Writing by Hudu Shehu;Editing by Abubakar Hamza.
Participants at the ongoing ACReSAL third-party assessment training exercise in Gombe State have been urged to prioritise accurate, fair and honest feedback collection as a key driver of the project’s sustainability and future funding opportunities.
Dr.Sani Jauro, Gombe State ACReSAL Coordinator, made the call at the training venue, which drew participants from the 19 northern states.
The Coordinator emphasised that the success of the exercise largely depends on how effectively participants engage with local communities and document their experiences.
He maintained that the assessment goes beyond routine evaluation, describing it as a critical opportunity to capture the real-life impact of the project at the grassroots level.
Dr. Jauro stressed that the exercise is being conducted in line with the World Bank framework, which requires independent and evidence-based evaluation of project performance.
He noted that such credibility is essential for attracting additional financing, while urging participants to pay close attention to the guidance provided by field specialists and to maintain professionalism throughout the process.
Gombe State ACReSAL Coordinator, warned that biased or incomplete data could undermine the progress achieved over the past three years.
Declaring the training open, Gombe State Commissioner for Water, Environment and Forest Resources, Alhaji Muhammad Fawu said the third-party assessment is designed to measure how well the project aligns with the needs of beneficiaries, state priorities, and the policies of development partners.
He said the training of enumerators is crucial, as their findings will shape the future direction of the project and determine continued funding.
Alhaji Muhammad Fawu, further called on enumerators to ensure accurate data collection from beneficiaries, stressing that reliable information is essential for sustaining the gains of the project and improving livelihoods across the region.
Hudu Shehu.
