The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) organized a five-day sub-regional training workshop on operations from October 20 to 24, 2025, in Saly, Senegal. The training aimed to strengthen the operational performance of project teams across FAO offices in West Africa. Coordinated by the FAO Sub-Regional Office for West Africa (SFW), the event gathered operations managers, specialists, assistants, programme managers, and administrative staff from 15 countries to enhance their capacity in managing field projects effectively.
The initiative was launched in response to operational challenges faced by FAO’s field projects in the region. As of September 2025, the SFW office managed 265 ongoing projects, 37 of which were flagged for special attention due to issues such as low delivery, delayed reports, funding shortfalls, and project overruns. The training sought to address these concerns by equipping participants with practical skills for managing projects efficiently throughout their lifecycle.
In her opening remarks, Ms. Bintia Stephen-Tchicaya, FAO Sub-Regional Coordinator for West Africa, highlighted that operational excellence is vital for maintaining donor confidence and ensuring the sustainability of FAO’s programmes. She noted that about 17% of ongoing projects were experiencing difficulties—well above the target of less than 5%. She urged participants to adopt a results-oriented and transparent approach to project management, emphasizing that strong performance is key to securing continued donor support.
The workshop combined presentations, case studies, and hands-on exercises using FAO’s project management tools, including FPMIS, OPIM, and iMIS. Participants engaged in intensive sessions covering all stages of the project cycle—identification, formulation, appraisal, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and closure—focusing on practical problem-solving based on real-world examples.
Ms. Stephen-Tchicaya reiterated FAO’s commitment to continuous improvement and professional development in project management across the sub-region. She described the training as a vital step toward collective operational excellence, underscoring its potential to enhance the effectiveness of FAO interventions for vulnerable communities. Follow-up support will be provided to participating countries to ensure the sustainable application of new skills and the reduction of operational bottlenecks. The training team included operations and finance specialists from FAO’s Subregional and Regional Offices for Africa.
