April 2024
With a grant from ACT, the Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD) has worked to strengthen the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) capabilities of three community-based organisations (CBOs) in Adamawa state.
Recognising the limitations of one-off training exercises, where skills are not often sustained, this initiative focused on designing tailor-made coaching and mentoring for CBOs.
The three beneficiary CBOs – Access Africa for Rights and Development Initiative, the Centre for Rural Enlightenment, Welfare and Development, and the Society for Women and Youth Affairs – underwent an intensive four-month coaching programme.
The GROW coaching model was employed, which focuses on goal setting, reality assessment, exploring options (or obstacles), and establishing the will (or way forward).
The CBOs developed M&E policies and frameworks, redesigned attendance registers for gender and social inclusivity, and enhanced their skills in proposal writing. The coaching sessions also fostered collaboration, leading to the joint development of a proposal for project funding by all three CBOs.
Peer-to-peer review sessions were integrated to deepen collaboration among the CBOs. As a result, the CBOs strengthened organisational structures and collaboration efforts, ultimately enhancing the impact in their respective communities.
“Coaching and mentoring are gateways that lead CSOs beyond just monitoring and evaluation or project reporting to being accountable to donors and constituents.”
Stella Amanie, Executive Director, SWAYA
