End of Commitment Report – Improving Service Delivery in Education and Health Sectors

Name of Evaluator

Prof Hauwau Evelyn Yusuf

Email

eveadex@gmail.com

Member Name

Kaduna State, Nigeria

Action PlanAction plans are at the core of a government’s participation in OGP. They are the product of a co-creation process in which government and civil society jointly develop commitments to open governmen... Title

Action plan – Kaduna State, Nigeria, 2021 – 2023

CommitmentOGP commitments are promises for reform co-created by governments and civil society and submitted as part of an action plan. Commitments typically include a description of the problem, concrete action...

Improving Service Delivery in EducationAccountability within the public education system is key to improving outcomes and attainment, and accountability is nearly impossible without transparent policies and opportunities for participation ... and Health Sectors

Action

This commitment seeks to build citizens’ trust in governance through which quality education services are delivered in a transparent and accountable manner through effective implementation of the State Education policy documents (Approved Education policy, 10-year Strategic Plan, Quality Assurance policy, etc.).In addition, this commitment seeks to build citizens’ trust in governance through which quality health services are delivered in a transparent and accountable manner through effective implementation of various health policies in the state. This will further stimulate, and improve accountability and transparencyAccording to OGP’s Articles of Governance, transparency occurs when “government-held information (including on activities and decisions) is open, comprehensive, timely, freely available to the pub... More of the service delivery processes through public participationGiving citizens opportunities to provide input into government decision-making leads to more effective governance, improved public service delivery, and more equitable outcomes. Technical specificatio....

Problem

To strengthen policy implementation for effective and equitable service delivery in the education sector through co-created processes that promote community participation and ownership in the education reforms. Citizens are not carried along in the service delivery process in the health sector with many believing it is only friends and allies of the government that are being involved.

1.1 What was the overall level of progress in the commitment implementation at the time of this assessment?

Substantial

Provide a brief explanation of your answer:

Based on the status of implementation of each milestone of improving service delivery, we had eleven milestones under this commitment out of which nine were completed, two were in progress and one not started at the time of compiling this assessment.

• Commitment Repository

1.2 Describe the main external or internal factors that impacted implementation of this commitment and how they were addressed (or not).

The commitment area happens to be a priority sector of the State Government with high-level interest. In addition, the Kaduna Basic Education Accountability Mechanism (KADBEAM) and Kaduna Maternal Accountability Mechanism (KADMAM) have a strong presence in the sector. This permanent dialogue mechanism is pushed from the Civil society side to see to the implementation of the milestones. This saw them developing scorecards to use for advocacy to influence decisions of government in both sectors.

1.3 Was the commitment implemented as originally planned?

All of the commitment milestones were implemented as planned

Provide a brief explanation of your answer:

The commitment was implemented as planned with all the evidence made available on the repositoryAccess to relevant information is essential for enabling participation and ensuring accountability throughout the OGP process. An OGP repository is an online centralized website, webpage, platform or ....

2.1.1. – Did the government disclose more information; improve the quality of the information (new or existing); improve the value of the information; improve the channels to disclose or request information or improve accessibility to information?

Yes

Degree of result:

Major

Explanation: In narrative form, what has been the impact on people or practice.

The milestones in the commitment area improved access to procurement information to citizens that enabled Accountability mechanisms functionality and use of evidence for advocacy. The Open Kaduna Forum, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health MNCH) Week, Quarterly review meetings with KADMAM and other key stakeholders on the Kaduna State Contributory Health Scheme, and Town hall meetings were channels for citizens and Government to engage.

2.1.2. – Did the government create new opportunities to seek feedback from citizens/enable participation inform or influence decisions; improve existing channels or spaces to seek feedback from citizens/enable participation/ inform or influence decisions; create or improve capabilities in the government or the public aimed to improve how the government seeks feedback from citizens/enables participation/ or allows for the public to inform or influence decisions?

Yes

Degree of result:

Major

Explanation: In narrative form, what has been the impact on people or practice.

Some of the milestones of the commitment focused on creating a space for the Government and citizens to engage. Based on the milestone, a series of activities were carried out. This includes; town hall meetings were organized in each senatorial zone to increase buy-in and informal sector coverage

2.1.3 Did the government create or improve channels, opportunities or capabilities to hold officials answerable to their actions?

Yes

Degree of result:

Major

Explanation: In narrative form, what has been the impact on people or practice.

Given the access to procurement data in the Education Sector, Citizens with the support of Partnership to Engage Reform and Learn developed a tracking template for tracking infrastructure projects in health and education. This led to the development of scorecards used for high-level advocacy visits to Commissioners who are heads of Agencies. This opportunity is made possible because of the commitment to improving service delivery in Education and Health.

2.1.4 Other Results

Not Applicable

Explanation: In narrative form, what has been the impact on people or practice.

NA

2.2 Did the commitment address the public policy problem that it intended to address as described in the action plan?

Yes

Provide a brief explanation of your answer:

In the course of implementing the commitment area, the Accountability Mechanisms otherwise known as Permanent Dialogue mechanisms in the Education and Health Sector were very active. With support from donor partners, they were able to carry out activities that brought both civil society and government to the same table based on the co-creation principle of government. Also, the disclosure of bills of quantity by the Kaduna State Public ProcurementTransparency in the procurement process can help combat corruption and waste that plagues a significant portion of public procurement budgets globally. Technical specifications: Commitments that aim t... More Authority also strengthens access to procurement information used by the Permanent Dialogue mechanisms to improve the quality of engagement for better service delivery.

3. Provide at least one lesson or reflection relating to the implementation of this commitment. It can be the identification of key barriers to implementation, an unexpected help/hindrance, recommendations for future commitments, or if the commitment should be taken forward to the next action plan.

• Inability to quickly document evidence due to the broad nature of the sector.
• The commitment area should be unbundled for easy implementation of
  commitment.
• Unavailability of key Government officials in some stakeholder engagements
  slows smooth implementation of commitment area