*Micro Projects: CSDA Intervenes In 350 Communities of Cross River State*

No fewer than 350 Communities across the 18 Local Government Areas of Cross River state have benefitted from the State Community and Social Development Agency (CSDA) Projects.

The Cross River State Government, World Bank a
Assisted project is a Community Driven Development (CDD) and intervention mechanism designed for improving empowerment, service delivery and local governance through empowerment of people in the local communities.

Speaking during a post completion and Project sustainability workshop organised by the Agency in Calabar, the Commissioner for International Development Corporation, Dr Inyang Asibong said that over 900 community projects in all the 18 local government areas have been executed.

According to Asibong, the Agency has empowered more citizens at the local government levels, with improved service delivery, accountability, transparency and effective communication in the last five years of Governor Ben Ayade's administration more than ever.

The commissioner while encouraging the beneficiaries to sustain the assets created in their various communities, warned that Government will not provide further support to any community who fails to maintain and sustain previous projects in their domain, including health centres, boreholes and classroom blocks.

The Board Chairman of the Agency, Sir Toni Ikpeme commended the communities for implementing thier projects according to standards and specifications. He encouraged them to apply community level strategies to maintain and sustain the assets.

Also Speaking at the event, the Acting General Manager of the Agency, Mr Fidel Udie commended Governor Ayade for funding the Agency to provide support to Communities especially in the height of the COVID 19 pandemic.

The workshop had relevant line MDAs in attendance, with beneficiaries from several communities where issues of home grown sustainability strategies were discussed, such that benefits can be guaranteed over a long period.