Dr Eric Oluedo, a former Enugu State Commissioner for Rural Development, has urged government at all levels to adopt the bottom-up approach to fast-track development in the country.

Oluedo said this at a training programme organised by South Saharan Social Development Organisation (SSSDO) for community youth groups in the five South-east states held in Enugu on Thursday.

The training was on “Community Needs Assessment: Budget Assessment and Budget Monitoring.”

He said that part of the problem of development in Africa had been the up-to-down approach to development which had left no room for the communities and indigenous people to contribute and participate in development meant for them.

Oluedo, who is currently the Head, Visit Every Community (VEC) Directorate, Office of the Governor Enugu State, said that the bottom-up approach to development in Enugu State had given every community and group in the state a sense of belonging.

“The Community Needs Assessment, which brings about the bottom-up approach to development and governance, is meant to make the community people be part of the policy formulation, budget approval and implementation of aspects of governance.

“It is the surest way to enshrining good governance and faithful followership of the people to government programmes.

“It creates avenue for agenda setting from the communities’ perspective before any need or developmental programme is addressed through been budgeted for and implemented,’’ he said.

Oluedo, however, urged Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and international bodies to assist communities, who were on the demand-side, to be able to articulate, participate, monitor and evaluate projects and programmes executed in their various communities.

“The demand-side (community people) is very weak to face the supply-side (government) that is very strong, so NGOs, CSOs and international bodies must support the weak-side to see that good governance and development is delivered to the people it is meant for.

“The NGOs, CSOs and international bodies must develop capacity among the local people to give them the will-power and space to bargain, monitor and have recognisable says on projects and programmes that affect them,’’ he said.

Mrs Bethel Obetta, the Team Leader for Good Governance in South Saharan Social Development Organisation (SSSDO), said that her organisation intended to training community youths leaders on how to conduct needs assessments in their communities.

Obetta said that the training was a train-the-trainer programme as the participants would scale it down in their various communities to other youths across the South-east.

She said that the objective of SSSDO was to make development happen and work for women, youths and children.

“We are ensuring that youths participates actively in the development of their communities and ask questions where need be as well as be the change agent in their various communities,’’ she said.

The five South-east states are Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States.