Crown Agents trainers have delivered the first and second modules of the CAPABLE (Capacity Building for Local Empowerment) Program to civil society organisations (CSOs) in Nigeria's Niger Delta. The program is designed to build much needed business skills to enable and empower communities to take stronger ownership of development initiatives aimed at achieving economic growth.
Twenty people are taking part in the first CAPABLE Program which is being run in Warri at the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND's) purpose-built economic development centre. The first module was marked with an opening ceremony attended by PIND, Crown Agents and a representative of the Minister of Niger Delta.
The CAPABLE Programme comprises three modules covering:
- Project management
- Budget and financial management and
- Information and communication technology
These skills will enhance partnership prospects for CSOs and NGOs and improve access to grants from PIND and other development partners. Participants successfully completing all three modules will be given a certificate to evidence their competency, and it is intended that this certificate should become recognised by grant makers as a hallmark of capability which will, in future, make it easier to award grants to bodies with CAPABLE qualified staff.
The CAPABLE Program has been developed by Crown Agents in partnership with PIND with funding from Crown Agents Foundation. Speaking at the opening ceremony Stuart Ponder, Crown Agents Director of Business Development, said: "The initial funding from Crown Agents covers delivery of three programs through to the end of 2012, but beyond that we will be seeking other sponsors to fund continued delivery and development of this important programme."
PIND is a non-profit foundation established by Chevron Corporation to support socio-economic development programmes in the Niger Delta region. Crown Agents has been providing support services to PIND since July 2010.
Dennis Flemming, PIND's Project Director, said: "PIND and Crown Agents have made an important start in building the capacity of CSOs in the Niger Delta. Whilst there is a lot more to be done, we feel the CAPABLE programme will be a useful way for many organisations to contribute more to the development of the region."