COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUED AT THE JUST-CONCLUDED CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAM FOR THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, EXECUTIVE MEMBERS, AND TECHNICAL STAFF OF THE ALBINISM ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (AAN) HELD FROM THE 28TH TO 30TH AUGUST, 2024 AT BLUE SPRING HOTEL, ABUJA
Preamble
The Albinism Association of Nigeria (AAN) held a three-day capacity building program for its Board of Trustees, National Executive Members, and Technical Staff from the 28th to 30th of August, 2024. The training, hosted at Blue Spring Hotel, Abuja, focused on Organizational Safeguarding Policies and the Strategic Plan of the association.
The program was aimed at enhancing the governance, leadership, and operational capacities of AAN in order to strengthen the organization’s impact and safeguard the rights and well-being of persons with albinism in Nigeria.
The following key issues were discussed, and important resolutions were adopted.
Key Issues Addressed
Organizational Safeguarding Policies:
The need to develop and implement safeguarding policies that protect vulnerable members, particularly children and women with albinism.
Establishing a culture of zero tolerance for harassment, abuse, and discrimination within the organization and in the communities it serves.
Clear roles and responsibilities for all members and staff regarding safeguarding, ensuring that policies are implemented at all levels.
Strategic Planning:
Review of the current strategic direction of the AAN and the need to align it with the evolving needs of persons with albinism in Nigeria.
Analysis of internal and external environments through a comprehensive SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) assessment.
Setting achievable and measurable goals for the next five years that focus on advocacy, public awareness, access to health services, and legal protection for persons with albinism.
Integration of monitoring and evaluation mechanisms into the strategic plan to ensure accountability and continuous improvement.
Governance and Leadership:
The importance of strengthening the governance structure to ensure transparency, inclusivity, and participatory decision-making processes.
Defining clear roles and responsibilities for board members, executives, and technical staff to avoid overlaps and improve efficiency.
Promoting ethical leadership, particularly in advocating for the rights and interests of persons with albinism.
Team Building and Collaboration:
The need for improved team collaboration across all levels of the organization to ensure a unified approach towards achieving the organization’s objectives.
Building trust, mutual respect, and accountability among board members, executives, and staff to create a more cohesive team.
Resolutions Adopted
Adoption of Safeguarding Policies: The AAN resolved to adopt comprehensive safeguarding policies that address the protection of persons with albinism, particularly in sensitive areas such as healthcare, education, and community engagement. These policies will be disseminated to all staff and community stakeholders for full implementation and adherence.
Implementation of a New Strategic Plan: A new five-year strategic plan was adopted to guide AAN’s activities and ensure that it remains a leading advocate for persons with albinism in Nigeria. The strategic plan is designed to focus on:
Strengthening advocacy and legal protection
Expanding public awareness campaigns
Enhancing access to healthcare and other essential services
Building partnerships with government and other organizations
Strengthening Governance and Leadership: AAN to restructure its governance framework to improve operational efficiency and accountability. A detailed governance manual will be developed, outlining the duties and responsibilities of the Board of Trustees, National Executive Members, and technical staff by using the organizational policies as a watch point. Three (3) groups formed comprising of both Executive Members and Technical Staff to help outline measure for the restructuring.
Team Building Initiatives: The association resolved to initiate regular team-building exercises to improve internal communication and collaboration, ensuring that all members are aligned with the organization’s goals.
Monitoring and Evaluation Framework: A robust monitoring and evaluation framework was adopted to track the progress of the strategic plan and safeguarding policies. The framework will include regular assessments, reports, and feedback loops to ensure continuous improvement.
Conclusion
The capacity-building program was highly successful in achieving its objectives. The Albinism Association of Nigeria is now better positioned to protect and promote the rights of persons with albinism across the country. The leadership and staff have been empowered with the knowledge and tools necessary to effectively implement safeguarding policies and execute the organization’s strategic plan for the coming years.
The AAN extends its gratitude to all facilitators, participants, and partners especially, the Disability Rights Fund (DRF) who contributed to the success of the program.
Issued this 30th day of August, 2024, at Blue Spring Hotel, Abuja.
Signed:
Chairman, Board of Trustees
Albinism Association of Nigeria
National President
Albinism Association of Nigeria
Secretary-General
Albinism Association of Nigeria
Program Manager
Albinism Association of Nigeria
