Abuja: Experts have highlighted the importance of adopting the Community-Driven Development (CDD) approach in Nigeria to minimize the issue of abandoned projects across the country. They argue that the CDD strategy, which is promoted by the World Bank and other development partners, empowers communities to drive, own, sustain, and participate in projects, thereby reducing the chances of project abandonment.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the CDD approach represents a shift from the traditional top-down method, where government agencies implement projects without community input. This conventional approach often leads to projects that do not align with the community’s needs, resulting in abandonment. By contrast, the CDD model ensures that community members contribute to decision-making and address their specific needs, tackling various project-related problems and ensuring sustainability.
Another expert, Mr. Adamu Auta Adamu, emphasized the importance of incorporating the ‘Theory of Change’ in project management and development. This approach involves engaging all stakeholders from the project’s inception to understand the project’s goals and potential impacts. By doing so, it fosters inclusivity and ensures that projects are understood and supported by everyone involved, from the community to the financial and gender units. This comprehensive involvement helps prevent setbacks and ensures successful project completion for the benefit of the entire community.