. Communities provide land for project sites and labour for project implementation. However, a considerable part of community contribution is provided through the District Assemblies’ Common Fund (DACF) which is a pool of resources created in the 1992 constitution of Ghana. A minimum of 5% of the national revenue is set aside to be shared among all district assemblies. Through this tool the Ghana government system has become an efficient partner in the implementation of EDF micro projects. In Nigeria such government cooperation is at present created with the active involvement in counterpart funding through Local Governments. Compared to Nigeria the District assemblies seem to have more continuity in qualified personnel available for micro project planning and implementation, with longer experience in EDF cooperation such continuity may also materialize in Nigeria.

The Local Management Unit of the Etung Pilot Programme had initiated and organized the exchange visit to Volta Region. The funding was taken from the training budget for community development unions’ training. This was justified because of a later start of the expenses for the Etung Pilot Programme training schedules. In Ghana, the regional officer of the Ghana Agricultural Workers Union assisted in the coordination of the meetings with the Ministry of Planning, representatives of the European Delegation in Accra and micro project programme on district level. The members of the Nigerian delegation were:

All participants were provided with individual terms of reference adapted to their position and experience. During the information exchange they were at the same time learners and resource persons. They had opportunities to exchange views and experience with persons of comparable status and background. The group discussed lessons learned before the official closing and debriefing meeting at the Ministry of Planning, where summaries of the results were presented.

A highlight was the farewell meeting on the the evening before returning to Nigeria. The Minister of the Volta Region, Hon. Joseph Amenowode, adressed the visitors‘ group in the conference room of Susanna Lodge in Accra; his position is comparable to a State Governor in Nigeria. He had interrupted his journey from Ho to Kumasi for this purpose. Other participants were the Chief Executive of Ho municipality (the capital of the Volta Region) Hon. Isaac Kwasi Kodobisah, the Kpando District Chief Executive Hon. Francis Ganyaglo and the Hohoe Municipal  Chief Executive Hon. Victor-Herman Condobrey.

Minister Amenowode concluded: „We have many similarities in history, population and economic structures, local and regional government reforms towards functioning democracy and ambitions for sustainable development“. He assessed the visit as important for a continuation of information exchange and possible cooperation between the Volta Region in Ghana and Cross River State in Nigeria. He continued: „This is a good opportunity in view of a South-South cooperation between our countries“. The Cross River Special Adviser for International Donor Support from Cross River State had earlier in the regional capital Ho suggested to assist representatives of the Volta Region with contacts for a visit to Cross River State and Etung Local Government.

The executive chairman of Etung Local Government, Hon. Okomah Inyiang, answered the communication of the regional minister on behalf of the Nigerian visitors’ group and the Etung Pilot Programme. He appreciated the high level receptions and open discussions and especially the micro project visits. He said that the interactions in Volta Region and in Kpando District were an educative and informative exposure to programmes and projects, He concluded: “There are many lessons learnt for the decisions to be taken for the Pilot Programme for Etung MPP9 micro projects.  MPPs in Kpando and in Etung have many similarities, also several essential differences exist which are probably best discussed when the Etung Local Government can host a return visit.”

The idea of a return visit and future regular contacts to the local governments in Nigeria was then discussed in practical terms. Francis Ganyaglo, the Kpando District Chief Executive, suggested the combination of a private visit to Lagos in the following week with the exploration of contacts to Cross River State and the Etung Pilot Programme. The preparation of the official visits may then be possible faster and on local level less complicated than following only the administrative protocols.