The Upper West Regional Minister, Charles Lwanga Puozuing, has urged newly recruited Community Facilitators under the Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion (SOCO) project to be accurate in their information dissemination. Speaking at an engagement in Wa, the Minister charged the facilitators to own the opportunity and become true ambassadors of accurate information in their communities. He stressed the importance of seeking clarification from Municipal and District Assemblies when needed.
The Minister described the facilitator role as more than just a job, saying it was an opportunity for personal development and community transformation. He urged the facilitators to save and invest part of their earnings, adding that the benefits should extend beyond their current assignment. The government and the World Bank are investing $150 million in 48 assemblies across six northern regions to prevent conflict spillover from the Sahel and improve livelihoods.
SOCO Zonal Coordinator for Upper West and Savannah, David Yankey, revealed significant progress under the project. Under Cycle 1, the project delivered 127 sub-projects, including schools, CHPS compounds, roads, and libraries, across all 11 districts in the Upper West Region and selected districts in the Savannah Region. Cycle 2 is even larger, with 173 sub-projects, including JHS blocks, primary schools, nursery blocks, and clinics, currently under construction.
The facilitators will serve as a critical link between communities, District Assemblies, and the Ministry. They will help ensure that community needs captured in Action Plans are reflected in the projects delivered by the government, while also supporting the recruitment of local youth for construction jobs. This will enhance community engagement and project ownership.
The project is also going fully digital, with the deployment of the SOCO App for data collection in the field and a SOCO Management Information System (MIS) that serves as a repository for high-level decision-making. This technological advancement aims to improve the efficiency and transparency of project implementation.
To handle complaints, all World Bank projects are required to have a grievance redress mechanism. SOCO is using the Single Window Citizen Engagement Service (SWCES) operated by the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection for this purpose. This ensures that community concerns are addressed promptly and effectively.
The SOCO project aims to promote social cohesion and improve livelihoods in the northern regions. With the facilitators playing a crucial role in its implementation, the project is expected to make a positive impact on the lives of community members. The Upper West Regional Minister's engagement with the facilitators is a step towards ensuring the project's success.
Key points
- Upper West Regional Minister Charles Lwanga Puozuing warns SOCO facilitators against speculation.
- The SOCO project has delivered 127 sub-projects under Cycle 1 and has 173 sub-projects under construction in Cycle 2.
- The project aims to promote social cohesion and improve livelihoods in the northern regions.
