A one-day interactive session and community based monitoring organized by the Decentralization Secretariat (DEC-SEC) and ENCISS to discuss the way forward for community monitoring mechanisms for government and NGOs projects has ended at the Kenema city conference hall along Maxwell Khobe street in Kenema.
Over 40 participants were involved, drawn from ward committee members, paramount chiefs, community elders, Imams, health workers, head teacher’s etc. Funded by ENCISS and implemented by DEC-SEC. Margaret Kaitibi from Kenema city council and Sylvester Thomas from Kenema District council Kenema facilitated the session respectively.
In her contribution, facilitator Margaret Kaitibi said a community itself is a tool used by the community based monitors to monitor projects. She also noted that monitoring is not the only responsibility of a monitor but to evaluate and inform the appropriate authorities about the project saying that a facet meeting and follow up are also necessary. She advised the monitors to always supply side data to inform the community about the activities of any contractor who has been awarded a contract to undertake a project in their communities.
She concluded that community based monitoring can help bring about independent strengths on individual development strides that will promote the various communities.