By: Mariama Njie
United Nation International Child Fund has donated several equipment to department of community development under the ministry of lands and regional government.
The donated equipment includes a vehicle, a laptop and 15 Yamaha motor that come through the ‘NSA Kenno’ project.
NSA keno project seeks to facilitate communication, participation, connection and exchange among duty bearers and communities.
Speaking at the handing over Ceremony, UNICEF’s Sandra Lattouf said: “since 2018, UNICEF and UNDP have been supporting the ministry of Lands and Regional Government to ensure all community structures in LRR, URR, and CRR-North are capacitated on good governance.”
According to her, supporting local structures to have the capacity to function will help effective implementation of the National Development Plan 2018-2021.
She expressed delight to hand over the vehicle and motorcycles to the minister of Land and Regional government, noting that UNICEF is committed to ensure local governments and effectively implements provide oversight of the demands for children and their families.
The local governments and communities are crucial in turning Agenda 2030 and NDP 2018-2021 from vision into reality, she said.
She urged the government to make a strong commitment to provide adequate legal framework and financial capacity to regional government.
Mariama Ndure Njie, permanent secretary of ministry of land and regional government said the items are crucial for the successful implementation of NSA KENNO project.
She added that the NSA KENNO project aimed at strengthen and building capacities of decentralized structures in lower Region, Upper River Region and Central River Region North.
She explained that, the vehicle and motorcycles donated to Department of Community Development will address the mobility challenges the department has been faced over the past 5 years.
She revealed that, their ministry has recently engaged the Constitutional Review Committee on local Governance matters to empower the local authorities.
“Currently services of various consultants are engaged to develop and review policies such as community Development Policy, MDFT policy and the local government finance Audit Act to Enable the sector address the current challenges”, she added.
She also reiterated that, through a comprehensive consultative process in September 2018, UNICEF and UNDP are working in collaboration with their Ministry and the Department of Community Development.