PLASCHEMA LAUNCHES GRANT MANAGEMENT SQUAD TO BOOST HEALTH FUNDING
By Manukau Danjuma
In a move aimed at significantly strengthening its resource mobilization efforts, the Plateau State Contributory Health Care Management Agency (PLASCHEMA) has inaugurated its new Grant Management Squad (GMS).
The establishment of the GMS is part of PLASCHEMA’s strategy to strengthen its capacity by securing, managing, and reporting on grants from diverse donors.
The establishment of the dedicated team tasked with enhancing the agency’s capacity to attract and manage funding was formalized by the Director-General of PLASCHEMA, Dr. Kwande Solomon Dawal alongside members of his management team.
According to Dr. Kwande, the new entity is intended to be a crucial tool for addressing “all health issues” within the state.
Furthermore, the core purpose of the PLASCHEMA Grant Management Squad is to professionalize the grant lifecycle. The GMS Key roles include: coordinating grant identification, application, management, and reporting, and promoting collaboration across PLASCHEMA departments for effective resource mobilization and grant utilization.
The squad’s objectives center on ensuring successful project implementation and financial accountability. This includes: developing and overseeing a grant pipeline; providing technical support for proposal development and budget preparation; tracking the implementation, expenditures, and deliverables of ongoing grants and maintaining a centralized repository of grant agreements, proposals, and reports.
The squad itself is composed of 14 members drawn from various PLASCHEMA departments. The structure includes an eleven-member core team and three supporting team members.
The GMS is designed to operate in collaboration with key external partners, including the Women Children Support Initiative Nigeria (WOCCI) represented by Mr. Albert Pam, the Director of programs & partnerships and the Crest Research and Development Institute (CRADI), represented by Mr Adanu Christian Oyigocho, Director of research and evaluation.
These collaborations are intended to ensure PLASCHEMA is leveraging external expertise for effective and compliant grant management.
The GMS is set to adopt a lean, hybrid operational model, with core progress and planning meetings to be held monthly. This operational approach allows the squad to accommodate busy schedules while maintaining a focus on critical deliverables, which include submitting annual grants workplans and ensuring timely financial and narrative donor reports.
