vcdp logo

vcdp logo

Sunday, September 7, 2014

VCDP START-UP WORKSHOP




START-UP WORKSHOP OF  IFAD/FGN VALUE CHAIN                    DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (VCDP)   HELD ON                      19TH AUGUST 2014 AT THE ROCKVIEW CLASSIC HOTEL, ABUJA.
The Workshop was a start – up workshop to familiarize the key programme staff at the state and Federal Staff levels with some key requirements for implantation of the VCDP.  In attendance was the Country Programme Manager Atsuko Toda, Representatives of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Director of Rural Development, Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development, Hon. Commissioners for Agriculture and their respective Permanent Secretaries from the participating States of Ogun, Niger, Ebonyi, Anambra, Benue and Taraba and the Programme Managers of ADPs of the participating states.
The VCDP management unit at the Federal and participating States were also present except for Taraba and Benue States which were yet to conclude the recruitment process.
The CPM welcomed every on and thanked the Hon. Commissioners or their representatives for making time to attend which is an indication of their commitment and support for the programme. She iterated the focus of the workshop and that it was a step in the bid to avoid some challenges encountered in the implementation of other IFAD funded programmes in the country.
The key project staff at the National level made presentations on key issues around the programme which included:
o   Status  Report on recruitment process of key Project staff
o   Office accommodation
o   Programme Implementation Manual
o   Annual Workplan and Budget   
o   Development of Procurement Plan
o   Funds flow and financial Management
o   Engagement opportunities with Private Sectors Service Providers.
After each presentation was an interactive session to discuss the content and seek further clarifications about the Programme.  However participants were informed that an in – depth training on the implementation procedure of the Programme would be undertaken for the project staff during the project facilitation Training.
The Country Programme Manager re –affirmed the need to make the Programme disbursement effective as soon as possible at the state level. In other to fast track the process the following needs to be done:



 S/N
Activity
Responsibility
Time
1
Official notification of the Federal Ministry of Finance of the Key Programme staff
State Government through Ministry of Agriculture
Immediately
2
Preparation and Signing of the Programme
IFAD & State Government through Ministry of Agriculture
Immediately
3
Opening of State level Programme accounts
Ministry of Agriculture PM ADP SPC VCDP and Accountant
Sept 2014
4
Provision of Office accommodation
Ministry of Agriculture PM ADP
Immediately
5
Payment of 2014 Counterpart Fund
OGUN STATE GOVERNMENT
Immediately
6
Preparation of Annual Work plan and Budget 
State Programme Management Unit
October 2014
Concluding, the Country Programme Manager appealed to the Hon. Commissioners present to assist in facilitating prompt and regular payment of the counterpart fund. This she said is very critical to the success of the Programme. The meeting was then informed that the Project facilitation training will hold from 7th – 24th September. Details of the training will be forwarded by the National Programme Office to the various States later. The meeting ended at 5:30pm.  
The Ogun State team included the Engr. I.O Bisriyu who represented the Hon. State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Olusegun Adeleye who represented the Programme manager of OGADEP and the all the newly recruited members of the State Management Unit for the VCDP.