Persons with Special Needs, CSOs Partners USAID-State 2 State Intervention in Bauchi State
By Bashir Hassan Abubakar
People with special needs and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Bauchi State have pledged to lend their support in the implementation of USAID funded State Accountability, Transparency and Effectiveness (State 2 State) Activity in the state.
The Bauchi State chairman person of Women with Disability Integration and Development Initiative (WDIDI) Asma’u Yahaya made the pledge in an interview with our correspondent at a State Action Plan Development Workshop organised by USAID State 2 State , at Yankari Resort and Safari Bauchi.
Yahaya, who described the USAID State 2 State activity as unique, said the intervention has identified persons with disability as key stakeholders in the implementation process of the activity in the state.
“From inception of the intervention, we were carried along through the orientation training conducted by USAID State 2 State.
“We were also mainstreamed as members of the State Action Plan Technical Committee in the implementation process. This effort will definitely give us voice to channel our plight in decision making process of government policies and programmes.
Yahaya ,who also doubles as the representative of persons with special needs at the workshop also said that, with main purpose of the intervention focusing on some critical areas like basic education, primary healthcare, water, sanitation and hygiene among others, the social inclusion approach in the implementation process is a welcome development and refreshing.
She further pledged the support of their organizations toward successful implementation of the intervention that will enhance good governance in Bauchi State.
Also speaking to our correspondent, the Bauchi State chairman of Network of Civil Societies (BASNEC), Mr. Jinjiri John Garba, said the approach adopted by USAID State 2 State Activity in the implementation of the intervention is commendable.
Garba said that, with the inclusion of CSOs and other non state actors in the state Action Plan Technical committee, the intervention will add value to governance in Bauchi State.
“Some of the priority areas of the intervention focus is centered around participatory budget process , public procurement, internally generated revenue and audit.
“With these key government activities and involvement of CSOs in some of the processes, as envisage by the State 2 State activity, there will be great improvement in effective and efficient service delivery, which is the hall mark of good governance across the world”.
“Our role as CSOs is to be the eyes and ears of citizens and also ensure that what is due to citizens in terms of projects and programs of government gets to them as at when due.
“We are going to support the State Government and USAID State 2 State Activity in the implementation of the action that we have collectively developed”, said Garba.
Our correspondent reports that USAID funded State 2 State Activity is a Five Year intervention (2020 -2025) seeking to increase accountability, transparency and effectiveness in governance and is being implemented in six states of Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Ebonyi, Gombe and Sokoto.