A day's seminar to establish a platform for
dialogue and consensus building for the successful implementation of the Gender Responsive Skills and Community Development Project (GRSCDP) has been held in Kumasi.
The US$14.63 million project, seeks to provide support to women and the youth to develop marketable skills, and to also facilitate their access to financial and business development services.
It is expected that about 3.5 million women in 59 selected districts, nationwide, would benefit from the programme to improve their living status to help increase their contribution to national development.
The Department of Women, the implementing agency, organized the seminar with sponsorship from the African Development Bank (ADB).
Participating, were district planning officers, heads of department, coordinating directors and District Chief Executives (DCE) of the seven beneficiary districts in the Ashanti Region.
These are Kumasi metropolis, Bekwai and Ejisu-Juaben municipalities, Ejura-Sekyedumase, Amansie-West, Ahafo-Ano North and South districts.
Mr Foster Boateng, Project Manager, said the programme would be implemented over a four-year period, and it involves collaboration of
various stakeholders to enhance mainstreaming gender into the economic development and poverty reduction agenda of the nation.
He said under it, scholarship would be given to needy but brilliant school girls, to receive training in technical and vocational institutions
as well as mechanical trades.
Ms Augustina Gyamfi, Ashanti Regional Director of the Department of Women, called on the beneficiary districts to mobilize the necessary resources and show more commitment towards the successful implementation of the project.