UNHCR Holds Programme Management, Financial Reporting Workshop

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), conducted a two-day training workshop on Programme Management and Financial Reporting for its implementing partners. The workshop, which opened on 24 September, at the Mamba Point Hotel, brought together programme and finance managers of 12 implementing partners - six from international circle, while other six came from the national NGOs.

The workshop is aimed at building the capacity of implementing partners to efficiently manage resources in an accountable and transparent manner. “Proper management of funds will not only sustain donors’ interest in the development of the country but will also accelerate the process of the country’s economic recovery,” Sheik Saleh, UNHCR Project Officer pointed out.

He stressed that it is imperative for the implementing partners that are entrusted with funds for UNHCR’s activities, especially reintegration activities, to continue exhibiting a high sense of responsibility to ensure sustained funding from donors.

The workshop is also intended to refresh participants on the overall context of UNHCR Liberia’s operation, its role and mandate as well as assistance to refugees and returnees. UNHCR is currently working with several international and national NGOs in Liberia to put in place reintegration activities for over 500,000 refugees and IDPs who will be returning to their communities in the coming months and years.

This ranges from registration activities to managing vehicle fleets and transit facilities, distribution of non-food items, construction and rehabilitation of basic infrastructures as well as services in the education and health sector. More than 200 Community Empowerment Project proposals have been received from communities in all of the counties.

More than 39 CEPs are already being implemented in Bong, Montserrado, Nimba and Grand Gedeh. These start-up programmes comprise mainly of rehabilitation of community schools, shelter projects, water and sanitation, strengthening women groups and youth programmes. CEPs will enable the returning communities to benefit from ongoing programmes aimed at improving their livelihoods.

The second in the series of the Programme Management and Financial Reporting Workshop, according to UNHCR Briefing Notes, will be held early October 2004. It is anticipated that the implementing partners will have a clear picture of the general operations of UNHCR, cycle of reporting in the organization and the maintenance of financial records of UNHCR’s funded activities. The participants will also have knowledge on how to develop accurate and transparent financial and narrative reports in a timely manner.