The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has advised governments at all levels to adopt the Community-Driven Development (CDD) approach in their poverty alleviation programmes and development agenda. Dr Benjamin Odoemena, the IFAD Country programme Officer (CPO) made the call in an interview with newsmen in Dutse, Jigawa State.

Odoemena spoke at the wrap-up session of the 14th IFAD/FGN Supervision Mission of the IFAD-assisted Community-Based Agricultural and Rural Development Programme (CBARDP).

The wrap up meeting marked the conclusion of field visits to project sites in six of the seven participating states comprising Borno, Kebbi, Katsina, Jigawa,  Sokoto, Yobe and  Zamfara States from Aug. 3 to Aug 20.

There was no field visit due to the fragile security situation in the state. The main objective of the mission was, among other things, to assess the progress of programme implementation and its impact on the beneficiary communities.

The CPO noted that the success of the pilot project implemented in Katsina and Sokoto States, informed the decision of IFAD to replicate the programme in the seven arid northern states. According to him, the essence of the programme is to upscale the successes recorded in the pioneer states.

“The CDD approach has continued to bring out the values of participatory approach to development,” Odoemena said, adding the the approach, pioneered by IFAD, had been adopted by other development partners not only in Africa, but also in Europe.

He said that under the CBARDP, a lot of critical mass of   infrastructure such as roads, schools and hospitals had been established.

The programme, he said, had also improved the incomes and livelihoods of the beneficiaries through skill acquisition.   He said that the CDD approach was relevant in the Federal Government’s Transformation Agenda which is targeted toward job creation.

“The CDD is elastic and relevant to fit into the policy framework of governments. That informed the re-focusing on agriculture  to address the poverty challenge.

Transforming the agricultural sector involves the creation of jobs and wealth and job creation is hinged on efficiency, effectiveness and delivery,” Odoemena said.

He commended representatives from all the participating states for attending the programme in spite of the Ramadan Fast and their resilience in discussing the welfare of the poor.

“We should not be thinking about ourselves but the poor, to see how to create jobs to alleviate poverty, the CPO said.   He thanked the Jigawa Government for the giant strides in had recorded under the programme and for hosting the meeting.

He also commended the Zamfara Government for upscaling the programme in other communities using its resources.   NAN learnt that Yobe and Jigawa are the best performing states under the CBARDP which IFAD extended its duration by three years following the successes recorded. The programme earlier billed for closure in March 2010, will now end in March 2013.