By Jones Gadama
In a bid to enhance the effectiveness of Community-Based Trainers (CBTs) in Zomba District, the Community Development Office has provided 150 bicycles to ease mobility challenges.
The move has been hailed by the CBTs, who are critical in implementing various development projects in the district.
Zomba Chief Welfare Officer, Paul Simfukwe, revealed that the district has a total of 414 CBTs, but under the Savings and Loans Groups for Gender Empowerment and Resilience (SP-GEAR) project, only 372 CBTs were targeted.
The project, which is funded by the European Union and the Irish Embassy through UNICEF, aims to empower communities through savings and loans groups.
One of the beneficiaries, Kiker Phiri, expressed gratitude for the bicycles, saying they will enable CBTs to effectively teach beneficiaries of the Social Cash Transfer Programme.
“As CBTs, we have been facing challenges in reaching out to beneficiaries due to mobility constraints. “With these bicycles, we will be able to cover more ground and provide better support to our beneficiaries,” phiri said.
The provision of bicycles is part of the SP-GEAR project’s efforts to enhance the capacity of CBTs in implementing the project.
The project, which is being implemented in several districts in Malawi, aims to promote economic empowerment and resilience among vulnerable communities.
Zomba District Commissioner, Reinghard Chavula, expressed optimism that the project will go a long way in changing the lives of the beneficiaries.
“The provision of bicycles to CBTs is a significant milestone in the implementation of the SP-GEAR project,” Chavula said,a adding, “We are confident that this will enable our CBTs to effectively reach out to beneficiaries and provide them with the necessary support to improve their livelihoods.”
The SP-GEAR project is a 3-year project that aims to empower communities through savings and loans groups.
The project is being implemented in several districts in Malawi, including Zomba, and is expected to benefit thousands of vulnerable households.
The provision of bicycles to CBTs in Zomba District is a significant development that is expected to enhance the effectiveness of the project.
The bicycles will enable CBTs to reach out to beneficiaries more easily and provide them with the necessary support to improve their livelihoods.
In an interview with this publication, Simfukwe said the district council is committed to supporting the CBTs in their work.
“We recognize the critical role that CBTs play in implementing development projects in our district,” Simfukwe said.
He added, “We are committed to providing them with the necessary support to enable them to effectively carry out their work.”
The CBTs in Zomba District are responsible for implementing various development projects, including the Social Cash Transfer Programme.
The programme provides cash transfers to vulnerable households to support their livelihoods.
The provision of bicycles to CBTs is expected to enhance the effectiveness of the programme by enabling CBTs to reach out to beneficiaries more easily.
The bicycles will also enable CBTs to provide more effective support to beneficiaries, which will ultimately lead to improved livelihoods.
The provision of bicycles to CBTs in Zomba District is a significant development that is expected to enhance the effectiveness of the SP-GEAR project.
The bicycles will enable CBTs to reach out to beneficiaries more easily and provide them with the necessary support to improve their livelihoods.
The district council’s commitment to supporting CBTs is a welcome development that is expected to have a positive impact on the lives of vulnerable communities in the district.
