Presented by Emeka Anoje from Catholic Relief Services’ SMILE project in Nigeria as part of the August 2015 webinar on Strengthening National M&E Systems for Orphans and Vulnerable Children Programs.

1. Strengthening National M&E Systems
for Orphans and Vulnerable Children
Programs
The Nigerian experience
Dr Emeka Anoje
Chief of Party, USAID-SMILE
Catholic Relief Services

2. NIGERIA- Demography
▪ A West African country on the
Gulf of Guinea
▪ Official language, English
▪ Approximately 174 million
inhabitants
▪ Most populous country in Africa
▪ Seventh most populous country
in the world
▪ Half of population are children <
18 years
▪ Nigeria has 36 states and a
Federal Capital Territory

3. National OVC Response
▪ HIV prevalence in Nigeria is 3.1% (2014). HIV is a
major contributor to the burden of OVC in Nigeria
▪ In May 2007, a five year National Plan of Action (NPA)
(2006-2010) for OVC was launched
▪ Prior to this, the response to the crisis of OVC in
Nigeria had been community driven and lacked a
policy framework and coordination
▪ At the expiration of this plan the FMWASD through a
muti-sectoral consultative process developed the
National Priority Agenda (2013-2020)
▪ Effective monitoring and evaluation is key to the
success of the OVC response in Nigeria

4. Monitoring and Evaluation of the National OVC Response
▪ USAID through MEASURE Evaluation supported the
development of the OVC M&E plan (2006-2010)
▪ Plan was a framework for tracking the implementation
and effectiveness of the NPA (2006-2010)
▪ The M&E sub-committee of the National TWG provided
technical support for the process
▪ A revised M&E plan (2013-2020) necessitated by the
NPA (2013-2020) and 2012 PEPFAR guidance for
OVC programming is being developed (Not finalized)
▪ Electronic systems (NOMIS) for OVC data reporting
incorporated in revised the M&E plan

5. Results Framework for the Nigerian OVC Response
Integrated and muti-sectoral approach to M&E
GOAL
Improvement of
the well-being of
vulnerable
children through
enhanced
system and
structures for
inclusive service
provision
Governance Resource
mobilization
Quality service
delivery
Information
Mgt System
Partnerships &
Collaboration
Government at
all levels
provide policy
guidance,
coordination
and enabling
environment
including
availability of
skilled
personnel for
service deliver
Funds are
mobilized,
utilized and
tracked at all
levels of
govt for
effective
service
delivery
All
vulnerable
children and
their
households
have access
to social
protection
that ensures
quality
service
delivery
A functional
Information
management
system is used
by all
stakeholders
for planning,
monitoring
and evaluation
Partner-
ships,
networks and
collaboration
are
established
and
sustained at
all levels
1 2 3 4 5
Social Welfare Systems Strengthening

6. The M&E Plan development and Implementation cycle
Develop a draft
plan with defined
indicators and
datasets
Pilot –test the plan
in a limited area
and scope
Update the plan
following the
findings of the
pilot-test
Conduct series of
TOTs and step-
down trainings
Field Implementation
and documentation
of lessons learnt to
guide future plans

7. Capacity Building in M&E for OVC Response
▪ 3 ToTs workshops held b/w 2012 & 2013
▫ Using training curriculum developed by MEASURE
Evaluation
▫ Lead facilitators drawn from the OVC M&E TWG
▪ 107 master trainers trained comprising; Govt staff
(Federal and State), Development partners, OVC
networks (AONN), CSOs
▪ Step-down training successfully carried out in 12
out of 36 states
▪ Curriculum includes training on the OVC database
(NOMIS)

8. The National OVC database (NOMIS) development
• KidMAP the precursor OVC database was developed with funds
from USAID through the defunct GHAIN project implemented by
FHI 360
• The development process was led by an in-house Health
informatics team consisting of:
• Content provider / M&E personnel
• IT software programmer
• UI/UX Designer
• Database officer
• Working in consultation with the program staff
• Pilot version 1.4 (MS access based) released in May 2009
• User feedback and expert reviews of pilot version guided the
development of java based version 2.0 in June 2010

9. The National OVC database
▪ In April 2011, a technical
review panel was set up by
the FMWASD & USAID
review the KidMAP and other
related software
▪ KidMAP was adopted as
national OVC database and
renamed the National OVC
Management Information
System (NOMIS)
▪ NOMIS launched and handed
over to the GoN in July 2011

10. Features of the NOMIS
▪ It is a web application, can work on offline and online mode
▪ Designed as a modular application, flexible and easier to
extend it’s use in other related program areas
▪ Data validation rules to minimize data entry errors
▪ Generates donor and custom reports, service statistics, client
lists and a dashboard of selected indicators
▪ Database export to excel and statistical software for further
analysis
▪ Data export in XML format to other interoperable software eg
DHIS2
▪ In-built data quality analysis check

11. Dashboard of selected indicators

13. Scale of Use
Option 1 : Stand alone system Option 2: LAN of computers with a
shared database
Option 3: Central web server database

14. NOMIS - Journey so far
▪ NOMIS used to manage OVC
records in 6 OVC programs, 5
USAID viz; CUBS, LFC, SIDHAS,
SMILE, WEWE-LOPIN, ARFH-
LOPIN and 1 GF
▪ Number of beneficiary records
across these programs currently 
500,000 OVC
▪ Over 120 CSOs across Nigeria have
acquired expertise on NOMIS
▪ 5 states maintain state level NOMIS
database which is updated monthly
with resultant improvement in their
coordination role
▪ The Federal level database yet to
fully take off, some targeted support
will be required to make this happen

15. Challenges faced
Infrastructure
▪ Cost of purchase and maintenance of computer systems.
▪ Frequent power outages interrupts data entry process
▪ Limited internet access, huge cost of maintaining a central
database server hence the software only used in the offline mode
Personnel
▪ Poor completion of paper based tools especially in areas with
relatively low literacy rates affects data quality
▪ IT support for routine hardware maintenance lacking
▪ Poor adherence to rules of computer use results in hardware
corruption which affects the data management process

16. Lessons Learnt
▪ It is possible to utilize electronic records to capture store and
manage multi-level data in OVC programs
▪ The Software is user-friendly and requires basic computer
literacy to operate
▪ The NOMIS has greatly improved program monitoring and
reporting
▪ It is acceptable, affordable and sustainable with minimal support
services
▪ Designed and managed in-country therefore there is flexibility
and ease in making changes to the software
▪ The database serves as an invaluable resource and repository
of information needed to monitor issues of child wellbeing in
Nigeria

17. Going forward
▪ Active engagement of the FMWASD and development partners
towards the full implementation of the M&E plan and the National
scale up of the NOMIS
▪ Activities of the national scale up may include but not limited to:
▫ Setting up of a broad-based NOMIS Implementation team
▫ Conducting a needs assessment /infrastructural and personnel gap analysis
and propose strategies to address current challenges
▫ Identification and training of regional master trainers
▫ State level trainings in all 22 remaining states and refresher trainings in other
states
▫ Strengthen NOMIS data transmission from the CBOs through the SMWASD
to the FMWASD
▪ A strengthened National OVC M&E TWG required to provide technical
support

18. THANK YOU !!!