EBELOWA SEMINAL FOR SDG WITH UNFPA

TRAINING WORKSHOP FOR YOUTH LEADERS AND VOLUNTARY SERVICES ON MANAGEMENT AND ANIMATION OF ASSOCIATIVE ACTIVITIES AND VOLUNTEERING LINKED TO THE SDGs AND SD

Ebolowa from 15 to 17, September 2020

MISSION REPORT 

Presented by: TATAW LYDIA ARREY

Quality: The South West Region Volunteer on the program for SDGs and SD between MINJEC and UNFPA.

 Signature:

 SUMMARY

1. CONTEXT AND JUSTIFICATION OF THE WORKSHOP ………. 2
2. AIMS OF THE WORKSHOP …………………………. 2

III. THE EXPECTED RESULTS…………………………. 3

1. COMPOSITION OF THE MISSION TEAM……. …………. 3
2. THE CONDUCT OF THE MISSION ……………………. 3
3. DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED AND SUGGESTIONS………… 9

V- THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE BEEN FORMULATED:.. 9

VII. CONCLUSION………………………………….. 9

VIII. APPENDICES ………………………………… 10

1. CONTEXT AND JUSTIFICATION OF THE WORKSHOP

With a view to building Cameroon into an “emerging country, democratic and united in its diversity “, the formation of solid human capital, capable of sustaining economic growth is a sine qua non.

At the time when Cameroon, like other member countries of the United Nations is committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and carries out actions to capture the demographic dividend, the issue of the involvement of young people is acute.

This is how, within the framework of the 7^th cooperation program between Cameroon and UNFPA, the operational capacities of several youth organizations have been in order to facilitate their deployment and active contribution to the implementation SDGs in general and national development programs in particular.

This dynamic of involving as many young people as possible continues through this important Workshop in Ebolowa.

In view of the above, the Minister of Youth and Civic Education

(MINJEC) invited us to take part in said workshop on behalf of the South West Region.

• ARGCAM    :      EDMUND LIONONGE NJOH
• CCID    :      MME FORMI LAURA
• VOLUNTEER :      MME TATAW LYDIA ARREY

 II.  AIMS OF THE WORKSHOP 

The general objective of this workshop was to build the capacities of 15 youth organizations in order to give them skills that can enable them to contribute effectively and efficiently to the development of the Nation. Specifically, it was about:– To facilitate the acquisition, by selected young people, of specific skills that can improve the management of youth organizations and the implementation of certain activities. – To encourage them to take leadership in achieving development objectives. – To define the modalities of an important leadership of young people. 

III.  THE EXPECTED RESULTS 

At the end of the workshop, the results were as follows: – 15 youth organizations were trained in the management of their associations as well as on the promotion of the SDGs through their activities. – 03 volunteers were able to support organizations of youth in the management of their associations and the implementation of their activities.

IV.  COMPOSITION OF THE MISSION TEAM 

ARGCAM : M. EDMUND LIONONGE NJOH

CCID : MME FORMI LAURA

VOLUNTEER   : MME TATAW LYDIA ARREY

V.    THE CONDUCT OF THE MISSION 

The work of the Workshop took place at the Multifunctional Center for the Promotion of Youth (CMPJ Regional / South) for the South Region in Ebolowa between Tuesday 15 and Thursday, September 17, 2020. In addition to the representative of the South West Region, several other organizations and structures were represented at the workshop. The list is attached as an annex. The mission took place in three (03) days in accordance with the attached draft agenda in the appendix which was given to us by the organizers, namely:- Day 1 activities;- Activities day 2;- Activities Day

2. 1. Activities Day 1

Under the chairmanship of Mr. MADJIA MBOUTOU Christian, Regional Delegate of the Ministry of Youth and Civic Education for the South, the work of the first day were articulated around the word of welcome of the DRJEC / South, the presentation of the context and objectives of the workshop, the presentation of the participants as well as their expectations, the distribution of roles, the family photo and the communications.In his words of welcome, the DRJEC / South welcomed the participants and solemnly declared the work of the workshop open.The presentation of the context and the objectives of the workshop were made by Mr. MONGBET Jean Marcel, Head of the Mobilization of Youth / DIVAPJ / MINJEC. It should be remembered that this workshop takes place in a context of youth involvement in the development process of Cameroon. This workshop therefore aims to strengthen the capacities of 15 youth organizations in order to equip them with skills that can enable them to contribute effectively and efficient in the development of the Nation.From the presentation of the participants that followed, we must remember that we were 18 beneficiaries of the training except the organizers. It should be remembered that 06Regions were represented namely the South, the Center, the West, the South-West, the North-West and the Coastline. Participants formulated several expectations at the start of the work, most of which boils down to building partnerships, using effective reports activities, fundraising, financial management.In terms of the distribution of roles, we have voluntarily chosen to be among the reporters for Day 1 as well as for the General Workshop Report.After all this, there was a time out for taking the family photo at the CMPJ Regional / South esplanade before returning for further work with the communications. FAMILY PHOTO During day 1, three Communications were presented namely themodule on Generalities on SDGs, Generalities on SD and Generalities on Volunteering.Regarding the General Modules on SDGs and SD, they were presented by Mr. TCHOKOMAKWA Gabriel, adolescent and youth program manager for Cameroon. It should be remembered that the SDGs are 17 in number and have been adopted in 2015 to promote socioeconomic and cultural progress in the world by 2030.  These SDGs are distributed around the 5 Ps, namely: PEOPLE (Zero poverty, Zero hunger, good health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation), PROSPERITY (Clean and affordable energy, decent work and economic growth, industry, innovation and infrastructure, reduced inequality, sustainable city and community), PLANET (Consumption and responsible production, relative measures against climate change, life aquatic, terrestrial life), PEACE (Peace, justice and strong institutions), and PARTNERSHIP (Partnership for the achievement of the objectives). UNFPA exists for three reasons namely the eradication of maternal deaths preventable, reducing unmet need for family planning and the elimination of gender-based violence as well as harmful practices.The facilitator then proceeded to explain the Demographic Dividend understood as the benefit in terms of economic growth and well-being of the populations that a country obtains, when the age structure of the population presents more people of working age than consumers. This benefit is neither automatic nor natural because it depends on crossed and targeted investments that countries devote to their youth, particularly in the field of health, education and employment. He also stressed that Cameroonian youth is a bonus which constitutes human capital on condition of benefiting from the conditions which allow you to express your full potential.

Regarding Generalities on Volunteering, this module was presented by Madam VERWIYI Marie Noël épse MBATU, In charge of training and strengthening of capacities to the National Volunteering Program.

It is part of the definition of volunteering to highlight volunteering. Volunteering is therefore commitment of an individual to selflessly provide a service to a person, an organization or community.

The volunteer can decide to end it at any time without notice. If he/she does not receive remuneration, he can nevertheless

claim reimbursement of certain necessary costs.

Volunteering is a full-time contractual engagement of an individual for a period of determined, for the performance of a mission of general interest. It is sort of structured volunteering.

Volunteering is distinguished from volunteering by the existence of a formal agreement, the receipt of compensation, the existence of a labor code statute, availability and commitment to the activity that is the subject of the commitment. To be a good volunteer, you must be available, supportive, have the ability to listen, recognize one’s limits, have empathy with the part being helped, caring about work. Volunteering is implemented in Cameroon by the National Volunteering Program (PNV) created in 2017 by a decision of MINJEC.The activities of day 1 ended with the recaps.

2. The activities of Day 2

 In the presence of Mrs. NGEH REKIA épse MBEUME, Director of LifeAssociative and Youth Participation (DIVAPJ) at MINJEC, the day of Wednesday September 15, 2020 opened with the reading of the report on the activities of the first day. There followed a series of communications namely the introduction to volunteering in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, Results Based Management (RBM), leadership and management to achieve results, development of an action plan, resource mobilization and financial management. When it comes to volunteering in the face of COVID-19, it should be remembered that the volunteer has a role in crisis management. This is how the health crisis is striking currently the world and particularly Cameroon, the young volunteer must explain to the populations each of the measures decreed by the public authorities and development partners in times of crisis; he/she must carry out campaigns of awareness; populations must be encouraged to adopt civic behavior and patriotic.      Regarding Results Based Management, this module was presented byMr. MONGBET Jean Marcel, Head of the Mobilization of Youth / DIVAPJ / MINJEC. He defined RBM as a management approaches those results from a concern for budgetary rationalization. It is oriented towards the achievement of development targets; accountability of managers and agents implemented; transparency and accountability in public management. It allows the organization to identify what it wants to achieve, why and how to achieve it and finally find out if she has achieved it.  The principles of RBM are to focus dialogue on results, align programming, monitoring and evaluation with results, ensure simplicity of measurement methods and reports, focus management on obtaining results, rather than managing by results and using information on outcomes for learning and decision making. The facilitator highlights the theory of change understood as a vision explicitly documented (and therefore evaluable) of how we think the change should happen. It makes it possible to present the results to be achieved and the methods of their production. It is a logical and realistic causal path that guides development annual plans and activities. Regarding the module on leadership and management to achieveresults, the facilitator defined leadership as the authority exercised by a person or group of people over a group he/she represents. While that management is the implementation of human and material resources of a company to achieve its goals. It is put into practice by a leader whose demands require him to have a vision, analyze his convictions, progress towards a more collaborative way of working, seek allies to help him proceed to their own changes, to develop personal values. To continue with Communications, Madame DIVAPJ presented the development of an action plan and an activity report. The facilitator defined the plan action as a tool to follow the stages of a project. She also helps to understand the said project in order to achieve the expected objectives.The stages in the development of an action plan are as follows: the definition of objectives to be achieved, listing of the various activities in order of priority, determination of the persons concerned, details of the implementation of activities, the setting of a schedule, the precision of the indicators.The facilitator stressed that the activity report is an analytical document which describes the course of an activity or event. It consists of the introduction, development and conclusion. It may include annexes.In relation to resource mobilization, the facilitator defined the resource like one thing that allows one to do another thing, and counted four types namely financial, human, material and intangible resources. To mobilize them, we must have a directory of donors and partners, submit the funding requests, organize discussion sessions on the project, solicit donations, organize fundraising and collect contributions from volunteers and members. It is not enough just to mobilize resources but also you have to know how to manage them.To properly manage the finances of an association, you must have the ability to forecasting through the design of a program budget. Several pieces let you know if a budget is well executed. This is the call for tenders, the pro-forma invoice, the selection report, the order form, the final invoice, the delivery slip.

3. The activities of the day 3

The work of this day mainly focused on volunteering missions as part of the support for youth organizations and the ceremony Closing.The facilitator emphasized that this mission extends to capacity building management of youth organizations and movements, as well as those of school clubs on citizen participation, political dialogue and the process national planning. From this communication, we can retain that the volunteer manager must develop a business plan using planning tools, support the organization and animation of social activities related to the SDGs and SD.At the end of this communication, an evaluation of the 3 days of the workshop was made particularly concerning the expectations expressed by the participants at the start of the training. It turns out that these expectations were met at 95%. The Regional Delegate of MINJEC / South took the floor to thank all participants for the smooth running of the activities. He wished to see a remarkable change in the management of different organizations and youth associations. He ends his remarks by wishing a safe return to all delegations that came out of Ebolowa.

IV-  THE DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED AND SUGGESTIONS

 We had several difficulties during the mission namely:- Health concerns;- Difficulties in pre-financing the mission;- The poor quality of lighting in the training room;- The lack of internet connection for training;- The poor comfort of the room.- The lack of facilitators in both language. As solutions, we suggest the following solutions:- The provision of pharmacy box or health coverage in  activities;- 50% reimbursement of living expenses, accommodation and   transport upon arrival at the place of activity;- The choice of a brighter room;- The establishment of a connection for all participants through  wifi;- The programming of activities in the comfortable meeting  rooms.- The workshop program should be given to participant in advance  for preparation and research for better understanding the   details.- The provision of facilitators in both languages.

V- THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE BEEN FORMULATED:

At the end of the work, the following recommendations were made:With regard to young leaders:Ø  Report to the respective Regional Delegates;Ø  Organize internal feedback sessions.With regard to volunteer managers:Ø  Report to their various coordinators.

VI- CONCLUSION

In conclusion, it should be remembered that the Ebolowa Workshop helped to strengthen the capacities of 10 youth organizations on the management and animation of their activities. It was requested to pass on the knowledge and know-how received to the youth.

VII-APPENDICES 

The various annexed documents are as follows: the invitation to the workshop, the order of mission, list of participants, some pictures from the workshop.