Grace Egila
Kano State Ministry of Planning and Budget (MoPB) in Collaboration with Partnership to Engage, Reform, and Learn (PERL) has organized a workshop to validate the Kano results framework and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Manual in order to accommodate principles of participatory M&E framework to measure and track progress in the implementation of plans, programs, projects and policies in the state.
PERL is a public-sector accountability and governance program, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office of the UK. It aims to improve collaboration between governments and citizens to tackle governance challenges and improve service delivery.
The two-day workshop was held on Wednesday and Thursday at Tahir Guest Palace, Kano, and had in attendance relevant stakeholders from different ministries, departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in the state.
The objective of the workshop was to review and validate the draft results framework for supporting the MoPB to improve results-based planning and budgeting in key sectors.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner, MoPB, Ibrahim Dan’Azumi Gwarzo who was represented by the Acting Permanent Secretary, Mukhtar Ado Yakasai said the Kano state government has outlined strategic development plans, sector plans, and annual budgets that incorporate the service needs of citizens.
He said: “This commitment has made significant progress in increasing the quality of services delivery to the citizen of the state.
“The results-based management system cannot achieve its aim without supporting the M&E system which forms the basis for clear and accurate reporting on the results achieved by an intervention policy, plan, program, or project.
“Therefore, a necessary first step that will ensure sustenance of the giant stride made in the policy formulation and implementation is to build a robust evidence-based M&E policy environment that will become the vehicle through which the government can transparently implement its plans and budgets based on result Based approach.
“It is in light of the foregoing, that the Kano State M&E policy was developed to provide a framework to measure and track progress in the implementation of policies, plans, programs, and projects.
“The policy has been developed to address challenges with weak coordination of the monitoring and evaluation systems, fragmented system of data collection, analysis and dissemination, uncoordinated monitoring and evaluation activities, and multiplicity of information technology systems.
“ Furtherance to the realization of the foregoing, drafts result framework and M&E manual were also developed to provide focus and key performance indicators for the eleven sectors for easy tracking and assessment of the progress made in achieving policy objectives is contained in Kano state development plan.”
The Commissioner charged citizens to be a part of the logical process to work with the government as side party monitors to assist in ensuring that all the projects by the government are executed.
The Director, M&E, MoPB, Abbas Iliyasu in his presentation on ‘M&E Institutional Arrangement in Kano’ said the agency responsible for the monitoring and evaluation policy is the Ministry of Planning and Budget.
He explained that the intention is to have a well-institutionalized and coordinated M&E system.
Adding that the Ministry is the appropriate link between planning and implementation of the monitoring and evaluation policy, as it is the custodian of the Kano State Development Plan, Medium Term Sector Strategy (MTSS), and annual budgets.
“When the M&E functions are well institutionalized and coordinated, it is expected to build public trust on its findings and recommendations, which can then be used to inform policy, planning, budgeting, and program implementation and accountability.”
Iliyasu said the current practice of M&E will not only focuses on project inspection and supervision, to identify technical gaps in implementation but embraces the approach of Results-Based M&E that emphasizes performance information and related results, to integrate lesson learning into future program design.
“Another important building block in the M&E system is the need for clear guidelines about data collection, validation, and processing and the Agency assigned this responsibility is the State Bureau for Statistics (KanBoS).
“It is statutorily responsible for data collection, data quality assurance, data analysis, and any other issues that may arise regarding data gathering and dissemination.
“All the data that will be used in the M&E system shall pass the standard tests defined by the State Bureau.
“The M&E department will put in place 12 components that will place emphasis on system enabling approach,” he added.
He further laid emphasis on the need for continuous and rigorous sensitization and training of M&E staff attached to each MDAs to ensure a smooth process of monitoring and evaluation.
The Consultant, Mallam Baba Zakariya took participants through the basic concept of M&E.
He revealed that an M& E cannot be done without a plan on the ground, adding that: “You must first understand what the problem is before writing an M&E report.”
“Every project does not have the same logical framework because problems differ, he averred.
Dr. Adeyemo Adeboye while speaking on mainstreaming and operationalizing of the system, said once an M&E system is developed, the next step will be to operationalize the system which requires putting structures, policies, and strategies in place.
He revealed that the life wire of any M&E is data and information; while reiterating the need for every M&E department to emphasize learning and not just accountability.
“The primary purpose of M&E is for learning and improvement, he added.
