OSSAP-SDGs, UNDP build capacity of states on development based planning

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SSAP-SDGs) Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire,

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SSAP-SDGs) Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire,

By Perpetua Onuegbu

The Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAP-SDGS) has partnered United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to build states capacity on SDG-Based development planning.

The programme is a two-day workshop on project web tool (Pro-Track) and capacity building for Conditional Grants Scheme (CGS) for State Focal Persons and Monitoring and Evaluation Officers on the implementation of SDGs CGS commenced on Tuesday in Abuja.

Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, SSA-SDGs in her remark at the occasion said the workshop was expected to spur performances of States’ project implementation processes by the SDGs Conditional Grant Scheme.

She added that it was also meant for Monitoring and Evaluation Departments and other relevant stakeholders that complements the projects implementation processes.

“It is evident that the SDGs cannot be achieved with standalone projects and programmes. They must be envisioned and embedded in our Plans.

“That is why, in partnership with UNDP Nigeria, we offer our technical and financial support to the 36 states and the FCT on SDG-Based Development Planning.

“Presently, we are supporting 15 states to develop medium and long-term SDG-based Development Plans. By 2030, we expect to have supported all the 36 states on SDG-based development planning.

“This will ensure states’ annual budgets are funding the implementation of the SDGs at the sub-national level. This is our approach to Mainstreaming, Acceleration and Policy Support (MAPS),” she said

Adefulire explained further that the Nigeria SDGs Implementation Plan 2020-2030, formally launched in June 2021, provided a roadmap for fast-tracking the implementation of the SDGs in Nigeria.

Adding that the Plan mirrored the thematic areas of the new National Development Plan (2021-2025) and Nigeria Agenda 2050.
“It is pertinent to note that the success of the CGS and M&E are hinged on trust and partnership amongst the Federal, States and Local Governments, which has accelerated development at the grassroots level through basic service delivery and capacity building.

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“It recognises that a successful development agenda requires inclusive partnerships to ensure that we leave no one behind.

“In line with President Buhari’s commitment to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty, it is thus our strong desire that through the CGS mechanism, the Federal Government will continue to encourage States and Local Governments to build capacities.

“That will improve their financial management systems for effective pro-poor service provisioning. Owing to this, tracking of progress, through effective monitoring and evaluation system is very germane,” the SSAP said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop is expected to familiarize participants with international best practices on Monitoring and Evaluation using computer-assisted software in tracking OSSAP-SDGs projects and programmes across the country.

It is also expected to accelerate the implementation of CGS at the grass-root level in the Decade of Action for Global Goals Impact technical knowledge, skill and competence.

Also it is meant to instill accountability and transparency; Promote active participation of Sub-national governments in the realization of the SDGs by 2030; And equip the target audience with the right knowledge, skills and attitude across various functional areas for enhanced productivity and efficiency.

Adefulire, therefore, solicited the continuous support , commitment and cooperation towards the implementation of the SDGs in Nigeria that would benefit the citizenry.

Also speaking at the workshop, the representative of UNDP, Mr Mohamed Yahya, said the organisation saw the need to partner with the OSSAP-SDGs to build skills of the focal officers at the grassroots.

Yahya was optimistic that the workshop would strengthen the participants commitment to continuously work closely together as stakeholders in support of the achievement of the SDGs.

In attendance at the workshop were the Secretary of Programme, OSSAP-SDGs, Mr Ahmad Kawu and Management and Staff of OSSAP-SDGs; CGS State Focal Persons and Monitoring and Evaluation Officers.

(NAN)

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