As part of our commitment to transparency, learning, and impact-driven development, the UNDP Inclusive Growth team conducted a monitoring visit across multiple regions between 25 November and 5 December 2025. These visits provided an opportunity to engage directly with communities, assess progress on the ground, and identify areas for improvement under UNDP-supported interventions. The visit covered climate-smart agriculture, mechanization, youth apprenticeship training, dairy production, rural electrification, and the Bansang Oxygen Plant, reinforcing UNDP’s commitment to inclusive growth and community-driven development.

As part of the mission, the team also paid courtesy calls on the Governors of the Upper River Region (URR), Central River Region (CRR), North Bank Region (NBR), and Lower River Region (LRR). The engagements reaffirmed UNDP’s collaboration with regional authorities and underscored the importance of aligning development interventions with regional priorities to strengthen coordination, sustainability, and local ownership.

Mechanization Driving Agricultural Transformation

In villages like Bakadaji, Julangel, Jahanka, Ngunta, and Jawlaba, the Programme for Accelerated Community Development (PACD) supported tractors are changing the face of farming, transforming rural livelihoods. Communities have adopted transparent ownership models, managing tractors as shared assets through committees, cost-recovery systems, and clear operating rules.

Across these communities, the results speak for themselves. Farmers are cultivating more land, boosting yields, and improving household income and food security. Today, over 4000 people are directly benefiting from the tractor and the surrounding communities are also accessing tractor services through shared service arrangements.

For many, this is life-changing.  Women, elderly farmers, and those with limited physical capacity emphasized that tractor services have made farming more accessible, dignified, and economically viable. 

Income from tractor services is being saved and reinvested into fuel, maintenance, and community priorities, while also supporting road repairs, transport of construction materials, and inter-village services, thereby strengthening social cohesion and local resilience.

Youth Skills Development Through Apprenticeships

Monitoring visits to Basse, Wassu, Kerewan, Farafenni, and Soma highlighted the growing impact of the National Youth Service Scheme (NYSS) Apprenticeship Training Programme, which is equipping youth with market-relevant, hands-on skills in welding, plumbing, tailoring, electrical engineering, auto-mechanics, and construction.

Across sites, apprentices were actively engaged in real work environments, gaining confidence and practical experience. Master craftsperson consistently reported strong discipline, fast learning, and commitment among trainees. Many youth expressed aspirations toward self-employment, small business ownership, and future job creation, reflecting a positive shift in how technical skills are perceived.

However, key constraints were noted, including limited access to tools and equipment, which may affect training quality and motivation. “The students are learning fast, but without tools, their potential is limited,” noted one master craftsperson. Addressing these gaps is critical to sustaining motivation, retaining apprentices, and maximizing the programme’s contribution to youth employment and economic inclusion.

Improving access to essential services

When we visited electrification project sites in Buniadu, Berending, and Albreda, the impact was clear: reliable electricity is transforming lives. Communities spoke about how access to power has improved health services, boosted local businesses, and made neighborhoods safer. It’s a powerful reminder of how energy drives development.

Households shared practical benefits, refrigeration for food preservation, small income-generating ventures like cold-drink sales and fish storage, and better mobility thanks to street lighting. “Now we can move freely at night without fear,” one resident told us, highlighting the sense of security electricity brings.

Of course, challenges remain. Some newly expanded settlements still lack full coverage, power activation is delayed in certain areas, and damaged streetlights need fixing. High costs and limited access to cash-power vending services also make electricity harder to sustain for many families. Tackling these gaps is essential to ensure that every household enjoys the full benefits of this life-changing resource.

Strengthening Health Systems: Bansang Oxygen Plant

At Bansang Hospital, the oxygen plant isn’t just a piece of equipment, it’s a lifeline. Health workers told us how critical it is for newborns, children, and patients in intensive care, where the demand for oxygen remains consistently high. “Without this facility, many lives would be at risk,” one nurse shared, underscoring its importance to the regional health system.

The visit noted positive progress in system readiness, including the availability of trained staff familiar with plant operations and the allocation of a dedicated budget line to support staffing and maintenance. Plans are also underway to recruit additional technical personnel to strengthen operational continuity and response capacity.

Livestock and Dairy Interventions

Monitoring visits to PACD-supported dairy farms in CRR and Soma revealed both progress and sustainability challenges. Several beneficiaries reported initial gains in milk production of up to 15 litres a day, though this has since declined to approximately 4-5 litres daily. Despite this reduction, households have experienced improved nutrition, with dairy products contributing to food security and modest income generation. In some cases, the presence of healthy calves and steady milk yields highlighted the potential of the intervention when adequate management practices are maintained.

Communities at the Centre of Sustainable Development

These interventions demonstrate how integrated, community-driven solutions contribute directly to the achievement of the CPD. By expanding access to productive assets, market-relevant skills, quality health services, and resilient livelihoods, the programme is advancing inclusive economic transformation, strengthening human capital, and building resilience among the most vulnerable populations.

As these initiatives continue to mature and reinforce one another, communities are increasingly positioned not merely as beneficiaries, but as active agents of change. This synergy highlights UNDP’s integrated approach to development, one that accelerates national development outcomes by fostering inclusive growth, strengthening resilience, and empowering communities to sustain progress over the long term.