30 participants complete Commonwealth Foundation-funded course |23 January 2024

The participants in a souvenir photograph with facilitators

Last Friday, participants who successfully completed the Commonwealth Foundation-funded course for members of civil societies in Seychelles received their certificates.

This grant, generously provided by the Commonwealth Foundation, enabled the Civil Society Platform Seychelles (Ceps) to offer capacity-building training to its members in the areas of project implementation cycle, project financial management, project reporting, monitoring, and evaluation—key topics covered under the Project writing training.

A total of 30 participants from various non-governmental organisations (NGOs) actively participated in the six-day training, where they shared and gained insights into the critical aspects of project writing. The facilitators were Benjamin Vel, Eline Moses, Michel Pierre and Alvin Laurence.

The chief executive of Ceps, Alvin Laurence, emphasised the significance of the training and said that “Ceps want to equip the NGOs with skills on how to effectively prepare and present a project to increase its chances of securing funding.”

“Many organisations are now focusing on projects aligned with societal needs and sustainable development goals. It is crucial to remain realistic when seeking funding and present projects in a way that resonates with donors. Conceptualising and presenting a project are only half of the task; the real challenge lies in the project's implementation,” added Mr Laurence.

He stressed on the importance of documenting project details and keeping receipts throughout the project duration. “Ceps is committed to providing more training opportunities, as government resources may be limited, and NGOs often receive funding from various sources. We know that you are the ones who know our needs and we urge you to seize these opportunities to make a positive impact on people's lives”

The success of the training will be evaluated based on the number and quality of projects submitted. Throughout the year, representatives from the Commonwealth Foundation, an intergovernmental organisation supporting the association of peoples within the Commonwealth, will assess the impact of civil society in influencing policy and government institutions for effective development.

The Commonwealth Foundation's support enables Ceps to empower its members with the necessary skills to contribute meaningfully to public dialogue and democratic societies. The organisation is committed to ensuring that policy and government institutions are influenced positively by civil society, fostering development and positive change.

Vidya Gappy

Photo: Kurtrine Albert