Facilitating System-wide Information Management Capacity Building for Evidence-based Humanitarian Action in Northeast Nigeria

The complex, evolving humanitarian crisis in northeast Nigeria has witnessed rapid changes with increasing frequent attacks on civilians, drought, and other weather and climate related events. The growing challenges are presenting new demands and emphasizing the requirement for greater localized capacity for crisis management. 

The situation galvanizes the need to focus on further capacity development of government and non-government actors, including representatives from the state governments, national and international organizations, and community-based organizations, to ensure principled humanitarian action. This includes evidence-based design, adaptation, resource mobilization, implementation and monitoring of activities aimed at saving lives and minimizing the suffering of people affected by such crises.

The iMMAP Inc. Capacity Building Lead facilitating a session for the Yobe State Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management in Nigeria. Photo: © iMMAP Inc./Janet Oyebola

iMMAP Inc. is making concerted efforts to advance the use of evidence-based decision-making, backed by strengthened technical capacities in information management (IM) across the crisis-affected states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (BAY) in northeast Nigeria.

From August 12-16, 2024, iMMAP Inc. teamed up with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), to enhance the technical Information Management (IM) capacity of key actors from the Yobe State Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management (MHADM). During the training sessions facilitated by the iMMAP Inc. team, MHADM staff gained essential knowledge and skills in fundamental IM techniques, including data manipulation, monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of humanitarian interventions, and the creation of M&E plans.

Hajiya Hauwa Sani, Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics at Yobe State MHADM, expressed her gratitude for the training initiative, stating:

Capacity Building Participants from INGOs in Yobe State. Photo: ©iMMAP Inc. 

Concurrently, during the same week, iMMAP Inc. provided advanced training to selected INGO partners in Yobe State. These partners included technical staff from CARE International, Save the Children International, Cooperazione Internazionale, the International Rescue Committee, INTERSOS, Plan International, Mercy Corps, Street Child, and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The training covered topics such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), needs assessment, IM applications across the Humanitarian Program Cycle, designing and conducting data collection with Kobo Toolbox, data visualization with Power BI, and Microsoft Excel.

The training’s impact was clearly reflected in the positive feedback from Dr. Mairo Ahmad Amshi, Commissioner of the Yobe State Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management:

These trainings focused on the crucial principles of IM, which are essential for empowering humanitarian workers to effectively manage their data needs. Participants learned to create logical frameworks for projects, track response indicators, apply monitoring and evaluation best practices, and produce high-quality information products. This impactful training was made possible through the generous support of the American people, provided by USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance.

iMMAP Inc. remains committed to working with all stakeholders to strengthen capacity for effective, principled humanitarian action, as well as advance informed, evidence-based humanitarian operations in Nigeria.