By Dauda Muhammad Hadejia
Action Against Hunger ACF, FCDO – UK is proudly partnering with Jigawa State government due to leadership commitment, consistency, accountability and transparency in governance.
Delivering a welcome address at a two day grand opening workshop on Inclusive Social Protection Systems and promoting rights based intervention organized by the ACF, FCDO-UK for Jigawa State Protection Technical Working Group TWG held at Porto Golf Hotel, Kano.
The ACF Country Director Thierno Samba Diallo represented by the Deputy Country Director Andualem Fekadu, said Jigawa State is making tremendous progress on the implementation of social protection programs, which creates an enabling environment for the development Partners to willingly support the State.
He mentioned the stakeholders project participants that includes members of TWG, Social Protection Councils, Community Advocate, State Assembly, Political, Religious and Traditional leaders, CSOs and Media, added that the project will build on Systems strengthening for a period of time.
Also highlighting overview about ACF Project in Jigawa, the Head of Department Food Security and Livelihood Paulyn Opara emphasizes that the Project focuses on inclusiveness and reflects a life cycle approach for sustainable transformation.
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Opara explained that the Project intervention Strategy are supporting protected groups in Jigawa, specific on individuals with protected characteristics, ensuring inclusion with priorities for Women and Persons with disabilities in laws, policies and programming, Systems Strengthening to work with government and Non government actors to build inclusive social protection systems and expanding engagement in working with additional groups, building their capacity for participation.
Declaring the Grand Opening workshop, Deputy Governor of Jigawa State Engr. Aminu Usman Gumel says Jigawa State has institutionalized social protection as one of its key development strategies for reducing poverty and vulnerability, added that that social protection policy was developed and approved in December 2017 and launched in April 2019 with the support from Action Against Hunger ACF through Child Development Grant Program CDGP.
Engr. Aminu Gumsl mentioned that the State has developed key documents and structures which includes Food and Nutrition policy, Gender Policy, Violence Against Persons Prohibition VAPP law, Social Register and various sectoral policies, also reflected in the Medium Term Sector Strategies MTSS and the annual budget.
The Deputy Governor reaffirms government commitment towards establishment of an Agency for Social Protection program in the state, by amending the Social Protection law for upgrade from the initial provision of a department domiciled within the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, while awaiting executive council approval to conclude the process.
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During the workshop, presentations were made by implementing MDAs on social protection programs updates and identifying areas where additional support is required.
Hotpen reports that the Technical Working Group TWG operates under the State Social Protection Council which is Chaired by the Deputy Governor office.
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