Group Wants One Stop Shop On International Donor Aid

The Rivers State House of Assembly has been urged to enact a law establishing the Rivers State International Donor Agency as an independent one-stop shop to strengthen and regulate the administration of international donor aid in the state.
In a communique issued in PortHarcourt from participants at a two-day workshop on the Operations of Rivers state Aid Coordination Policy Framework and IDA Agency for Lawmakers and Civil Society Organizations in Rivers state, organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in collaboration with the Office of the Special Assistant to the Rivers state Governor on International Donor Agencies and International Society for Social Justice and Human Rights( ISSJHR), stated that the agency would be an independent clearing house and a gate keeper on international aid coming to the state.
The communique signed by Barr. Endwell Orlu-Akwu and Hon. John Josiah Olu, on behalf of the participants, further urged the Rivers State government to immediately activate the Rivers state Bureau of Statistics to provide data support for the operation of the state donor agency.
It implored the Civil Society organizations to play significant role in the administration of donor funds through the monitoring of projects as well as whistle blowing particularly on disbursed but unaccountable funds.
It also urged the members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to establish an oversight committee on international aid in order to check excesses in the management and coordination of funds.
It called on the Assembly to engage in capacity building on the activities of donor agencies and the administration of their funds.
The communique appealed to donor agencies to widen their templates of aid in the areas of tourism and sports development, which are seen now as key drivers of modern economies.
The participants noted that the number of donor agencies operating in the state and the funds they attract are increasing steadily and expressed displeasure that these agencies are not coordinated and properly administered.
They further frowned at the duplication of activities / projects and condemned the lack of transparency and existence of corrupt practices in the funds administration among ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) beneficiaries.
The participants observed that there has not been sensitization of members of the Rivers State House of Assembly on the activities of donor agencies in the state and the size of the fund adding that such funds had been off the budget.
The communique commended the Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi particularly the Special Adviser to the governor on Donor Agencies, Barr. Bestman Nnwoka.
Furthermore, it commended members of the Rivers state House of Assembly, the Civil Society Organizations and professional consultant for attending and making quality contributions.
It would be noted that the workshop was one of the series of workshops designed under the Rivers state government and United Nations collaboration aimed at building capacities and developing effective strategies for coordination and management of donor funds in the state as well as understanding the global trend and best practices in Aid coordination.