MIDC Trains 18 Donor Desk Officers To Strengthen Project Monitoring

By NSAN NDOMA-NEJI, Calabar 

The Ministry of International Donor Coordination, MIDC, has commenced the training of 18 Donor Desk Officers drawn from the 18 Local Government Areas of Cross River State as part of efforts to strengthen monitoring and coordination of donor-assisted projects.

The initiative is aimed at ensuring effective, results-based reporting of interventions executed by development partners across the 196 political wards of the state and to better showcase the achievements of the administration of Governor Bassey Edet Otu.

The Ministry stated that many donor-supported projects in different parts of the state have been under-reported, making the appointment and training of Desk Officers a strategic step to close the reporting gap and enhance accountability.

Declaring the training open at the Calabar Municipal Council Hall, the Mayor of Calabar, Apostle Hon. James Anam, who was represented by the Council Secretary, Comr. Iso Bassey Edim, said the officers would serve as field monitors for donor projects in their respective LGAs.

Anam charged the participants to take the assignment seriously, saying, "You are now the eyes of MIDC in your various LGAs," and pledged the council's support for the initiative in the interest of the state.

Also speaking, the Honourable Commissioner for International Donor Coordination, Elder Dr. Hippolatus Ogar Lukpata, described the initiative as novel in the state.

 He said it is designed to provide first-hand information independent of donor management for comparison, adding that it "would promote effective and efficient programme execution according to specifications" if diligently implemented.

The training is being conducted in phases according to senatorial districts. The Southern Senatorial District phase, comprising Akpabuyo, Akamkpa, Bakassi, Biase, Calabar Municipal, Calabar South and Odukpani, has been concluded, while the Central and Northern phases are scheduled to hold at Ikom Council Hall and the Ogoja Local Government Secretariat Complex respectively.