KADSPAC Trains Members, Community Trackers On Social Protection In Kaduna

Kaduna Social Protection Accountability Coalition (KADSPAC) on Tuesday began a three-day training of members and community volunteers on how to effectively track social protection interventions across the 23 local government areas of Kaduna State.

Declaring the workshop open in Zaria, Chairperson of the coalition, Jessica Bartholomew said, the goal of the training was to ensure transparency and accountability in the delivery of social protection programmes in Kaduna State.

As part of social protection relief, the state government had recently distributed food palliative to poor and vulnerable homes to cushion the effect of COVID-19 lockdown.

Already, the the state government was developing a social protection policy that would strengthen the delivery of social protection system in the state.

According to Jessica, the policy currently being validated, would guide the implementation of an inclusive, transparent, and accountable social protection interventions to poor and vulnerable groups in Kaduna state.

She further added that, the training was organised to empower the coalition and community champions to engage in evidence-based and result-driven activities in demanding for inclusive, transparent, and accountable delivery of social protection interventions.

She said, “this will deepen the understanding of members of the coalition and community members serving as trackers in local government and communities on social protection.

“We will also share experiences and lessons learnt on the recent tracking of palliative distribution in the state and reflect on the ongoing social protection policy development.”

She added that the training would also strengthen the capacity of members on effective use of social media as a powerful tool in advocating for transparency and accountability.

In a remark, Social Protection, and Inclusion Coordinator, Save the Children International, Eunice Victor said, the training was key in ensuring community participation and ownership of social protection interventions in the State.

On her part, Coordinator, State Operations Coordinating Unit, Planning and Budget Commission, Nina Dawong said, the government would strengthen partnership with Civil Society Organisations in delivering of social protection services.

“This is because we are working to have a state where the poorest and most vulnerable residents are supported to live productive, fulfilling, and dignifying lives.

 “Therefore, working with CSOs and community members will help keep us in check if our processes are truncated and it is only through collaboration that we will succeed in the delivery of government programmes,” she added.

Sent By Sola Ojo.