Soludo’s Community Choose-Your-Project: A Bottom-Up Model Of Development

IZUCHUKWU ADICHIE 

One of the most efficient and effective means to deploy the resources of ndi-Anambra for the greatest outcome is the adoption of Community Choose-Your-Project by Governor Chukwuma Soludo. It is one of the many economic enablers to power the economic transformation of his administration down to the grassroot level.

Introduced in the state by immediate past governor Obiano, the initiative is model of bottom-up development paradigm where people know what is best for them at the grassroot level and boldly allow government presence to be felt in all the 181-communities in Anambra.

Yes! In achieving a liveable and prosperous homeland, Governor Soludo has re-opened windows for  communities to indicate interest in the twenty-five million naira (N25m) initiatives, to step forward and, to choose their most critical priority projects.

The initiative is an act of drastic reduction of poverty which focuses on increasing the access of the poor to job opportunities, as the project targets narrowing state infrastructure gap by improving infrastructure at grassroots.

Communities are expected to be creative while choosing their priorities; in a way that larger number of community members will be involved. There won’t be room for non-viable projects, as only developmental projects will be executed which includes establishing modernized portable water, sanitation systems, drainage, as well as creating neigborhood roads, safe walkways, recreational centres, modernized parks and markets, providing ICT incubation centers, quality health and educational services. This project is expected to be designed and executed by expertise indigenous contractors.

Each project must meet state government approved standards: that no adverse environmental impact will result from its execution. Government will also provide detailed description and certifications, and ensures compliance with the terms of an applicable requirements to contractual standards and terms.

The bottom-up approach is a strategy for sustainability. It focuses on  improving infrastructures and creates direct benefits such as social services, local employment, and support for local contractors. It also will increase employment of local unskilled laborers and finally provides help to identify locations and alignment of infrastructures that would make communities more economic viable.