Budget Advocacy for human development is one of the policy and behavioral influencing projects being implemented by Community Action for Popular Participation (CAPP) in Kebbi State. The project is funded by Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) and actually started in 2006 when the first phase was implemented till 2007. The second phase which started in June 2010 was expected to have ended by June 2011. However, the challenge of political environment has necessitated the extension of the project twice.
The overall objective of the project is to contribute to the strengthening of democracy through increased citizens participation in public revenue management and emergence of strong citizens platforms for effectively demanding transparency and accountability from duty bearers. While the specific objectives are to; Mobilize and enhance capacity of grassroots organizations to understand and engage in budgetary processes at LGAs; Strengthen institutional provisions and regulations guiding LG revenue management and service delivery and to Promote Community activism.
The project is located in Bunza, Dandi and Yauri Local Government Areas of kebbi state which are spread across three senatorial districts of the state. Bunza LGA is in kebbi central, Dandi LGA in the North and Yauri LGA in the south senatorial districts respectively.
Among outcomes from the activities implemented so far includes: Expansion of the Budget Watch Groups/Community Development Associations in all the 3 LGAs. This was achieved from the implementation of outreach activities of interactive meeting with leaders and larger groups of BWGs/CDAs operating in each of the LGAs.
Furthermore,policy actors both at State and Local Levels have understood with appreciation the activities of BWGs/CDAs. Through the Policy dialogue at State level, the ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs disseminated resolutions from the town hall meetings of 3 LGAs to other 18 Local Government Areas as an eye opener for charting developmental plans. All the 3 LGAs hosting the project have met some of the needs generated and presented to them during advocacy meetings as part of their developmental and budget plans.
Interface with Community Leaders and Local Council officials was achieved through Town Hall Meetings. Resolutions generated from the Town Hall Meetings also serves as benchmarks for assessment of the state and councils performance in meeting the peoples priority needs. The Town Hall Meetings were also ideal demonstrations for popular participation as one of the elements of democracy.
In summary, some communities have also benefited from provision and repairs of some broken down facilities. This has been possible through the increased advocacy skills of BWGs/CDAs. Recently, about 17 hand pump boreholes were repaired in Bunza LGA as directed by the Honourable Commissioner of the Ministry for Water Resources and Rural Development, Alh. Magaji Abdullahi, This was sequel to series of engagement by the BWGs/CDAs Advocacy Committee to the LGA.
