Gallery at the end

Abuja, July 24, 2023

Monitoring and Evaluation Officers of the Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) Programme Delivery Platforms and Coordination units from the 36 States and FCT met in Abuja to interrogate data from the States and FCT Progress reports on NG-CARES Programme. Heads of the States and FCT Coordination Unit of NG-CARES also participated in the Review Meeting, which was successfully facilitated by the World Bank Task Team of NG-CARES and the Federal CARES Support Unit.

The NG-CARES Programme, a multi-sectoral initiative designed to address the immediate needs of poor and vulnerable individuals, Smallholder Farmers, and SMEs affected by the pandemic, has made significant strides in providing emergency relief to those severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. As the Programme entered its second quarter of implementation in 2023, a crucial performance review meeting was held to assess progress, identify challenges, and share experiences among the participating states.

Background:
The NG-CARES Programme operates under three Results Areas with 11 Disbursement Linked Indicators for the participating States, leveraging existing State Agencies to expand social assistance, maintain infrastructure through labor-intensive public works, and support agricultural value chains to prevent the collapse of informal enterprises.

The Meeting Objectives:
The review meeting served three key objectives:

1. Experience Sharing: The meeting provided a valuable platform for experience sharing across the Delivery Platforms, enabling states to learn from each other’s successes and lessons learned.
2. Progress Reports: States and FCT presented and discussed their progress reports on NG-CARES Programme implementation. The meeting offered a comprehensive overview of the achievements and challenges faced so far.
3. Identifying Challenges: Participants collectively identified major challenges that impact effective programme implementation, paving the way for potential solutions.

Justification:
Following the second quarter Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) reports from all 36 states and FCT, several issues emerged that required immediate attention. These included data inconsistencies, mismatches between prose and M&E templates, and the submission of poor-quality reports from certain states. In response to these challenges and in line with the Programme’s mandate, the Federal Government’s FCSU organized the review meeting to address the issues and guide the states towards improved performance.

Methodology:
The two-day interactive meeting was held at CHIDA Hotel, Abuja, from July 24th to 25th, 2023. It was facilitated by the NG-CARES Task Team from the World Bank and FCSU. The meeting featured PowerPoint presentations on implementation progress and Programme Action Plan status reports from each of the participating states and FCT. In addition, there were open discussions and resolutions on key issues that affect the smooth implementation of the programme. Participants had the opportunity to interact, seek clarifications, and share insights.

Deliverables:
The ultimate goal of the meeting was to reach agreed resolutions that would improve implementation across all Delivery Platforms. By identifying challenges and developing effective solutions, the meeting sought to pave the way for enhanced performance and impact.

Participants:
The review meeting was attended by approximately 180 participants, including 148 representatives from States and FCT. Among them were SCCU Heads and M&E officers, and two DP M&E officers from each State/FCT. In addition to state representatives, the meeting was also attended by delegates from the FCTC, Federal Supporting Ministries, FCSU, BOI, FADAMA, and the World Bank.

Conclusion:
The NG-CARES Performance Review Meeting was a significant milestone in Nigeria’s journey towards recovery and economic stimulus. By evaluating progress, addressing challenges, and sharing experiences, the meeting, and by extension the NG-CARES Programme, is poised to make an even greater impact on the lives of the most vulnerable individuals, small businesses, and communities across the nation. With a strengthened resolve and a united approach, Nigeria moves forward with renewed determination to achieve recovery and prosperity for all.