OSSAP–MDGs Monitoring and Evaluation Project
Commissioned by: Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Millennium Development Goals (OSSAP-MDGs)
Funding Source: Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) / Debt Relief Gains (DRGs)
Implemented by: Economic and Social Empowerment of Rural Communities (ESERC)
Project Duration: 2008 – 2010
Project Location: Imo State, Nigeria
Project Background and Context
In the early 2000s, Nigeria committed to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), a global framework adopted by United Nations member states to address extreme poverty, improve health and education outcomes, promote gender equality, ensure environmental sustainability, and enhance overall human development by 2015.
As part of Nigeria’s commitment to the MDGs, Debt Relief Gains (DRGs) secured through international debt forgiveness were channeled into priority development projects across states, particularly in the sectors of health, education, water and sanitation, and agriculture. These investments were intended to accelerate progress toward MDG targets and improve the quality of life of citizens at the grassroots level.
However, effective utilization of these funds required strong oversight, transparency, accountability, and citizen participation. In recognition of the critical role of civil society in promoting accountability, the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs (OSSAP-MDGs) engaged qualified Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to independently monitor and evaluate MDGs-funded projects and programmes across states.
Within this framework, Economic and Social Empowerment of Rural Communities (ESERC) was engaged to provide independent monitoring and evaluation consultancy services for the 2008 and 2009 MDGs projects and programmes in Imo State.
Project Purpose and Objectives
Overall Purpose
To promote transparency, accountability, effectiveness, and community ownership in the implementation of MDGs-funded projects in Imo State through independent civil society monitoring and evaluation.
Specific Objectives
• To assess the quality and status of implementation of 2008 and 2009 MDGs-funded projects across key sectors.
• To determine compliance of contractors with approved project specifications and standards.
• To evaluate the extent of community participation in project identification, planning, and implementation.
• To document challenges, gaps, and best practices in the MDGs project execution.
• To provide evidence-based recommendations to OSSAP-MDGs for improved project delivery and sustainability.
Scope of Monitoring and Evaluation
ESERC’s monitoring and evaluation assignment covered MDGs projects implemented across Imo State in the following key sectors:
Health Sector
• Primary healthcare facilities
• Maternal and child health infrastructure
• Health equipment and service delivery interventions
Education Sector
• Construction and rehabilitation of classrooms
• Provision of school infrastructure and learning facilities
Water and Sanitation Sector
• Boreholes and water supply systems
• Sanitation facilities aimed at improving hygiene and reducing water-borne diseases
Agricultural Sector
• Agricultural infrastructure and support projects
• Interventions aimed at improving food security and rural livelihoods
Methodology and Implementation Approach
ESERC adopted a participatory, field-based, and evidence-driven monitoring and evaluation approach, consistent with OSSAP-MDGs guidelines and international best practices.
Key Methodological Components Included:
Field Visits and Physical Inspection:
Direct inspection of project sites to assess project status, quality of work, and compliance with approved specifications.
Contractor Engagement:
Interaction with contractors on-site to verify implementation progress, timelines, and challenges encountered.
Community Consultations:
Structured interactions with community leaders, beneficiaries, and residents to assess:
• Awareness of the projects
• Level of community involvement in project decision-making
• Perceived relevance and usefulness of the interventions
• Documentation and Evidence Collection:
• Use of photographs, observation checklists, and field notes to document findings.
Reporting and Feedback:
Preparation of detailed monitoring reports submitted to OSSAP-MDGs, highlighting findings, challenges, and recommendations.
Key Findings
Through extensive fieldwork and community engagement, ESERC identified several critical issues affecting the effectiveness and sustainability of MDGs-funded projects in Imo State.
1. Project Abandonment
A significant number of projects across sectors were found to be abandoned or left incomplete by contractors, limiting their intended impact on beneficiary communities.
2. Inadequate Contractor Mobilization
Some contractors reported that they were not fully mobilized financially, which they cited as a reason for delayed or incomplete project execution. This raised concerns about procurement processes, contract management, and fund disbursement mechanisms.
3. Limited Community Participation
In most cases:
• Communities were not involved in project identification or planning.
• There was no evidence of needs assessment prior to project siting.
• Projects were often imposed without adequate consultation, reducing relevance and acceptance.
4. Weak Community Ownership
Due to limited participation, many communities did not feel a sense of ownership over the projects. As a result:
• Community commitment to protecting and maintaining the projects was low.
• Beneficiaries viewed projects as “government property” rather than community assets.
5. Poor Maintenance and Sustainability
Many projects deteriorated rapidly due to:
• Lack of maintenance plans
• Absence of community management structures
• Minor technical faults that were left unaddressed and eventually rendered projects non-functional
Analysis and Implications
The findings highlighted systemic challenges in the implementation of MDGs-funded projects, particularly around governance, accountability, and sustainability. While significant resources were invested, the absence of community engagement and weak oversight undermined the long-term impact of the interventions.
These challenges underscored the importance of:
• Strengthening community systems
• Institutionalizing citizen participation
• Enhancing contractor accountability
• Integrating sustainability planning into project design
ESERC’s Contribution and Value Addition
ESERC’s role as an independent CSO monitor added significant value by:
• Providing unbiased, field-based evidence on project performance
• Amplifying community voices and beneficiary perspectives
• Highlighting implementation gaps that may not be visible through desk reviews
• Supporting OSSAP-MDGs with actionable insights for policy and operational improvements
The consultancy reinforced the critical role of civil society in ensuring that public funds translate into meaningful and sustainable development outcomes.
Key Recommendations
Based on its findings, ESERC made several recommendations to OSSAP-MDGs, including:
• Mandatory community needs assessments before project siting.
• Stronger contractor selection, supervision, and sanction mechanisms.
• Full and timely mobilization of contractors to avoid project abandonment.
• Establishment of community project management or maintenance committees.
• Integration of sustainability and maintenance plans into all MDGs projects.
• Continuous involvement of CSOs in monitoring, evaluation, and social accountability processes.
Outcomes and Impact
The monitoring exercise contributed to:
• Improved documentation of MDGs project performance in Imo State.
• Increased awareness of governance and accountability gaps in public project execution.
• Strengthened collaboration between government and civil society.
• Enhanced advocacy for participatory development and community ownership.
Lessons Learned
• Infrastructure projects are more sustainable when communities are involved from the outset.
• Civil society monitoring is a powerful tool for improving transparency and accountability.
• Small maintenance issues can render projects useless if ownership structures are absent.
• Accountability mechanisms must extend beyond project commissioning to long-term functionality.
Conclusion
The OSSAP-MDGs Monitoring and Evaluation Project implemented by ESERC in Imo State demonstrated the vital role of civil society in safeguarding public investments and promoting people-centered development. By independently assessing MDGs-funded projects across health, education, water and sanitation, and agriculture sectors, ESERC provided credible evidence on implementation gaps, community exclusion, and sustainability challenges.
The project reinforced the need for inclusive planning, strong oversight, and community ownership to ensure that development interventions funded through Debt Relief Gains achieve their intended goals and deliver lasting benefits to Nigerian communities.
