By Neba Jerome Ambe
Council development officers across the North-West Region have been equipped with practical tools and participatory strategies to make human rights a central part of local governance. This initiative was the focus of a one-day workshop organised by the Office of the Public Independent Conciliator (PIC) for the North-West Region on Thursday, November 13, 2025, at the PIC auditorium in Bamenda.
The training, themed “Rights-Based Programming for Inclusive Local Governance,” sought to empower development officers with the knowledge and skills to integrate human rights principles into their daily planning, budgeting, and service delivery.
Speaking during the opening session, officials from the PIC underscored the vital role of local and regional councils in fostering inclusive, accountable, and equitable development. However, they observed that many council development officers still lack structured exposure to Rights-Based Programming (RBP), a framework that ensures government actions align with human rights values.
The workshop aimed to: strengthen participants’ understanding of rights-based approaches to local development, equip them with skills to integrate human rights into council development plans, encourage peer learning through real-life case studies and scenario exercises, and reinforce collaboration between councils, regional authorities, and the PIC.
A series of expert presentations guided participants through various dimensions of rights-based governance. Ndi Nelson, Research Officer No. 1, introduced the concept of Rights-Based Programming. Barrister Tamon Olivia elaborated on the Legal and Institutional Frameworks for RBP. Fongwa Kesten, Complaint Management Officer No. 1, discussed ways to Mainstream Rights in Regional and Council Functioning. Mr. Shey Henry Nganji addressed Participatory Planning and Budgeting, while Madam Nina Ambuban, Research Officer No. 5, spoke on Disability and Vulnerability Inclusion.
Participants also received evaluation tools used by the PIC to assess how councils function in the Region, instruments designed to help local authorities monitor their progress in promoting inclusive governance. By the close of the workshop, development officers were expected to develop action plans for integrating RBP into their councils’ strategies, strengthen collaboration with oversight institutions, and enhance citizen engagement.
The Public Independent Conciliator’s Office reaffirmed its commitment to supporting councils in the North-West Region to ensure that local governance is not only efficient but also inclusive and rights-driven.
