The Cross River State Government has renewed its commitment to strengthening coordination among development partners operating in the state, with a call for greater synergy, transparency and alignment of interventions with government priorities.
The call was made at a Development Partners Forum held at the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) office, opposite Navy Field, State Housing Estate, Calabar, with representatives of 36 development partners operating across the state in attendance.
The forum was organised by the Ministry of International Donor Coordination (MIDC) to reduce duplication of interventions, align development programmes and projects with their respective annual operational plans and ensure that activities reflect the development priorities of the state.
The reporting process, according to the organisers, provides evidence of projects implemented in line with approved work plans and demonstrates compliance with agreed objectives, while the presentation of work plans and achievements enables stakeholders to assess partnerships, identify gaps and strengthen collaboration.
Speaking at the forum, the Commissioner for International Donor Coordination, Dr. Hippolatus Ogar Lukpata, reiterated the importance the State Government, under the leadership of Governor Bassey Edet Otu, attaches to the contributions of development partners.
“Development partners are contributing immensely to making Cross River State a better place. We therefore need more synergy among ourselves to ensure that the various interventions complement one another and respond effectively to the priorities of the state,” Lukpata stated.
He noted that the forum provided an important platform for partners to present their work plans and achievements, identify implementation gaps and collectively determine appropriate approaches to improving service delivery across the state.
In his remarks, the Alternate Chairman of the forum and Programme Analyst, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Dr. Shola Toye, highlighted the contributions of development partners through technical assistance, financial resources, knowledge, innovation and programme implementation to complement government efforts towards improving the lives and wellbeing of Cross Riverians.
“As development partners, our effectiveness depends not only on the resources we mobilize, but also coordination, transparency, accountability, evidence-based decision making and alignment with priorities of the State Government,” Toye stressed.
He encouraged partners to use the forum to openly share lessons, identify areas of convergence, minimise duplication and explore opportunities for joint planning and resource mobilisation, while expressing appreciation to the Ministry and Governor Otu for providing credible leadership for development partners in the state.
Also contributing, the State Nutrition Officer, Mrs. Nkem Eyong Ubana, disclosed that Cross River State was set to launch a food bank programme, making it the first state in the South-South region to introduce the initiative, with support from Governor Otu.
The State Director of Project REDD, Dr. Donatus A. Adie, meanwhile, appealed to development partners to involve the programme in relevant interventions, noting that some projects were contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions but were not being adequately documented and reported.
A major highlight of the forum was the presentation of an updated project report by the United Nations Population Fund, alongside discussions on project implementation, achievements, challenges and opportunities for stronger collaboration among development partners and the Cross River State Government.
By Iloke Egbe
