The Association for the Well-Being of Rural Communities and Development (ABC Development) has conducted a cascade training on the Community Score Card (CSC) and Social Accountability Approach (SAA) for selected community stakeholders in Port Loko District under the Epidemic Control and Reinforcement of Health Services (ECRHS Phase III) project.
The training took place in Rotheren and Rolambray chiefdoms and brought together members of Facility Management Committees (FMCs) and Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) who were identified to serve as community facilitators. The project, implemented under BMZ No: 201868512, aims to improve reproductive health outcomes while strengthening epidemic preparedness and response systems in Sierra Leone.
During the sessions held at Rotheren MCHP in Masimera Chiefdom, the Project Manager of ABC Development explained that the CSC and SAA approaches are designed to empower communities to actively engage health service providers and local authorities. He emphasized that strengthening community participation helps improve service delivery, transparency, and accountability within the health system.
Participants were trained on key concepts including the Social Accountability Approach, the use of pile sorting as a participatory tool, and the Community Score Card process. Discussions revealed challenges affecting Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, particularly access to health facilities, household decision-making on family planning, and community responsibility for maintaining health facilities.
Despite some implementation challenges during the April 2024 reporting period, the project recorded progress in selected areas. Key achievements included the successful formation of Village Savings and Loan Association groups and the completion of CSC and SAA cascade training for FMC and VSLA members in two community clusters. However, activities related to emergency preparedness sensitization, community engagement meetings, and household sensitization by Community Health Workers were not conducted during the period.
The organization also cited logistical challenges, including the lack of a dedicated project computer, which affected documentation and reporting efficiency. Additionally, the limited duration of the training restricted opportunities for practical sessions. As a result, ABC Development has recommended allocating more time for future CSC and SAA trainings to improve learning outcomes.
As part of the next phase of implementation, Community Score Card exercises are planned for Rotheren MCHP from May 20 to 22, 2024, and Rolambray MCHP from May 27 to 29, 2024. Engagement with the District Health Management Team and the Port Loko District Council is ongoing to finalize the dates and ensure coordination.
The ECRHS Phase III project seeks to sustain epidemic control systems, increase access to and demand for Sexual and Reproductive Health services, and improve maternal and emergency obstetric care through the establishment of a functional Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care facility. The project is being implemented across selected communities in Masimera and Marampa Chiefdoms of Port Loko District.
