MEASURE Evaluation in Nigeria

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MEASURE Evaluation has been working in Nigeria since early 2000, with a wide breadth of activities. In addition to Kola Oyediran, the in-country team includes M&E Resident Advisors Samson Bamidele and Dr. Dayo Adeyemi, OVC M&E Resident Advisor Dr. Yinka Falola-Anoemuah, and Administrative and Finance Officer Nafisah Koguna. “Nigeria is unique in MEASURE Evaluation’s portfolio in Nigeria has such diverse activities,” said Stephanie Mullen, MEASURE Evaluation’s Country Focal Person for Nigeria. “We work in a lot of different health areas with several ministries and a variety of partners.”

During Phase III, MEASURE Evaluation has assisted with HIV/AIDS, orphaned and vulnerable children, malaria and other infectious disease activities while working toward building capacity and strengthening the country’s health information system, including the launch of innovative partnerships with Obafemi Awolowo and Ahmadu Bello universities.

Strengthening Information Systems and M&E Capacity

Building capacity within Nigeria to carry out monitoring and evaluation (M&E) activities is a critical step to improving the country’s health system.

In 2004, MEASURE Evaluation helped the Nigerian government develop and implement the Nigerian National Response Information Management System (NNRIMS), a routine HIV/AIDS information system.  In 2009, it collaborated with the National Agency for AIDS Control (NACA) to conduct an assessment of the system. “Data from the NNRIMS has helped government institutions and stakeholders in reporting and making informed decisions,” said Oyediran. “As a result of our technical assistance, NACA and NASCP as well as a few sub-national states are able to generate reliable, timely and accurate information to improve the coordination of HIV/AIDS activities in their states where, previously, no HIV-related reports were being generated.”

In 2010, MEASURE Evaluation expanded its capacity-building efforts by collaborating with two Nigerian universities, Obafemi Awolowo University, in the southern city of Ile-Ife, and Ahmed Bello University in the northern city of Zaria. Four years earlier, in 2006, MEASURE Evaluation began conducting short-term M&E training courses in Nigeria, knowing that it wanted to eventually build capacity of local institutions to take over the trainings.

Orphaned and Vulnerable Children and Family Planning

MEASURE Evaluation has been assisting stakeholders, most notably Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development (FMWASD), to strengthen their capacity to collect, analyze and use strategic information for OVC programs. In 2008, MEASURE Evaluation supported the government in conducting a Situation Assessment Analysis on orphaned and vulnerable children. The analysis reported that 17.5 million children fall into this category in Nigeria, and the findings were vital for planning and implementing future OVC programs. Currently, MEASURE Evaluation is providing technical assistance to the government in developing a new National Plan of Action for OVC for 2011–2016.

MEASURE Evaluation has also continued its assistance to Nigeria’s Community Partnership for Action in the Social Sectors (COMPASS) project, which seeks to improve health education of the country’s women and children. The project intends to integrate reproductive and child health education and primary school education interventions in 51 local government areas in the states of Bauchi, Kano, Lagos and Nasarawa, as well as the Federal Capital Territory. These areas have high infant and child mortality rates and low levels of primary schooling, especially for girls. 

During Phase II, MEASURE Evaluation began collaborating with the Center for Research Evaluation and Resource Development to implement baseline and midline surveys to evaluate the COMPASS project. In Phase III, MEASURE Evaluation assisted with an endline survey, which included a large-scale household survey and surveys of health facilities and public and private primary schools in the five states. Results from the endline survey were compared to results from the previous surveys to document changes in indicators in order to measure the project’s impact.

Malaria Post-Bednet Study

In May and June 2009, the Malaria Consortium distributed more than 4 million long-lasting insecticidal-treated nets (LLINs) in Kano State to pilot the free net distribution recommended by the Nigeria National Malaria Control Program and the Roll Back Malaria initiative. The ultimate goal is universal coverage—one net for two people—in Nigeria by 2015. 

In order to assess the campaign strategy to achieve this goal, MEASURE Evaluation partnered with USAID/Nigeria, Support to Nigeria Malaria Program and Research Marketing Services to conduct a comprehensive post-campaign household survey in Kano State. “The survey found that, generally, the campaign was effective in increasing bednet coverage,” Oyediran said. “However, better distribution and more education through a greater variety of outreach methods is needed.”

Working at the State Level

So far, MEASURE Evaluation has been working primarily at the national level. Recently, though, it began focusing on the state level in three states—Kano, Lagos and Anambra. Each of these states will have its own advisor sitting in the State Agency for the Control of AIDS and work collaboratively with the State Ministry of Health to improve the state health information system especially in HIV and AIDS.