GBARNGA, Bong County – The Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), in collaboration with the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), has commenced a four-day capacity-building training for county officials and technicians aimed at strengthening project planning and implementation of the County Development Agenda (CDA).
The training, which began on August 13, 2025, at the Gbarnga Administration Building, seeks to equip local officials with the skills, tools, and knowledge necessary to effectively manage development projects in alignment with national priorities.
Providing an overview, Emmanuel Williams, Director of the Public Investment Unit at MFDP, said the program would help participants better understand the government’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development. He stressed that harmonizing national and county development plans is key to successful governance, noting that CDAs must align with the national development plan’s six pillars to guide local initiatives.
Williams highlighted that the training would focus on priority CDA sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure, health, education, rule of law, tourism, and human resource development. He urged officials to treat both the national development plan and the CDA as “living documents” that should actively inform decision-making, not remain static. He also explained the funding processes for project implementation, advising officials on how to prepare and submit project proposals to secure financial support.
The session brought together representatives from eight counties, creating a collaborative platform for sharing experiences and best practices.
Nimba County Superintendent Kuo Meapeh Gono, speaking at the opening, praised the initiative for enhancing stakeholder knowledge and adapting strategies to local realities. She emphasized that decentralization is crucial for sustainable growth, particularly in Nimba, where local revenue generation is improving. Gono also called for fiscal decentralization, suggesting that allowing counties to retain a portion of locally raised revenue could significantly boost community empowerment and strengthen county administrations’ capacity to drive development.
