Strengthening Collaboration Between Programme, Operations, and Administration Teams for Better Implementation: FAO Concludes a Pilot Training in Dakar

Dakar, Senegal – The Subregional Office of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) for West Africa (SFW) in Dakar, hosted the first ever pilot training session organized by the FAO Finance Division (CSF) from October 27 to 29, 2025. The session focused on enhancing collaboration between Programme, Operations, and Administration teams for effective project implementation.

The workshop brought together administrative, operations, and programme teams from the subregional office and the FAO Representation in Senegal. This three-day training aimed to strengthen cross-functional synergy in project management, reduce operational errors, and improve the overall quality of FAO’s field interventions.

The session was led by Mr. William Marvin, Deputy Director of the CSF, and Ms. Hamida Issaka, Finance Officer at the CSF, in collaboration with the OER, PSS, CSLP, and OPIM divisions.

In the closing remarks of the Acting Subregional Coordinator, Ms. Bintia Stephen-Tchicaya, delivered by Mr. Henri Bouda on her behalf, she congratulated the participants for their commitment and team spirit.

“This gathering was not just a series of technical presentations, but a true space for exchange, learning, and collaboration. By bringing together Programme, Administration, and Operations teams, you have reinforced an essential message: we are all part of the same cycle—the project cycle—and the success of a project is never the isolated work of one team, but the result of a collective and coordinated effort,” she stated.

She also emphasized that financial management is at the heart of the project cycle and is a guarantee of credibility, impact, and sustainability. She encouraged participants to apply the knowledge gained from the training and to maintain ongoing dialogue between the different teams.

This initiative is part of the CSF’s innovative approach aimed at strengthening a culture of collaboration and performance within FAO’s decentralized offices. Lessons learned from this pilot training will help improve operational practices and guide future sessions in other offices across the region.