The Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) has announced plans to integrate community engagement and accountability into all aspects of its activities in the country.
Mr Victor Achegbulu, the Director of National Communication and Advocacy for the society, disclosed this on Tuesday in Lokoja, Kogi State, during the opening of a three-day workshop on Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA) for some staff and volunteers of the NRCS.
He emphasized that incorporating community engagement and accountability into the operations of the humanitarian organization would enhance people’s understanding of the Red Cross’s activities.
This approach is expected to foster deeper community participation and result in improvements in society’s community services.
The three-day workshop is sponsored by the British Red Cross.
Mr. Adeyemo Adebayo, the Director of Programmes for the NRCS, explained that the primary goal of CEA is to involve communities in the activities of the Red Cross to facilitate better program planning and effective implementation.
Engaging communities, he added, would promote the society’s activities and enhance service delivery. Adebayo also mentioned that the Red Cross has established free toll telephone lines to receive regular feedback on its activities from community leaders.
According to Adebayo, fully operationalizing CEA into the NRCS activities will benefit donors, beneficiaries, and the Red Cross itself.
Mr Benson Agbro, the Director of Disaster Management for the NRCS, informed the media that CEA would significantly reduce areas of friction and misunderstandings encountered during operations in communities. It is also a method to appraise and better understand the unique challenges different communities face.
Agbro highlighted that the workshop aimed to enhance the capacity of NRCS staff and volunteers involved in rescue operations.
Amoma Mofe Terah, the Focal Point for Community Engagement and Accountability at NRSC, stated that the workshop focused on capacity building for field workers.
Participants must develop a policy document that the society’s staff can reference. Terah reported that 146 participants from NRCS branches in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory are attending the workshop, both physically and online. Top officials from NRSC’s Abuja national headquarters are also in attendance.
In addition to NRCS staff and volunteers, participants were invited from various stakeholders, including security agencies, fire services, and emergency service providers.
