EC-NSA result oriented monitoring mission in Plateau State 

The independent ROM monitor speaks with community members and local government officials during the assessment visit to Plateau State.

Credit: WaterAid / Saheed Mustafa

18 August 2011

A Result Oriented Monitoring (ROM) visit was carried out by a European Commission external monitor on WaterAid in Nigeria's EC supported project 'Building Civil Society Organisations and Local Government capacity to contribute to the achievements of the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene MDGs in Nigeria.' The four day monitoring visit to project sites took place from 18 – 22 July 2011.

The EC-NSA program is being implemented in two of WaterAid in Nigeria's focal states: Bauchi and Plateau and seeks to strengthen the capacity of civil society organisations and local government authorities to undertake poverty focused and equitable development interventions in the water, sanitation and hygiene promotion sector.

The ROM monitor, with support from WaterAid staff and partners, visited project sites in Plateau State and had discussions with local government officials, implementing partners and members of the Civil Society Organisation (CSO) network from both Plateau and Bauchi States and community members on the successes, results, challenges as well as impacts of the programme.

In Langtang Local Government Area (LGA), the EC independent monitor raised the issue of the LGA’s failure to honour their part of the agreement on payment of counterpart funding. The Deputy Chairman stated that their inability to pay in the past was as a result of unavailability of project funds from the state government and promised that they will endeavour to release the funds.

The ECNSA programme is implemented in six LGAs across the two states while the work is being implemented in six communities per LGA. Activities under the programme have included citizens’ engagement, WASHCOM formation, budget analysis training, financial and project management training, school WASH programs which involve formation of hygiene clubs, construction of school latrines and drilling of boreholes. Other activities included CLTS triggering and soap making training for community members.