Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Processes in the Public Sector: Spotlight on Lagos, Nigeria

By John M. O. Ekundayo PhD MNSE R.Eng, Joel Olabode Subuloye MSc Business Administration, Afusat Omorinade Lawal Masters in Business Administration and 2 more

This treatise on emerging trends in Research, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning with specific focus on the public sector is timely as most economies of sub-national and national Governments are currently endangered through the ravaging Covid 19 pandemic and other socio - economic and political constraints cum challenges of this season. The dire need confronting Governments globally is getting value for money expended on programmes and projects. Hence, it is high time modern tools were deployed through effective and efficient practice of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) to monitor and measure results. This book, written by season professionals practising MEL in the public sector within the context of Lagos, Nigeria, squarely, succinctly and saliently espouse to students, scholars, professionals, top level management, political office holders, researchers, evaluators, etc. the crucial and core ingredients of MEL needed to be measured, mixed and matched to ensure and sustain value for money. This book is plainly and lucidly written for all to comprehend and apply the contents within any given context in the public or private sector particularly the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) which need the MEL content to thrive in dealing with partners and donors globally.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Jan 7, 2021
• ISBN: 9781665583985

John M. O. Ekundayo PhD MNSE R.Eng

DR. EKUNDAYO, John M. O. John M. O. Ekundayo is a registered civil engineer turned organizational management and leadership researcher and consultant. He is a native of Ido - Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria and attended Oyemekun Grammar School, Akure where he passed out with a Grade One Distinction in 1980 and a first degree from the then University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Nigeria graduating in 1985. He holds a Master degree in Organizational Leadership from Monash University, Melbourne, Australia and a PhD in Management by Research from Universiti Tun Abdul Razak, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Ekundayo JMO has up to three decades’ experience in the practice of Civil Engineering Design, Supervision, Construction, Project Management, Marketing, Research, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning in Nigeria, Singapore and Malaysia. He has served as Director, Monitoring and Evaluation in Lagos State for upward of 6 years overseeing on an annual basis up to 2,000 programmes and projects. He has participated in many seminars, conferences and workshops nationally and internationally including RIPA-UK, SPARC-DFID and the World Bank. Engr. (Dr.) J. M. O. Ekundayo is married to Mrs. Mary Anikeola Ekundayo and the union is blessed with children and grandchildren. Dr. Ekundayo, John M. O. can be contacted through: [phone] (sms only) or his email: [e-mail] MRS. LAWAL, A. Omorinade Mrs Afusat Omorinade Lawal holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Economics, and a Masters of Business Administration degree in Human Resources Management. She has private sector background in the Financial and Communication Sectors. Currently, she works as a Planning Officer with Lagos State Government, Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget (Monitoring and Evaluation Department) where she has been practicing Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E). She has attended Courses and Workshops on Monitoring and Evaluation such as Monitoring and Evaluation for effective service delivery organised for Officials of the Public and Private Sector by the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), Ibadan among others. She is from Lagos State. She is happily married with children. She can be contacted through her email: [e-mail] MR. SUBULOYE, Olabode Joel Joel Olabode Subuloye is a seasoned Administrator cum Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Practitioner. He is a native of Ogbomosho, Oyo State, Nigeria. He attended both Fakunle Comprehensive High School, Osogbo, Osun State and Wesley College of Science, Elekuro, Ibadan, Oyo State. He graduated from The Polytechnic Ibadan, Oyo State with Ordinary National Diploma (OND) in 2004 and proceeded to University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos in 2005 where he graduated with honours in Business Administration in 2009. ’Bode Subuloye also obtained Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Business Administration with Specialization in Organisational Behaviour from the same University in 2014. He is a Member of Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered) and Associate member of the Institute of Chartered Economists of Nigeria (ICEN). Presently, Joel Olabode Subuloye is a staff of Monitoring and Evaluation Department, Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, Lagos State where he has been practicing Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) since he joined the service of the State. He was awarded the best Monitoring and Evaluation Officer (Senior Category) in 2019 by the Ministry. Joel Olabode Subuloye loves reading, writing, travelling, watching and playing Soccer. He is married and blessed with a kid. He can be contacted through his email: [e-mail] MR. OLADIPUPO, Olumide Oladipupo, Olumide is a Senior Planning Officer and a Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Practitioner who presently works in the Monitoring & Evaluation Department, Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, Lagos State Government. He has the knowledge of project management procedures and processes in real-life scenarios after taking training on project management course with the London School of Business and Finance. He also gained experience working at a Construction Company as an assistant project director. He further added skills in preparing business requirements, process modelling, preparing use-cases, diagrams, and charts after receiving training in Business Analysis with the UK’s Leading Specialist Business Analysis Training provide (ISEB Business Analysis) He strives for perfection and being an M & E Officer for over 3 years, he has built his strengths to contribute to the growth and development of Lagos State. He obtained a BSc in Economics at Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo. He loves music, animals, nature, art, and tourism. He is also a self-taught artist who believes there is nothing he can’t do. He has great admiration for design and architecture. Olumide is adventurous and hopes to add more colour to that aspect in the future. He is happily married with kids. Email: [e-mail] Cover design by OpeOluwa Adebakin and editing of manuscript by Sam Adetiran

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2021 Dr. Ekundayo, John M. O., Mrs. Lawal, Afusat O., Mr. Subuloye, Olabode Joel, Mr. Oladipupo, Olumide. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse  01/07/2021

ISBN: 978-1-6655-8399-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6655-8400-5 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6655-8398-5 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

CONTENTS

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Commendation

Prologue

Foreword

Introduction

PART ONE

Overview of an Effective Monitoring, Evaluation,

and Learning (Mel) System

1.0 Chapter One: What Is Monitoring?

2.0 Chapter Two: What Is Evaluation?

3.0 Chapter Three: Linkage Between Monitoring and Evaluation

4.0 Chapter Four: Key Performance Indicators (Kpis)

5.0 Chapter Five: Milestone

PART TWO

Measuring Success Through Effective

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning

6.0 Chapter Six: Result Based Management (Rbm).

7.0 Chapter Seven: Performance Management Report (Pmr)

8.0 Chapter Eight: Evaluation Study

9.0 Chapter Nine: Impact Assessment

10.0 Chapter Ten: Lessons Learnt

PART THREE

Tools and Techniques Involved in Practical

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (Mel)

11.0 Chapter Eleven: Capital Programmes and Projects

12.0 Chapter Twelve: Thresholds

13.0 Chapter Thirteen: Prepayment Certification

14.0 Chapter Fourteen: Tracking Output Performance Through Monitoring of Projects (Advance Payment and Stages of Pre-Payment Certification)

15.0 Chapter Fifteen: Evaluation Through Interview, Focus Group, and Observation.

16.0 Chapter Sixteen: Process of Conducting Impact Assessment

17.0 Chapter Seventeen: Questionnaire As A Tool In Conducting Impact Assessment and Evaluation.

18.0 Chapter Eighteen: Processes in Conducting Evaluation Study

19.0 Chapter Nineteen: Presentation of ‘Lessons Learnt’ to Inform Policy.

20.0 Chapter Twenty: Way Forward On Effective Monitoring Evaluation And Learning

Epilogue

Annexure 1

Annexure 2

Annexure 3

References

About The Authors

Glossary

DEDICATION

This treatise is specifically and specially dedicated to a man, who is a father, mentor, leader, and statesman – servant leader par excellence, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, former Governor of Lagos State and incumbent Minister of Works and Housing. God Almighty connected the lead author to BRF (as he was fondly called by his admirers) through an email. In essence, BRF was the servant leader, who without prior acquaintance with Engr. Ekundayo J. M. O. acceded to his request to conduct his Ph.D. research study on leadership perception by followers in Lagos during the BRF administration. Subsequently, Engr. Ekundayo got the opportunity to serve in the prestigious Lagos State Public Service at the top echelon after being graciously offered a scholarship by the Lagos State Government. He had never dreamt of working in the public sector all his life. Engr. Ekundayo was made to cherish and carouse studying Civil Engineering during his teenage years with the influence of his elder brother and guardian, Chief Michael Oluwasanmi Ekundayo, former Clerk, Ekiti State House of Assembly. It is noteworthy to state that his meeting with BRF changed the narrative in departing from practicing civil engineering to eventually serving as Director, Monitoring and Evaluation, Lagos State, domiciled in the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

To God, Almighty, be all the glory for the grace and opportunity to even come up with the idea of writing this book. It gladdens our hearts to acknowledge this unique and uncommon benevolence of God in seeing us through the rigours of putting pen to paper in writing, publishing and presenting this great and enlightening treatise on Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) with a unique focus on Lagos State, Nigeria. Incidentally, this is likely to be the first treatise combining Monitoring and Evaluation with Learning focusing on the public sector, with the adaptability to the private sectors, published within the West African context.

There are a few books on Monitoring and Evaluation (M and E) focusing on the educational, health, and social sectors, but very few on government programmes and projects. The uniqueness of this book is that the learning leg is added, as it is presently being practiced in advanced climes. This is the vital leg in the theory and practice of Monitoring and Evaluation that adds colour and it is the real icing on the cake.

We are definitely indebted to so many people for the opportunity we had in not only meeting them but in learning and gleaning Monitoring, Evaluation, and Training (MEL) with them. There are so many that we cannot mention all in this book.

Lagos has been magnanimous to many Nigerians both as a harmonious home and economic succour house. The authors are beneficiaries of this magnanimity of Lagos. First of all, the lead author, Engr (Dr.) Ekundayo, John Moyo Ope, is greatly indebted to the former Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN (the present Honourable Minister of Works and Housing), for God using his government to graciously offer him a scholarship to complete his Ph.D. Research in Malaysia and also facilitating his employment into the prestigious Lagos Civil Service thereafter. The lead author attested to the fact that Fashola picked his email while he was conducting his Ph.D. research in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. If he had denied the lead author accessibility, there will be no book bequeathed to humanity as Dr. Ekundayo J. M. O. exits the service of Lagos State. Nigeria needs such leaders with an open heart of communication to make the Nigerian Dream real.

Also, the lead author wants to greatly appreciate his erstwhile Honourable Commissioner (HC), Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget (MEPB), Mr. Ben Akabueze, for the confidence reposed in him in favourably endorsing his elevation to the post of Director, Monitoring and Evaluation Department (MED) in the Ministry. The experience and capability garnered in the theory and practice of monitoring, evaluation, and learning over the years cannot be overemphasised. In the same vein, we want to appreciate our former Permanent Secretary (PS), now the Special Adviser (SA) to the Governor on Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Bayo Sodade, for his vital mentoring role.

Moreover, the incumbent Honourable Commissioner (HC), MEPB, Mr. Sam Egube, is hereby acknowledged for the innovative and creative dimensions his leadership adds to the monitoring, evaluation, and learning. Equally, the authors value, appreciate, and commend the caring and motherly role of the present Permanent Secretary (PS), MEPB, Mrs. Adetutu Abiola Liadi.

The lead author appreciates the former Director MED, in the person of Mr. Ariyibi Ajibola. Equally, the authors want to value all technical and development partners that have been engaged with MED in developing and building the capacity and competence of the Staff of MED over the years; we are greatly indebted. Notably, is the State Partnership for Accountability and Responsiveness and Capacity (SPARC) ably led by Mr. Ifeanyi Ugwoke, formerly the State Manager of SPARC. This was a specific and special purpose vehicle or initiative of both Nigeria and the United Kingdom (UK). The UK Government reached out through the UK Department for International Development (UK-DFID). The essence was to inculcate good governance and with a prong objective of reducing poverty. Lagos State Government during the administration of Fashola latched onto this programme. It was indeed helpful for the staff of MED in building the needed capacity in Monitoring and Evaluation. We will not forget to mention the impact of the United Nations Children and Education Fund (UNICEF) in the development of capacities of monitoring and evaluation officers in Lagos State. In this regard, many regards go to Dr. Niyi Olaleye and his team.

In the body of programmes offered by SPARC, the Monitoring and Evaluation component was robust. The lead author was a beneficiary of several capacity training offered by SPARC dating back to 2012. Of note to mention, among several other facilitators that impacted knowledge into Staff of MED, are Dr. Gbenga Oyewole and Mrs. Queendaline Eneh. Worthy of note to mention is Dr. Shamsideen Usman, former Minister of National Planning, who led his team from SUSMAN Associates to assist in building the capacity of MED staff. Equally, the authors wish to acknowledge and appreciate the contribution of the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), Ibadan, to the impartation of knowledge in the Monitoring and Evaluation officers in Lagos State. Notably are, Prof Femi Odekunle, Dr. Bayo Ajala, Dr. Arawomo, Dr. Gideon, and others from the NISER family are especially appreciated.

Moreover, the International Development Association, otherwise known as the World Bank Group, should be commended for helping Lagos to deepen capacity, competence, and knowledge sharing as the body facilitated the Study Tours to Brazil and India in 2014. The Grant offered by the World Bank afforded officers to engage in peer learning and/or sharing in Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning. The lead author was involved in the Study Tour to India’s State of Kerala. It was in Kerala, for the first time, the lead author experienced the functioning of the Kerala Plan Space platform – an online platform displaying the project management information system of Kerala at a glance.

The authors value and appreciate all Heads of Departments (HODs), Heads of Units (HOUs), Directors, Management Staff, Officers, and Staff of MEPB. We want to attest that in our camaraderie of interacting and interfacing, we have learnt a lot. We can state succinctly and saliently that the Staff of MEPB, without mincing words, are indeed the think tank of the Centre of Excellence – Lagos.

The Directors of the Monitoring and Evaluation Department (MED), Officers, Secretary, Clerks, and Drivers are well appreciated for their support, coaching, mentoring, guidance, sharing, empathy, and friendship. We refer to ourselves as the MED Family on our WhatsApp platform and we are nothing short of that.

Conclusively, we appreciate our family members for their support, succour, and encouragement in the course of writing this book. Our spouses: Mrs. Mary Anikeola Ekundayo, Mr. Habeeb Oriyomi Lawal, Mrs. Damilola Aderonke Subuloye, and Mrs. Oyinlola Oladipupo, without your support and sacrifice, we could not