Advanced Information Management Training Strengthens Capacity of Partners Responding to the Crisis in Northeast Nigeria
iMMAP conducted two advanced humanitarian information management training and capacity building activities for humanitarian partners responding to the crisis in northeast Nigeria
Advanced Information Management Training Participants, Yola
During the month of September 2019, with support from the USAID Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID OFDA), iMMAP conducted two advanced humanitarian information management training and capacity building activities for humanitarian partners responding to the crisis in northeast Nigeria.
The training was conducted from 9-13 September 2019 for partners in Maiduguri, Borno State; and from 23-27 September 2019 for partners in Yola, Adamawa State. It was attended by 59 participants (24% female and 76% male). All participants were Nigerian nationals responding to the crisis in the northeast. Disaggregated by organizational type, 42% were from international NGOs, 32% worked with national NGOs, and 26% with other organizations, including Government, United Nations agencies and the academia. These were participants who attended the basic IM training and capacity building activities held during the first eight training rounds in 2018 and early in 2019. These were mainly Monitoring an Evaluation Officers, Information Management Officers (IMOs), and Program Officers of local and international organizations working in the northeast.
The training was conducted from 9-13 September 2019 for partners in Maiduguri, Borno State; and from 23-27 September 2019 for partners in Yola, Adamawa State. It was attended by 59 participants (24% female and 76% male). All participants were Nigerian nationals responding to the crisis in the northeast. Disaggregated by organizational type, 42% were from international NGOs, 32% worked with national NGOs, and 26% with other organizations, including Government, United Nations agencies and the academia. These were participants who attended the basic IM training and capacity building activities held during the first eight training rounds in 2018 and early in 2019. These were mainly Monitoring an Evaluation Officers, Information Management Officers (IMOs), and Program Officers of local and international organizations working in the northeast.
Infographic representing the participants' breakdown, and the knowledge increase a consequence of the training
Topic coverage was informed by feedback received from post-training evaluations and from insights from the End of Year Technical Review Workshop with humanitarian stakeholders, held in July 2019.
Needs Analysis and Response Planning was specifically essential and timely at a time when the humanitarian community analyzed available data to assess the progress in humanitarian response during the year 2019 and to estimate the number of people in need of assistance for a credible Humanitarian Needs Overview for Nigeria in 2020, and upon which appropriate targeting could be done, for a realistic Humanitarian Response Plan for 2020. In consistence with the imperative to nationalize and strengthen local actors’ capacity for response and preparedness, the training drew participants’ attention to the Grand Bargain-- an agreement between some of the largest donors and aid providers during the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul, 2016, which aims to get more means into the hands of people in need, underscoring the changes prioritizing the need to gear up cash programming, greater funding for national and local responders and cutting bureaucracy through harmonized reporting requirements, with a focus on the Grand Bargain on Needs Assessments.
Humanitarian Fundraising and Resource Mobilization – Resource Mobilization and Fundraising was an integral capacity gap highlighted as a major impediment to local organizations’ ability to deliver life-saving humanitarian assistance to those that badly need it. Resource mobilization is the third, and one of the most important phases of the Humanitarian Program Cycle. The training was an opportunity for the humanitarian partners to learn about principled fundraising, Country-based Pooled Funds and the Central Emergency Response Fund, together with alternative ways to source for funding. The training also enabled the partners to learn new skills in grant writing. They were introduced to the art of preparing, writing, submitting concept notes and proposals that can help them secure the needed funding. Other training aspects included data visualization using infographics and data presentation using dynamic dashboards.
Needs Analysis and Response Planning was specifically essential and timely at a time when the humanitarian community analyzed available data to assess the progress in humanitarian response during the year 2019 and to estimate the number of people in need of assistance for a credible Humanitarian Needs Overview for Nigeria in 2020, and upon which appropriate targeting could be done, for a realistic Humanitarian Response Plan for 2020. In consistence with the imperative to nationalize and strengthen local actors’ capacity for response and preparedness, the training drew participants’ attention to the Grand Bargain-- an agreement between some of the largest donors and aid providers during the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul, 2016, which aims to get more means into the hands of people in need, underscoring the changes prioritizing the need to gear up cash programming, greater funding for national and local responders and cutting bureaucracy through harmonized reporting requirements, with a focus on the Grand Bargain on Needs Assessments.
Humanitarian Fundraising and Resource Mobilization – Resource Mobilization and Fundraising was an integral capacity gap highlighted as a major impediment to local organizations’ ability to deliver life-saving humanitarian assistance to those that badly need it. Resource mobilization is the third, and one of the most important phases of the Humanitarian Program Cycle. The training was an opportunity for the humanitarian partners to learn about principled fundraising, Country-based Pooled Funds and the Central Emergency Response Fund, together with alternative ways to source for funding. The training also enabled the partners to learn new skills in grant writing. They were introduced to the art of preparing, writing, submitting concept notes and proposals that can help them secure the needed funding. Other training aspects included data visualization using infographics and data presentation using dynamic dashboards.
I admire the coordination of the activities from day 1-5, sessions were smoothly run, facilitators were quite skilled equipped with first-hand knowledge of all the sessions.
The training was facilitated by iMMAP with support from resource persons with the sectors. The Resource persons included Richard Sennoga, the Capacity Building Lead, Usman Abdullahi, the National Capacity Building Officer, Sadig Elamin, the Senior IMO for iMMAP Nigeria, Adeola Makanjuola, the Nutrition Sector IMO seconded to UNICEF, Caleb Terhemba, the WASH Sector IMO seconded to UNICEF, Johnson Taremwa from UNDP and Ooju Oluwafemi, the Health Sector IMO seconded to the World Health Organization.
Throughout the training process, iMMAP monitors and collects information about the learning progress of the participants. This makes it possible for the facilitators to adjust the delivery strategies and optimize the environmental opportunities for knowledge absorption and retention. One of the methods used to assess learning was the use of tests. Two tests were administered to each of the participants—one at the beginning of the training, and another at the end. The questions tested the participants’ knowledge of needs analysis, fundraising and resource mobilization, data visualization with infographics and data presentation with dynamic dashboards.
The average knowledge level in the pre-training test was 50.5%. After the training, the knowledge level had increased to an average of 76.3%, accounting for an overall 25.8% average improvement in observable knowledge and skills. These tests helped to check whether the training had the desired effect. It also helps in giving individualized feedback to the participants.
Throughout the training process, iMMAP monitors and collects information about the learning progress of the participants. This makes it possible for the facilitators to adjust the delivery strategies and optimize the environmental opportunities for knowledge absorption and retention. One of the methods used to assess learning was the use of tests. Two tests were administered to each of the participants—one at the beginning of the training, and another at the end. The questions tested the participants’ knowledge of needs analysis, fundraising and resource mobilization, data visualization with infographics and data presentation with dynamic dashboards.
The average knowledge level in the pre-training test was 50.5%. After the training, the knowledge level had increased to an average of 76.3%, accounting for an overall 25.8% average improvement in observable knowledge and skills. These tests helped to check whether the training had the desired effect. It also helps in giving individualized feedback to the participants.
Advanced IM training
iMMAP provides humanitarian training and capacity building support, thanks to the generous support of the American people, through the United States Agency for International Development Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID OFDA). This training will be provided to more partners. It will also be extended to Damaturu, for the benefit of partners responding to the crisis, based in Yobe State.
