Three national networks of Catholic Religious Sisters in Ghana have begun a high-level training programme in Sunyani aimed at strengthening accountability, project management and evidence-based decision-making in their ministries and social interventions.
The five-day Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) workshop, which opened on Monday, July 6, at the Eusbett Hotel in Sunyani, has brought together members of the Catholic Sister Communicators Network-Ghana (CASCON-GH), the Catholic Sisters Elderly Care Network-Ghana (CSECNG), and Conpaht Talitha Kum Ghana (Consecrated Persons Against Human Trafficking).
Funded by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, the workshop is being facilitated by Mr. Tom Olila, Director of Strategic Connections, Kenya, an organisational development consultant and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) specialist who partners with the Foundation.
The initiative seeks to equip participants with practical tools to improve planning, monitoring, evaluation and reporting, enabling Religious Sisters to measure the impact of their pastoral, social and educational ministries while meeting international standards of accountability.
Introducing the facilitator, Sr. Victoria Suanzy-Essien, DC, described Mr. Olila as an experienced resource person who is well-versed in all areas of project management.
Addressing participants at the opening session, Mr. Olila stressed that monitoring and evaluation is central to effective stewardship and mission.
“To ensure that our interventions genuinely impact human lives and uphold the dignity of the people we serve, we must measure our progress with precision and transparency,” Mr. Olila urged.
He explained that the workshop focuses on four key areas: financial management, strategy, programme management and organisational development.
Participants are also receiving practical training in developing monitoring and evaluation frameworks, collecting and analysing qualitative and quantitative data, and using evidence to strengthen institutional growth and reporting to development partners.
As part of the programme, the three networks are making group presentations based on the Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (PME) Framework, allowing participants to review one another’s approaches, refine their data strategies and align future projects with recognised reporting standards.
The Catholic Sister Communicators Network-Ghana (CASCON-GH) is documenting the proceedings as part of its mission to amplify the work of the Church and women Religious through professional Catholic media.
The workshop, which concludes on Friday, July 10, is expected to enhance the administrative and project management capacities of the participating networks, strengthening the impact and sustainability of their ministries across Ghana.
Participants include Sr. Emmanuella Dakurah, HHCJ (Director, CASCON-GH), Sr. Agnes Mercy Nyatsoe, SMMC (Assistant Director, CASCON-GH), Sr. Rebecca Asante, SVI (Finance Manager, CASCON-GH), Sr. Gifty Anastasia Blewu, SMMC (Organiser/PRO, CASCON-GH), Sr. Fidelia Unigive, DC (National Coordinator, Talitha Kum Ghana), Ms. Eugenia Akoto-Mensah (Programme Manager, Talitha Kum Ghana), Sr. Immaculate Lugugia, DC (Wellness Coordinator, CSECNG), Sr. Victoria Swanzy-Essien, SSND (Project Manager, CSECNG), Sr. Mary Asumta Zaagbeb, SMI (Wellness Coordinator, CSECNG), and Mr. Emmanuel Abedu (Administrative Assistant, CSECNG).
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