JDPC Reaffirms Commitment to Supporting Devt, Accountability, Social Transformation in Nnewi

By Praise Chinecherem

Justice, Development and Peace Caritas (JDPC) Nnewi has reaffirmed its commitment to participatory development, accountability, and social transformation.

The group gave the assurance during series of Community Action Planning/Consultations and Capacity Building Workshops across the four regions of the Catholic Diocese of Nnewi as part of the process of developing a participatory 5-Year Strategic Plan.

JDPC Nnewi is supported by the Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria [CCFN] under its CAPs project.

According to Director, JDPC Nnewi – Rev Fr Ben Okolo, the consultations provided opportunity for grassroots stakeholders to reflect on JDPC Nnewi’s past interventions, identify institutional strengths and gaps and contribute to shaping the organization’s strategic direction for the next five years.

“These consultations ensured that the strategic planning process reflected community realities, pastoral priorities, and grassroots development needs.

“The CAPs Regional Consultation and Capacity Building Workshop for the Ihiala Region was held at St. Andrew Catholic Church, Azia.

“Participants included parish-based JDPC volunteers and community leaders, youth representatives, women leaders, Ward Development Committee members, and regional coordinators.

“The inputs gathered from the consultations will inform the drafting of JDPC Nnewi’s 5-Year Strategic Plan, which will serve as a guiding framework for strengthening the organization’s humanitarian and development work in Anambra State and beyond,” he added.

While welcoming participants, partners, facilitators, and representatives from the various communities and parishes under the region to the workshop, Okolo described their participation as reflection of the shared vision they hold towards strengthening community structures, promoting accountability, and enhancing sustainable development within our communities.

“The CAPS Project presents an important opportunity for us to collectively reflect, learn, and build stronger capacities that will enable our institutions and communities to respond more effectively to the challenges we face.

“Through dialogue, shared experiences, and collaborative engagement, we hope this meeting will deepen our understanding and strengthen the partnerships needed to achieve the goals of this project,” he stressed.

Programme Manager, Onyekachi Ololo while introducing the CAPS Project and its significance, said the CAPs consultations were organized to support JDPC Nnewi’s institutional strengthening by generating inputs for the development of a 5-Year Strategic Plan.

He said the consultations aimed to gather perspectives from regional stakeholders on JDPC Nnewi’s achievements and challenges as well as conduct participatory reflection on the organization’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT).

“It is also to identify priority thematic areas and strategies for the next five years and to build ownership of the strategic planning process among grassroots volunteers and community actors.

“The CAPS Project is supported by the Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria, CCFN under its Small Grants program for the Justice Development and Peace Caritas/Commissions as part of its efforts to celebrate Caritas Nigeria’s 15th anniversary to empower Justice, Development, and Peace Commissions (JDPCs) by strengthening their organizational systems and structures, helping them to advance advocacy, influence policy better, and carry out development and humanitarian interventions efficiently in their respective dioceses.

“JDPC Nnewi was selected for Onitsha Province, and its CAPs project was designed as a strategic initiative aimed at strengthening the institutional capacity of partners and regional actors, while promoting collaboration, shared learning, and more effective community-centered interventions within the Diocese, State, and Province.

“Through this consultation and capacity-building engagement, the CAPs project seeks to create a platform where stakeholders can reflect on current realities, identify gaps, and collectively build the knowledge and skills required to improve program delivery and impact within our communities.

“More importantly, the CAPS Project encourages stronger coordination among partners, enhances accountability structures, and supports sustainable development efforts that are responsive to the needs of the people we serve.

“Today’s meeting, therefore, provides an opportunity for regional participants to contribute their perspectives, share experiences from their contexts, and strengthen the capacity needed to effectively implement the goals and expectations of the project.

“We are confident that the conversations and learning that will take place here will further strengthen our collective commitment to development, justice, and community empowerment,” Ololo stated.