The World Bank in collaboration with Borno State Government and Multi-Sectoral Crisis Recovery Project (MRCP) has trained 75 Monitoring and Evaluation officers in government agencies and NGOs on Geo-Enabling Methods and Strengthening System (GEMS) of Data collection for monitoring and evaluation.
The training which took place at the Department of Monitoring, Evaluation and Special Projects of the Governor’s Office was declared open by Gov. Babagana Zulum who described monitoring and evaluation as the pivot on which successful programmes revolves.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the training attended by 75 participants from 32 organisations, Zulum who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Local Government and Emirate Affairs, Alhaji Tahiru Shettima, expressed gratitude to the World Bank for supporting Borno at its trying period.
Zulum noted the bank by support in rebuilding of displaced settlement, provision of transitional support items to those affected by the insurgency, rebuilding of pubic structures, health and educational facilities as well as water and road projects.
Zulum said, prior to his administration, the department of monitoring and evaluation is being regarded as dumping grown but on assumption of office, he strengthened the department by providing conducive working environment for all monitoring and evaluation officers at both the state and local levels to enable them perform their all important functions effectively.
He urged the participants to partake actively in the training programme for maximum benefit in enhancing their knowledge.
Earlier, the World Bank Task Team Leader for MCRP, Ms Serena Cavicchi, said Geo-enabling system for monitoring and evaluation remains the best tool for data collection, evaluation, management and processing so far, adding that World Bank embarked on the training to share ideas with their pairs to enhance the body of knowledge.
Cavicchi said that World Bank and its agencies are harmonizing their data collection methods in line with global best practice for efficiency and effectiveness towards service delivery to the people.
She said that the capacity building training fir Build for M&E officers and their clients through the use of simple technology for real time monitoring, evaluation, remote supervision and third party monitoring would help reduce all technical faults and ensure safety and security.
On his part, the Lead Presenter, Mr Jan Marcel of the World Bank said the use of GEMS/Kobotool platform would ensure beneficiary engagement, risk management and portfolio mapping among others, thereby giving real time information and accurate data on projects being executed for effective completion and public use.
Marcel said the development would build trust and confidence on the part of donors and benefit to the project end user.
The Kobotool which was created in 2014 with less than one million users he said, now has over 15 million users worldwide, adding that the system has been transformed from rocket science to pocket science with the coming of Android phones.
Also contributing, the World Bank Officer on monitoring and evaluation, Nkem Joseph Palmer stressed the use of digital technology for monitoring and evaluation of local projects for efficiency saying that there is no alternative to kobo tool for now.
Presenting the Borno MCRP Monitoring and Evaluation Dash Board, the M and E Officer, Bako Alhaji Shuabu and the ICT officer, Muhammad Abba Yusuf, explained that the Dash Board was created locally to store all data collected and would soon be upgraded and linked to the website for real time update of information and data management.
Also speaking, the Adviser to the Governor on Monitoring, Evaluation and Special Projects, Ibrahim Idris Garba said M and E is key to effective and efficient service delivery, hence the strengthening of the department by Governor Zulum.
In his closing remarks, the State Project Coordinator of MCRP, Baba Zanna Abdulkarim, assured readiness of the Project to organize such trainings and scale up the scope for maximum benefit.
Abdulkarim said the MCRP Borno is ready to ensure sustainability and functionality of all its sub projects in the state in line with World Bank objectives and the state strategic objectives of recovery and proactive transformation drive.
Some of the participants, Baba Kura Bukar and Hadiza Abubakar among others commended the World Bank and MCRP for organizing the workshop describing it as the best amongst equals.
