Two staff from the Environment and Rural Development Foundation (ERuDeF), Enokenwa Allen Tabi and L. Alida have gained skills in project writing, management, monitoring and evaluation in a three-day-workshop organized by the International Union for Nature Conservation-Protected Areas of West and Central Africa (IUCN-PAPACO). The workshop which took place in Yaounde at the Hotel Azur from 23 to 25 July 2013 was organized under the supervision of Thomas Bacha, the Coordinator of the section on capacity building of small initiatives programme (PPI). It was focused on project writing management and monitoring and evaluation. The trainer of the workshop Léopold Mbarirande came from Kinshasa and he is a consultant in projects management.

The three-day activities were focused on the introduction of a project cycle, presentation of project logical framework, identification and analysis of problems, identification and analysis of objectives. The logic of intervention, identification and formulation of hypothesis, identification and formulation of objectively verifiable indicators and sources of verification were equally key aspects of project planning which the workshop delved on. Planning and implementation of project, monitoring and evaluation of project and elaboration of terms of references were equally not left out.

In the course of the workshop, three groups were formed depending on their domain of intervention to identify a project title, objectives, expected results, activities. Each group also presented the log frame of their project, the chronogram of activities and the budget of $ USA100, 000.

At the end of the training, participants did an evaluation and trainers handed over certificates to every participant.

According to one of the participants, L. Alida, the workshop was an experience she would cherish for a long time. “The workshop gave me the opportunity to beef up my knowledge in project writing. Coming from a non-profit world I think I will use the skills gathered from this workshop to impact my organisation. I also had the opportunity to meet other NGOs, interact and exchange experiences with them and re-enforce our knowledge on project elaboration, management and follow up” Ms Alida added.

In all, there were 19 Participants who took part in the workshop including the Trainer Leopold Mbarirande, consultant in projects Management, from Kinshasa, Thomas Bacha, the organizer and 17 other members from 9 different NGOs around the country.

The IUCN-Protected Area Program works in partnership with civil society organizations of 27 countries in West and Central Africa. It implements small initiatives dedicated to capacity building of African civil societies actors who are active in protected areas management and generally in the conservation of nature.

By Lea Kenmene A.