Thread:Sustaining BDS Programmes (5)

Hi Jealous and Hi All,

Sustainability is a major challenge we face in project delivery, most interventions are not sustainable and so I have little experiences to share. However on the issue of sustainability, one project comes to mind, and it is a Youth Development Centres Project implemented by my Ministry in collaboration with UNICEF, it involved provision of a number of BDS services to the youth, such as vocational training, accesses to ICT, information etc. The project ended in the year 2004/2005 and activities are still continuing.

Certain steps that were taken in programme design and delivery that ensured sustainability and these steps are as follows:

•	A needs assessment was conducted to ascertain the needs of the programe target (mostly the Youth)

•	The youth and members of the community selected for programme intervention were involved in some stages of the programme planning, design and implementation

•	Advocacy to a number of stakeholders in government and civil society to involve them in project delivery

•	An exit strategy, which was to transfer ownership of project to the community.