By Michael Foli Jackidy
Ave-Dakpa (V/R), Dec. 21, GNA – Global Action for Women Empowerment (GLOWA) has organised a two-day training programme for Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) on the use of the Community Scorecard (CSC) to improve service delivery in partner districts.
The training, which was organsied in collaboration with the Strengthening Investments in Gender-Responsive Climate Adaptation (SIGRA) Project formed part of the SIGRA Project implemented by COWATER Ghana, was conducted separately in the Anloga and Akatsi North Districts of the Volta Region.
It engaged a total of ten CBOs, five from the Anloga District Assembly and five from the Akatsi North District Assembly.
The sessions took place on December 8 and 9 at Anloga in the Anloga District and Ave-Dakpa in the Akatsi North District respectively.
Organising the training at the district level allowed for focused discussions that reflected the specific service delivery contexts and priorities of each district.
Participants were introduced to the Community Scorecard concept, with detailed explanations of its purpose, key components, and practical application.
Emphasis was placed on the CSC as a citizen-led tool for strengthening community participation, promoting accountability, and improving the quality of public service delivery through structured assessment and feedback.
Ms Ivy Bedy, Project Officer for GLOWA, guided participants through a clear distinction between a monitoring checklist, indicators, and the Community Scorecard.
She emphasised on the agriculture sector checklist, which formed the core focus of the training.
Participants were taken through the various items on the checklist and trained on how to observe and assess agricultural service delivery and document findings accurately and objectively.
They were also guided through the full CSC process, including the self-assessment component, where service providers score their own performance using the same criteria as community members.
This process culminates in an interface meeting between community representatives and service providers, during which both sets of scores are presented, compared, and discussed.
The interface meeting was described as a platform for open dialogue, mutual understanding, and collaboration, enabling both parties to identify gaps, agree on priority issues and jointly advocate for practical interventions to improve service delivery, particularly within the agricultural sector.
The training highlighted the principles underpinning the CSC process, including objectivity, fairness, and collaboration.
Participants were reminded that the scorecard exercise is not meant to apportion blame, target individuals or resolve personal grievances, but rather to serve as a constructive engagement mechanism for identifying service delivery gaps and jointly developing practical solutions.
In an interview with GNA, participants expressed appreciation for the training.
Mr Ibrahim Issaka of the Dzayime Youth Group said the workshop had empowered community members to actively engage in monitoring the services they rely on daily.
“With the Community Scorecard, we now have a structured way to voice our needs and track improvements. I am excited to use this tool to help ensure our communities receive the quality services we deserve,” he said.
Ms Margaret Gavor of Rest ‘O’ Nation described the training as a valuable experience that enhanced understanding of community expectations.
“The Community Scorecard will enable us to measure our service impact more effectively and work collaboratively with the community. We are committed to using this tool to improve service delivery and drive real change,” she noted.
Outcomes of the training included increased understanding among community members and service providers on how to monitor service delivery using scorecards. Copies of the monitoring checklist and Community Scorecard were shared with community monitoring groups and service providers for use in their respective communities.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/Linda Asante Agyei