Hanny Henry
The Centre for Advocacy Transparency and Accountability Initiative (CATAI) has organized a two-day capacity-building workshop for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and members of the media in Adamawa State.
The training focused on budget monitoring and advocacy in the education sector. It was held under the Education Budget Monitoring and Advocacy Group as part of the Educate a Girl Project 2.
Speaking during the workshop, Hauwa Bukar Kumshe ,the Project Coordinator for Gender and Disability at CATAI, explained that the refresher training became necessary due to gaps in the capacity of CSOs and the media to effectively track and analyze government spending, particularly in the education sector.
She stated that with funding support from the Malala Fund, the training aimed to equip participants with the skills needed to address barriers affecting girls’ education, especially at the secondary school level.
According to her, poor budget allocation and weak implementation have contributed to low school attendance among girls.
Kumshe emphasized that bringing CSOs and the media together was a deliberate strategy. She noted that both groups play critical roles in policy dialogue, advocacy, and holding the government accountable for proper budget implementation in the education sector in Adamawa State.
Emmanuel Bwala, a consultant and facilitator, urged participants to see the budget as a public document owned by the people. He stressed that CSOs and the media have a responsibility to monitor budget implementation and contribute to improving future budget processes, particularly in promoting gender-responsive budgeting.
Bwala also advised participants to consider the eight-point agenda of the current administration in Adamawa State while analyzing and tracking budget performance to ensure better impact.
Participants at the workshop expressed appreciation for the initiative. Mohammed Njidda Abubakar assured that he would apply the knowledge gained to strengthen budget tracking efforts in the education sector. He noted that the accessibility of the state budget makes analysis and monitoring easier.
Another participant, Perfection Patience Hamman, said the training has broadened her understanding of budget processes. Adding that it would help CSOs develop effective advocacy messages to relevant government agencies in the education sector.
She called for periodic refresher trainings to sustain the momentum, given the importance of education funding for the girl child.
