Meeting of MRDF Partners in Cameroon

Sponsored By:Methodist Relief Fund - London

Organised By: Nkong Hill Top

Venue: Executive Hotel - Buea

Date:25 September, 2010

The meeting started at 10:25am with a welcome speech from the Delegate of NCIG, Anu Vincent; who further gave a flash back on the arrival of MRDF in Cameroon and Nkong Hill Top in particular. Participants came from NWR & SWR (YDC, CDVTA, PRTC, NCIG, and PCC).

This was followed by self introduction of participants:

Name / Organisation / Location / Contacts
Akang Sammy / YDC / Limbe / 7782 2405

Njuakom Nchin Francis / CDVTA / Bamenda / 9987 9609

Alhadji Jibirila Tukur / CDVTA / ,, / 7777 6593
Sirringwe Beatrice / PRTC / Bamenda / 7758 6781

Bala Yerimah Mutapha / CDVTA / ,, / 7738 7632
Ndang Mercy N. / PRTC / ,, / 7729 8702
Mojoko Pauline Ndeh / PCC / Buea / 7575 3923

Anu Vincent / NCIG / Buea / 7764 8113


Anu Gospel / NCIG / Buea / 7740 5633

Atemnkeng Claudia / ,, / ,, / 7772 3400

Nkemka George / ,, / ,, / 7768 2151

Atanga Wilson / YDC / Limbe / 7781 2631

Clement Efon Elad / ,, / ,, / 7721 3014

Delegate gave the creation date of NCIG and the 15th anniversary planned in 2011. The formation of micro-finance institution and the number of years NCIG has been working with MRDF. He particularly thanked the PCC representative.

-Accreditation

-Introduction of participants

-Housemanship

  • Ground rules
  • Practical information

-Meeting objectives

-Presentation of MRDF Cameroon Network Initiative

-Creating a partner’s Network

-Planning for other activities

  • Training workshop
  • Learning exchange visits

-Information sharing

-Meeting evaluation

-Entertainment

By the end of this meeting participants should:

-Know each other better

-Have a common understanding of the project objectives

-Adopt guidelines for effectively promoting networking amongst themselves

-Have drawn up action plan for implementation

-Network of MRDF Partners in Cameroon

Objectives:

-Facilitate the sharing of information, especially best practices amongst partner organisations

-Build the capacity of the staff and Board of partners in financial management and fundraising

-.explore opportunities for joint advocacy activities and project implementation

Outcomes:

As a result of the project, partner organisations are:

-Stronger and enjoy greater credibility in the society

-More efficiently run and provide better services to their communities

-Have created a forum for networking amongst themselves

-More active in the wider civil society locally and internationally

Project Duration: 3months

The project has to run from November 2010 to January 2011.

Prayer was made though after some deliberations. This was done by two participants - a Muslim and a Christian and the ground rules were laid.

Ground Rules:

-Switch off cell – phones

-Time keeper

-One speaker at a time

-Go straight to the point

The moderator gave some ample time for participants and partners to share their experiences in a form of a question.

What has happened to the various organisations represented for all this time past?

  • Mr. Francis (CDTVA) talked of the Addis Ababa strength to strength conference and how they worn an international award,which wasn’t financial but a high profile campaign award. This award led to a new project sponsored from the UK. He added that CDVTA has gain a consultancy position at the level of the UNO and has the right to nominate some people as representatives in other countries. He thinks this is because of the main goal or the people they’re dealing with. CDVTA deals with old people which many will not want to sponsor because old people aren’t productive.

Alhadji added that they’ve visited the Methodist church and they were opportune to welcome the Methodist church at their office. Francis had the opportunity to visit England and could visit almost all the Methodist churches over there. He was opportune to talk to MRDF who are really transforming the lives of many through organisations. He described them as asset of gracious people who will not only fund them but will look for other donors for them.

  • As for YDC she has gained a lot from the 2007 strengthening capacity which has helped them to mainstream to an extent that they’re building the capacity of women. They have been able to raise funds especially thanks to Isabelle and Yannick[ they have been able to draw up strategic plans which they promised at Addis Ababa. Their staff are very functional now than ever.
  • PRTC talked of how the seminar Addis Ababa has got a great impact on their organisation as farmers and rural people. The capacity of the staff has been built on marketing as this has led to the coming together of the beneficiaries to get a market to sell their products. Additionally, they are really working hard towards in the aspect of fund raising and as of now they are expecting funds from Agric and Rural Development–government. The government has chosen 3orgnaisations and PRTC is included to train farmers.
  • NCIG: improving on financial management, accounting systems and procedures, public system.

-We created a website especially concerning visibility though we are still working on that.

-We have strengthened our governance systems by improving on management procedures through external and internal auditing; regular meetings of the board; use of accounting software – Quick books, etc.

-Out of the relationship with MRDF, we have been able to transfer funds from our micro credit project to our recently authorised micro finance institution – NC4D. NGOs are invited to invest in the institution.

The Partners’ Network

The moderator proposed the following questions to guide the discussion:

-Do we need a network?

-What kind of network do we want to create?

-What should it be called?

The partners agreed that they needed a network and proposed a name for it.

The Network Name:

MRDF Partners Network for Sustainable Development abbreviated asMRDF-PNSD

The following are the objectives of the network:

  1. Facilitate the sharing of information, especially best practices amongst partner organisations
  2. Build the organisational capacity of partners
  3. Collaborate in joint advocacy activities and project implementation

Activities:

Training workshops

Exchange visits

Exchange of services

Joint project proposals and implementation

Participation in local and international events

Lobbying and advocacy

Membership: MRDF Partners

Coordination:

Coordinator

  • Nkong Hill Top
  • Term of office will be 2yrs renewable once

Secretariat

The network secretariat is run b the coordinating organisation

N.B.: It is a loose type of network whereby a volunteer from one of the organisations can coordinate the activities of the network. S/he will be expected to disseminate information to other partners for the main time.

Financing:

Annual dues

  • 50.000FCFA XAF to be paid by March 31 2011

Registration levy

  • 50.000FCFA XAF (Participants are expecting to pay this due by the end of November 2010).

Local fund raising

Proposal development for project financing

Meetings are held times a year and hosted on in a rotating manner by parners

The moderator mentioned that the 1st indicator of commitment will be measured by 30 of November 2010 when the registration dues should have been paid.

1)Training Workshop

Theme: Financial management fundraising

5 Days:29/11/ 2010 to 03/12/2011

Venue: Buea

Participants: 16

Facilitation: DM&C Douala for financial management;

Fon Nsoh, Francis Njuakom and Denis Kumbo for fundraising

2)Exchange visits

  • The first exchange visit is planned for 01-07 November 2010 to the North West Region, where PRTC and CDTVA will host partners from the South West Region.

CDVTA proposed to take care of participants during the exchange visits if it will be for 2days. They pleaded it fall within the week of CDTVA convention and when PRTC is still on the field so that those from the SWR can pay them a visit and equally take part in the convention. This will involve 08 participants from the SWR (YDC & NCIG).

  • The second exchange visit is planned for the 04-07 December 2010

This will be immediately after the training workshop, CDVTA and PRTC are expected to be welcomed by the SWR partners.

Terms of Reference for Exchange Visits

Pending more detailed planning the participants in the exchange visits would:

-Observe how the organisation functions

-Visit projects or project site visits

  • Meet/interact with beneficiaries
  • Share strengths and weaknesses/constraints
  • Find out elements of sustainability
  • Ask impact of the project on beneficiaries and communities

-Staff/Board share experiences

-Management procedures/systems

(A checklist will be developed to guide participants)

The How part of the exchange visits:

  • There should be a briefing meeting at the beginning of the visit between the hosts and the visitors
  • Debriefing meeting at the end of the exchange visit
  • Common transportation
  • Transfer of experience to own organisation

CDVTA has as responsibility to welcome members during the exchange visits in the NWR while for the SWR the responsibility goes to YDC.

Mr. Francis (CDVTA) started with a little story of how everything almost begins as an idea. He advised through an illustration of those who gargle, sip and drinkthat it is good to assimilate one another in order to properly function as a network rather than dropping because each idea develops. Moreover he said we are all standing on gold mines; we don’t have to go for gold in ‘bush’and we don’t have to sell off our piece of land.

He additionally advised on:

-Don’t forget birthdays, Xmas and Easter cards for partners.

-How we appear in meetings is very important

-CDVTA UN consultative status

-Travelling to lobby for funds

Mr. Akang (YDC) proposed a website for volunteers at links 4 change website, and equally spoke of the Fred Foundation based in Holland, which co-funds projects on health, environment and education but needs Dutch or Belgian partners / individuals to recommend the Cameroon partner.

The meeting ended with an evaluation of the day.

What went well / What did not go so well / Suggestions for improvement
Planning process / Late start of meeting / Time consciousness; give more time for other people’s contributions
Sharing of information / Non respect of time schedule / Programme and venue for workshop should be sent to participants in advance
Orderly coordination / Time management / Agenda before the training
General presentation / Starting time not respected / Information on the training should be sent to partners
Information exchange, facilitation of meeting / Terms of reference for information sharing not well aligned / Training should start on time next time
Lessons assimilated / Time, time, time / More forums should be organised where information should be exchanged
Partners were very open in sharing of ideas / Late start / T.O.R. for information sharing should be prepared in advance for full participation.
Organisation of workshop / Time keeper was not respected
Good facilitation, information exchange and workshop environment / RAS (Rien A Signaler)
Content & coordination of the meeting / Timing
Establishment of the initiative

The meeting ended with the alien clap – load, hit the foot thrice on the ground, clap trice and shoot thrice in the air, which means “We were forgetting, we’re happy to gather again and our story continues” followed by lunch.

Report Compiled by:

Youbi Sandrine (Administrative Assistant Nkong Hill Top)

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