Monitoring and Evaluation framework targeted at providing improved governance and service delivery of the Water Resources Sector would be beneficial and enhance the nation’s attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, made this assertion on Wednesday, February 10, 2021, during a workshop for the Validation and Finalization of the Reviewed Draft National Water Resources Monitoring and Evaluation Framework, held in New Karu, Nasarawa State.
In her words, Tthe M&E framework in the water sector is a crucial element towards achieving our set goals and objectives. The M&E document will provide internal and external elements critical to the success of our objectives and it also makes it easy for key players to understand their roles and expected levels of implementation.”
She noted that this is an important aspect to focus on if Nigeria must meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) six target.
The Permanent Secretary re-affirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to the provision of adequate Water and Sanitation Health (WASH) services, in line with national and global targets, which creates opportunities for the improvement of life, economic development and national productivity.
Emphasizing the importance of evaluation of the performance and progress in the attainment of the public policy objective, Mrs. Walson-Jack said “the Ministry will continue to seek the collaborative partnerships required to accelerate the progress made in the area of monitoring and evaluation as a critical element for achieving our set goals and objectives”.
According to the Permanent Secretary, the finalized Framework will help the sector develop sound monitoring and evaluation plans, the right institutional arrangement, and implement the monitoring and evaluation activities; effectively measure the short, medium, and long-term objectives, and clearly understand the relationships among inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes, and impacts.
The Permanent Secretary noted that the Validation Workshop is an opportunity for major stakeholders in the Water sector to review the framework and incorporate all comments and inputs with a view to finalizing the critical document.
Earlier in her welcome remarks, the Director of Planning and Technical Support Services in the Ministry, Mrs. Alice Ojowu, entreated Participants to give the assignment the attention it deserves. She expressed confidence that the Workshop will validate the National Water Sector Monitoring and Evaluation Framework with the aim of having a unified document that would guide Water Sector development in Nigeria.
The key objectives of the National Monitoring and Evaluation Framework include coordination and facilitation of Water Sector Ministries and Agencies in assessing performance in accordance with the agreed objectives and performance indicators to support evidence-based decision making for policy formulation and evaluation; Strengthen statistical systems and databases, analysis, and reporting systems through collation of relevant data for indicators and population of the Monitoring and Evaluation database.