The Decentralisation Secretariat (DecSec) in collaboration with ENCISS, on Wednesday February 17, concluded a month-long training exercise of Ward Development Committee members in ENCISS operational Districts across the country.

Alhassan Kanu, Director Decentralisation Secretariat

 

ENCISS operates in the Western Area Rural District Council, (WARDC), Bombali, Koinadugu and Bonthe District Councils, as well as Bonthe Municipality.

Training of ward development committee (WDC) members is a routine exercise of the Decentralisation Secretariat which follows the appointment of new members.

The training aimed at enhancing the understanding of WDC members of their roles and responsibilities in the decentralisation process. It also aimed at facilitating and enhancing a cordial working relationship between community stakeholders at all levels. The trainees were led through various sessions such as ‘Concepts of Democracy,’ ‘Devolution,’ ‘Resource Mobilisation,’ ‘Planning and Monitoring’.

Speaking to a cross section of the press, the Director of the Decentralisation Secretariat, Alhassan Kanu, remarked that the training of WDC members is a crucial step in bringing governance closer to the people. He said that training of various cadres of Local Government functionaries contributes significantly to the success of the decentralisation programme.

The Capacity Building Manager of DecSec, Jonathan Kpakiwa, said that the training has definitely enhanced the capacity of the WDC members to perform their roles and responsibilities.

ENCISS and DecSec have a tradition of collaboration on issues pertaining to the decentralisation agenda in Sierra Leone. Other development partners such as OXFAM, GTZ and CARE have also been involved in the training of Ward Committee members and other levels of Local Council Personnel since the commencement of the Programme in 2004.

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