ENUGU— The Enugu State Community and Social Development Agency (CSDA) has commenced statewide sensitisation and documentation of communities for the implementation of the Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) 2.0 programme.
The General Manager of CSDA, Monday Ani, disclosed this on Wednesday during a sensitisation exercise at Nomeh-Unataeze community in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State.
Ani said the exercise was in line with the administrative philosophy of Gov. Peter Mbah’s “Smart Communities, Smart Projects” initiative.
He said the sensitisation was part of the eligibility process for communities seeking to access interventions under NG-CARES 2.0 and was aimed at enlightening residents on the requirements for participating in the programme.
According to him, the exercise had so far covered Akpaa-Ugbawka, Ishiogbo Nara, Imeoha-Nkerefi, Ishienu-Amofu-Nkerefi, Ohuani-Amofu-Nkerefi and Nomeh-Unataeze communities in Nkanu East.
“During the exercise, the CSDA staff thoroughly sensitised and educated the communities on the ethics, guidelines and roadmap for accessing and implementing NG-CARES projects,” Ani said.
He said the agency also guided the communities on the process of conducting transparent and credible elections for a 20-member Community Project Management Committee (CPMC).
Ani explained that the CPMC would represent each community and play a key role throughout the implementation of its project.
He said the committee was structured into different sub-committees to promote effective participation, transparency, accountability and sustainability of projects.
“These include: the Main Committee, the Procurement Committee, the Monitoring and Evaluation Committee, and the Maintenance Committee,” he said.
The CSDA general manager said the exercise underscored the agency’s commitment to the Community-Driven Development (CDD) approach, which places communities at the centre of identifying, implementing, monitoring and sustaining projects that directly address their needs.
He said the sensitisation was also aimed at ensuring that communities were adequately prepared and equipped with the knowledge required to participate effectively in the NG-CARES programme.
Ani said the initiative reflected the administration’s commitment to empowering communities, strengthening grassroots development and ensuring that government interventions were delivered through transparent, participatory and sustainable processes.
“The initiative reflects Gov. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah’s commitment to empowering communities, strengthening grassroots development and ensuring that government interventions are delivered through transparent, participatory and sustainable processes.
“Through the Smart Communities, Smart Projects initiative (SCSP), the Enugu State Government continues to promote community ownership and accountability, ensuring that development projects are not only provided but are also properly managed and sustained for the benefit of the people,” he said.
Ani said more than 120 communities already captured under the programme would be visited for sensitisation and documentation ahead of project execution.
He said the exercise would enable the communities to understand the programme’s requirements and prepare for the transparent implementation and management of the interventions.
Responding, a community leader in Nomeh-Unataeze, Hon. Uche Anichukwu, commended Gov. Mbah and the CSDA for extending people-driven intervention projects to the agrarian community.
“As a community, we are grateful to be selected to benefit from His Excellency, Dr Peter Mbah’s direct intervention projects through the CSDA’s NG-CARES 2.0,” Anichukwu said.