Strengthening the HIV M&E System in Nigeria

In 2004, Nigeria coordinated its response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic by aligning its national program with the principles of the “Three Ones” framework - one national AIDS authority, one national AIDS strategic plan, and one national M&E system. The government operationalized the third leg of the “Three Ones” through the development of the Nigerian National Response Information Management System (NNRIMS). The NNRIMS operational plan was designed to guide the M&E system, track progress in the implementation of the national AIDS response and inform programs, policies and service delivery as a part of the multi-sectoral HIV/AIDS response based on the National Strategic Framework (2005-2009).

In November 2009, the National Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS (NACA), in collaboration with MEASURE Evaluation, conducted an assessment of the national HIV/AIDS M&E system to prepare to support the next National Strategic Framework (2010-2015). The NACA and MEASURE Evaluation teams worked with a range of stakeholders in Nigeria to apply the 12 Components National Assessment Tool, which is based on the Organizing Framework for a Functional National HIV M&E System. The primary goal of the M&E system assessment was to identify strengths and weaknesses in the Nigerian multi-sectoral M&E system and to develop recommendations for strengthening the system over time.

A three-day M&E assessment workshop was held in Kaduna, Nigeria from November 2 – 4, 2009. Participants were drawn from all the sectors that contribute to the National HIV M&E System and included representatives of NACA, Federal Ministry of Health, National AIDS and STIs Control Programme (NASCP) and Health Management Information System, line ministries and other government departments, networks of civil society organizations, state AIDS control agencies, health facilities and other implementing partners such as the private sector and UN agencies.

Key results of this assessment workshop included:

1. Nigeria has a relatively strong M&E system at national level (NACA and NASCP) but the system is weaker at the sub-national levels, and across other sectors (public, private and civil society).
2. The assessment identified areas of improvement in human resource capacity building planning.     
3. Data use though evident at NACA and NASCP levels is weak among most of the sectors.  
4. Key tools for M&E system harmonization, coordination and funding i.e. research and evaluation agenda, technical assistance plan and resource mobilization plan for M&E are lacking.

Recommendations of the assessment highlighted the need to:

1. Develop a costed M&E work plan.
2. Strengthen state level M&E systems by developing state level M&E work plans articulating the roles and responsibilities of all entities in a participatory manner; direct increased resources towards this objective.
3. Build strong leadership at the State Action Committee on AIDS (SACA) to enable a harmonized, multi-sectoral response.
4. Build human capacity through on the job training, supervision and mentoring.

Based on the recommendations, Nigeria developed a draft costed M&E work plan which will be used to coordinate and assess progress of M&E implementation throughout the year. Once the costed work plan is finalized, Nigeria will develop a capacity building plan to correspond with each of the 12 component areas. The capacity building plan will guide NNRIMS 2.

During the 5th National Conference on HIV/AIDS in Abuja, Nigeria May 2 - 5, 2010 Kola Oyediran and Samson Bamidele of MEASURE Evaluation will present "Using M&E Data to Guide Policy Formulation, Programme Planning and Improvement." The session will cover how NNRIMS data has been used to inform resource allocation and the strategy for strengthening the sub-national M&E system.