…Aims to Strengthen Evidence-Based Decision-Making and Track Development Goals
By Auwal Ahmad Umar
The Gombe State Government has introduced a new Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) policy, aiming to foster transparency, efficiency, and accountability across the state’s programs and projects.
A range of key stakeholders and development partners, including the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), attended the policy launch in the state capital.
Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, represented by his deputy, Dr. Manasseh Daniel Jatau, underscored the importance of a strong M&E system in driving data-driven decision-making and ensuring that government initiatives generate maximum benefits for citizens.
He noted that the new M&E framework aligns with the state’s 10-Year Development Agenda, which seeks to track progress and assess the impact of various government policies and projects.
“The State Monitoring and Evaluation Policy is designed to establish a structured framework for assessing all government policies, strategies, programs, and projects.
This will help prevent poorly executed, abandoned, or distressed initiatives as experienced in the past,” the governor said. He emphasised that the policy would guide the state in prioritising projects, promote regular evaluation of investments, and ensure that performance reports are used to strengthen evidence-based policy-making practices.
UNICEF’s Bauchi Field Office Chief, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, praised the state government for domesticating and launching the M&E policy, which had previously been introduced at the national level.
Dr. Rafael highlighted the pivotal role of M&E in improving the efficiency of government efforts, providing real-time feedback, and addressing challenges. She added that the new policy signals Gombe State’s commitment to transparent and accountable governance.
“UNICEF will continue to provide technical and financial support to ensure the successful implementation of the M&E policy,” Dr. Rafique assured, reiterating the organisation’s partnership with the state to drive sustainable progress.
Wayne Amago Bacale, UNICEF’s Chief of Planning and Monitoring, commended the launch as a critical step towards meeting the state’s development goals.
He pointed out that the policy would enable the government to track improvements in key priority areas outlined in the state development plan, with targets set for achievement by 2030.
The newly launched M&E policy is expected to transform the governance landscape in Gombe State by embedding a culture of systematic assessment and continuous improvement across all government programs and projects.