Ekiti March to Renewal

An overview of the Justification and substance of DFID Support

By Sina Fagbenro-ByronRegional Coordinator

DFID South WestLagos

PURPOSE:

To support reforms that promote more effective and efficient use of state resources as key to promoting institutional and socio-economic development in Nigeria and achieving the MDGs.

INFORMED BY:

A. The government’s strategic priorities as captured in clearly articulated development Agenda (e.g Ekiti 8 Point)

B. The Three Pillars of the Country Partnership Strategy (DFID, World Bank, AfDB, USAID)

1. Improving Governance (general and sector-specific)2. Improving Human Development –health, education3. Sustaining Non-Oil Growth

C. Consultations between DFID and its programmes with state government officials and other stakeholders

D. Experience of recent past assistance

History of DFID-Ekiti State Engagement

1. DFID Ekiti office opened in 2001 April

2. Initial work included:1. SJG - Security2. CUBE – Basic Education3. Insecticide Treated nets - Malaria4. PATHS – Health Policy5. Ekiti Rural Access Programme (ERAP)

3. DFID Ekiti Office- Closed as a result of creation of a SW regional office opened in 2004 and moved to Lagos, after Lagos was declared a lead state due to population and reforms consistent with DFID’s agenda and vision.

Current Ekiti Re-Engagement – Logic 1

DFID support assessment mission to Ekiti State was agreed upon at a meeting between H.E. Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State and the DFID Nigeria Head of Office, Mr. Richard Montgomery in Abuja, December 2010.

At that meeting, the Governor of Ekiti State asked for specific help around implementation of his 8-point agenda for the recovery of the state and it was agreed by both parties that early in 2011, a team of independent consultants would visit Ekiti State to identify what, if anything, DFID Nigeria could do to assist.

Mutual Understanding

1. Strong commitment to tackling MDGs evidenced by increasing expenditure on primary health, primary education and water.

2. Strong commitment to improving governance demonstrated through more credible, realistic and transparent budget and procurement processes.

3. Strong commitment to the reducing poverty and unemployment through enabling private sector-led growth initiatives.

4. An Assessment be commissioned by DFID to identify critical areas of support

ASSESSMENT FINDINGSIMPERATIVES FOR 8-POINT AGENDA

1. The state needs to develop viable economic sectors to reduce poverty and grow its revenue-base

2. Need for inclusive planning (and Monitoring) to cater for women and vulnerable groups

3. Public Finance Management reform is crucial for improving resource availability and utilization

4. Service-wide transformation is needed for enhanced service delivery capability

5. Institutional arrangements and mechanisms are needed to sustain participation

6. State needs to review and codify laws to reflect current realities7. An effective judicial system is needed for a conducive business

environment

INTERVENTIONS STATUS1. SUPPORT THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE

(Coordination, Transformation Bureau, Public Expenditure Mgt Framework, MDG Office.)

Work commences on 17th October , Consultants have been engaged with clear TORs and mobilised

2. COMMUNICATION STRATEGY

(Corporate Comms. Strategy, Stakeholder Engagements, Media)

Communications Field researched to be engaged TORs ready

Stakeholder –communicating MDGs to public

3. PRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

(improving the business environment, reducing govt distortion and improving access to finance)

Done: Next steps include implementation

4. STATE VOICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY

(Legislative support, Justice Sector & Quick wins in replicating lessons from their existing work)

Self-assessment of state legislature completed

More capacity Building expected

Justice for ALL programme is expected to support Ekiti In Justice Secice deklivery

5. RELEASE EXISTING LANDSAT DATA ON EKITI

(to help with policy development. comprehensive review of state statistics and baseline data generation capacity for immediate and

long term planning)

Satellite imagery obtained but discovered to be dated and inadequate , Ekiti State needs to commission a fresh and more

modern one

6. KNOWLEDGE AND LESSONS SHARING-

(from various DFID Technical Assistance programmes at State level )

SW Regional Heads of Services –up-coming

7. SW REGIONAL MDG CONFERENCE IN EKITI STATE Done – Report being awaited