By Onomiguren Agbamu
The Delta State Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus, ( D-CARES), has on Monday 16, December 2024 declared open a 3- day training programme on grievance redress mechanism for key stakeholders across the state.
The training which is a continuation of the Federal CARES Support Unit for States across the six geo-political zones is aimed at enhancing the capacity of operations staff across the various delivery platforms by providing transparent and timely resolutions of grievances.
Chairman Delta State steering Committee, and Commissioner for Economic Planning, Hon. Sonny Ekedayen who was ably represented by the state Coordinator Delta CARES Program, Patience Ogbewe, noted that the exercise is aimed at fostering a safer and more inclusive community by equipping participants with skills needed to address grievance fairly.
Hon. Ekedayen emphasized the importance of the initial training, particularly the need for more operations staff across the states to be well-versed in the NG-CARES Grievance Mechanism.
He maintained that the State CARES Coordinating Unit has organized this step-down training to cascade the knowledge and insights gained to our Operations Officers in the Delivery Platforms, saying the aim is to ensure that the principles and processes of effective grievance redress are thoroughly understood and implemented at all levels, thereby fostering consistency, efficiency, and accountability across the programme.
He said, “grievance redress mechanisms are essential components of social intervention programmes such as NG-CARES. They provide beneficiaries with channels to express their concerns, seek solutions, and ensure that their voices are heard”.
The Honourable commissioner noted that addressing grievances efficiently not only resolves conflicts but also strengthens trust in the processes and institutions responsible for delivering support to people.
Ekedayen, however, expressed appreciation to the Federal CARES Support Unit for their guidance and support, just as he urged the participants to make the most of opportunity during, and after the training, noting that the success of the NG-CARES Programme depends not only on the disbursement of funds but also on how effectively they address the challenges that arise and the pivotal role they play in ensuring that grievances are handled promptly and fairly, safeguarding the integrity of the programme.
He expressed confident that the training will enhance collective capacity to deliver on the objectives of the NG-CARES Programme, contributing to the “Opportunities for All” component of His Excellency, the Governor, Rt Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori’s MORE Agenda.
Meanwhile, in a goodwill message by the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Patience Ajudua, advised beneficiaries of D-CARES programme to have an open mind as state government will always play its role in complementing whatever resources that are brought to the state.
Hon. Ajudua who established that grievances brings out the best in any programme, noted that the MORE AGENDA of the state governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori is set out to do more in every ramification both in bringing, management, resources and all the facilities are on ground, just as she called the recipients of the D-CARES to be optimistic in all that they do.
Earlier, during her opening remark, the state Coordinator Delta CARES Programme, Patience Ogbewe disclosed that One cannot rule out issues of grievances, quarry, and dissatisfaction in the process of implementation but, the ability to effectively address the quarries makes them credible.
Ogbewe disclosed that there is need to expand the programme, as such 65 participants are drawn from the state to be more informed about grievance mechanism and how to handle and address them when they come adding that the training is pertinent to the success of Delta CARES programme and every participant is a key to the progress of the programme.
She also noted that the essence of the step-down of the training on “grievance mechanism” is to ensure the safeguard of officers who are responsible for the implementation and ensuring that the programme works smoothly across the communities
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