USAID/CPDC hosts NGO capacity building advocacy workshop
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in collaboration with the Caribbean Policy Development Centre (CPDC) on Tuesday launched a four-day Leaders Training Workshop for Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) at the Cara Lodge, East Street, Georgetown.
Chairperson Juliette Bynoe-Sutherland; Minister within the Social Protection Ministry, Keith Scott; United States Ambassador to Guyana, Perry Holloway and USAID ESC Mission Director Christopher Cushing (seated) surrounded by participating members
This workshop targeted ten countries in the Eastern and Southern Caribbean to improve the managerial, operational and administrative capacity of NGOs so that they can operate more efficiently, effectively and more so, in a sustainable manner.
The key aim of the workshop is to build capacity among NGO leaders to effectively advocate awareness of barriers and opportunities for NGO advocacy.
Its main objective focuses on developing skills and techniques for the creation of effective strategies and plans. Minister within the Social Protection Ministry, Keith Scott, noted that Guyana was pleased to be one of the countries involved in this training programme.
“The Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana is more than enlightened to participate in the ceremony to launch the local capacity of solutions with the USAID, along with the other nine countries of the Southern and Eastern Caribbean,” Minister Scott noted.
More so, United States Ambassador to Guyana, Perry Holloway explained that over the last five years, the Region has witnessed an expansion of NGOs working in advocacy as well as service delivery at the community level.
“Guyana is privileged to boast a very active NGO presence and I am happy to report that the US Government has enjoyed a mutually beneficial partnership with many local NGOs, including the Guyana Red Cross, Lifeline Counseling and the Volunteer Youth Corps, just to name a few,” Holloway noted.
Further, Holloway pointed out that through the programme, 130 NGOs across the Region participated in a Market Assessment to gauge the needs of the regional NGO sector while another 75 participated in focus groups which formed part of the assessment.
The launching of the workshop included inspirational talks by the officer in charge of the Caribbean Policy Development Centre, Richard Jones, and Capacity Building Specialist Shantal Munro- Knight.
