Mr Muhammad Okorie, Social Policy Specialist/Officer-in-Charge (OIC) UNICEF Lagos Field Office has reiterated UNICEF commitment to effective planning and result-based management toward child rights protection.
He gave the commitment at the ongoing of five-day result-based management workshop in Ibadan.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop is organised by UNICEF for planners and programme officers in key Ministries, Departments Agencies (MDAs) in Lagos State.
The workshop is aimed at equipping participants with the knowledge and skills to identify key issues affecting children, plan and budget for them in line with the state plan.
Okorie said the workshop was coming at a time when the state was engaging in its 2019 planning and expressed the hope that it would result in the state providing sufficient budget for children.
“Budget that is efficiently, effectively and equitably disbursed as well implemented in a transparent manner that will enable children in Lagos State enjoy basic rights.
“The implementation must ensure children survive and thrive, learn, be protected, live in clean and safe environment as well have equitable chance in life,” he said.
He said that UNICEF was also committed to supporting comprehensive planning, implementation and monitoring processes in the state, using the Result Based Management (RBM) approach.
“UNICEF, in fulfilling her mandate, has continued to support Lagos State Government in its policies and programmes toward achieving rights of children.
“This support has always been channelled through the different ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of the state government that delivers child-focused results.”
He said that the support from UNICEF was usually organised in partnership with government priorities as contained in the state development plan, mid-term and annual plans.
“In keeping with the five principles of Aid Effectiveness of Ownership, Alignment, Harmonization, Results and Mutual Accountability, UNICEF has ensured that it plans together with government, implements together and monitor for results.
“The essence of the meeting with government counterparts is to ensure that the government develop agenda from the fulcrum of the programmes while supporting with international best practices.”
Mr Seun Adesanya, Director of Planning, Lagos State Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, commended UNICEF for organising the workshop, describing the exercise as interesting and innovative.
He said that what Lagos was trying to achieve in collaboration with UNICEF was to have a focused and purposeful planning mechanism in place.
“So far, it has been practical. We have been trying to derive the objective of the workshop through practical demonstration of fundamentals of life.
“With this innovative approach to planning, I believe many other states in terms of collaboration will benefit from Lagos,” he said.
Adesanya said that the developmental strides recorded by successive governments in Lagos were as a result of planning and implementation.
Mrs Juliet Rufai, Centre Manager, Mirabel Centre, said the programme would help a lot in planning effectively, for residents of Lagos State, while ensuring none was left behind.
Rufai, who is also a member of Lagos State Child Protection Network, said that the training was very important, adding it would help planners identify the target audience and their specific needs.
“This training will give the people opportunity to hold government accountable on whatever has been planned for the citizenry,” she said. (NAN)