IFAD ends 2nd Edition of W/Africa Hub Workshop in Conakry

(Wednesday 23rd October 2019 Issue)

Regional Hub workshop to strengthen the performance of monitoring and evaluation and knowledge management of projects by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), which ran from 15–18 October, 2019 in the Guinean capital, Conakry, has ended with a certification ceremony.

IFAD-funded projects in the following countries, namely Cape Verde, The Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Senegal and the host Guinea Conakry, took part in the second edition event that was convened at the Sheraton Hotel in Conakry.

IFAD-funded projects officials presented on the impacts of their projects in their respective countries during the workshop

Information gathered by this reporter disclosed that the projects were divided into groups to reflect improving country programmes, project design, support for project implementation, project visibility and knowledge management and strengthening as well as partnership development.

Messrs Momodou L.Gassama-Project Director, BakaryE.K.Jammeh of Knowledge Management and Communications, Miki Jawla, the Upland and Lowland Field Coordinator in North Bank and Lower River regions, respectively, and Paul L. Mendy, Assistant Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, were delegates from The Gambia representing IFAD funded National Agricultural Land and Water Management Development Project (Nema) project.

Speaking to this medium via WhatsApp, the Assistant Monitoring and Evaluation Officer of the Nema project, Mr. Mendy, expressed delight for witnessing both the first and second editions. He returned gratitude to God for making it possible, for him to “participate fully, in the first and second editions and my project for nominating me”.

“My participation was made possible through the recognition of my Project Director, Mr. Gassama, and I salute the entire Nema project staff for the dedication and commitments rendered to the project implementations,” the Monitoring and Evaluation officer remarked.

The workshop, as Mendy pointed out, has given them the opportunity to present their project activities and lessons learned during the course of its implementation.

He also noted that the workshop has availed them (the participants) the opportunity to constructively discuss their projects’ activities with focus on key outcomes, which according to him, were very fruitful.

As part of the workshop, a presentation was made on the annual work plan and budget realization performance in project management, monitoring-evaluation and knowledge management.

Presentations were also made on the 2018-2019 IFAD funded activities: Performance, great achievements, points to improve {on} and perspectives, by the director of the hub, Benoit Thierry, as well as the Country Program Managers.

This reporter further learnt that experts also focused their discussions on digital technologies for agriculture in Africa, with special attention to Guinea Conakry.