NG-CARES Plateau Organizes 3-Day Step-Down Training on Grievance Mechanism and Gender-Based Violence

The Plateau State Cares Coordinating Unit, under the Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus Programme (NG-CARES), has commenced a 3-day Step-Down Training on Grievance Mechanism and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) at Valada Hotel, Jos.

The event brought together key stakeholders and government officials, including the Technical Administrative Head of NG-CARES in Plateau State, Dr. Haggai Gutap; the Secretary to the State Government, Architect Samuel Jatau, who represented His Excellency, Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, Executive Governor of Plateau State; the Commissioner for Finance and Chairperson of the PL-CARES Steering Committee, Hon. Mrs. Grace S. Dongkum; facilitators from the national level; and other critical actors in the NG-CARES implementation structure.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Haggai Gutap welcomed all dignitaries and participants. He highlighted the objective of the training, noting that it was designed to build the capacity of staff and stakeholders on the Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) and Gender-Based Violence response within the NG-CARES program. He thanked the Plateau State Government, under the leadership of Governor Mutfwang, for providing an enabling environment that allows donor-funded projects like NG-CARES to thrive.

“This 3-day training is part of our continuous effort to ensure that all components of NG-CARES are implemented with transparency, accountability, and sensitivity to gender-related concerns. The support from the State Government has been instrumental in our progress so far,” Dr. Gutap stated.

Representing the Executive Governor, Arch. Samuel Jatau commended the coordinating unit for organizing the training. He stressed that the Mutfwang-led administration is intentional about creating a safe and inclusive environment for citizens, particularly through donor-funded interventions.

“This training is a testament to the government’s commitment to safeguarding its people. Upon assumption of office, all donor-funded programs were reviewed and profiled to deepen our intervention strategy and improve overall performance. Among these, NG-CARES stands out as one of the most impactful and well-structured initiatives on the Plateau,” he remarked.

Arch. Jatau also proudly disclosed that Plateau State ranks among the top three performing states in the third Independent Verification Assessment (IVA) of NG-CARES, underscoring the success of the state’s implementation strategy.

Throughout the first day, participants were engaged in technical sessions led by seasoned facilitators. Eniola Kehinde delivered the first presentation on “Module One: General Overview of the NG-CARES Program”, setting the stage for the rest of the training. This was followed by Jerusha Chaimang, who unpacked the “Objectives of the Grievance Mechanism Manual” and its relevance to project implementation.

Barr. Hannatu Dauda Simon took participants through “An Overview of the Legal Framework Supporting the Grievance Mechanism under NG-CARES” and also moderated a syndicate session, allowing for peer learning and practical engagement. Additional presentations included sessions by Aishatu Abdullahi, who spoke on Sex and Gender, and James Dachomo, among others, all of whom brought depth and clarity to the discussions.

Participants like Alexander Wang and Hulda Titus shared their reflections on the sessions, describing the training as impactful and timely, particularly in equipping frontline staff with the tools to handle grievances and gender-related challenges within the program implementation process.

The training is expected to run for three days, providing continuous hands-on knowledge transfer, group discussions, and case study analysis to strengthen the Plateau State NG-CARES team and stakeholders for better service delivery.