Federal republic of nigeria national biodiversity strategy and action plan

CHAPTER SIX

6.0. INSTITUTIONAL MONITORING AND REPORTING

Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) is an essential aspect of the NBSAP implementation. It provides for periodic assessment, updating and utilisation of data for corrective and adaptive management. It ensures efficiency, effectiveness and positive impact of the NBSAP on the management of biodiversity. Varied methods of assessment and data collection, validation and circulation among stakeholders will be integrated into the framework. Nigeria will adopt and use the M&E framework in a transparent and accountable manner and will reinforce varied levels of stakeholder involvement and participation in the M&E process.

Nigeria will sustain a Monitoring and Evaluation process that is integrated into Biodiversity management both at the planning and the implementation stages. This will ensure adaptive management during project implementation and lead to the achievement of targets. However, capacities will be mobilized and, where necessary, built to enable adequate monitoring and evaluation of the programmes and actions of the NBSAP.

The process of NBSAP reporting in Nigeria started in 2001 with the completion of the first national report. It is now at the stage of development of plan of actions and the synthesis of the fifth national report. However, lack of efficient coordination mechanisms has been identified as one of the major challenges limiting the implementation of NBSAP in the country.

To this effect this section clarifies the necessary actions to establish and strengthen the national coordinating structures for NBSAP. It also outlines the roles and responsibilities of the various NBSAP institutional actors.

Periodic Assessment Platforms will be created to enable timely assessment and acquisition of data that will assist measurement of actions and impacts. The Periodic Assessment Platform will provide opportunity for monitoring of habitats, species, benefit sharing, collaborative management and physical environment situations.

More so, transparent information sharing network will be coordinated by the Nigerian Biodiversity Clearing House mechanism, www.chm-cbd.com.ng, which will be sustained for effective information management and transparency. The public: varied economic sectors, including civil society organisations, corporate organisations, and communities will have access to M&E periodic assessment report and will have roles to play in contributing to validation, sharing and development of data and information on biodiversity.
6.1. National Coordinating Structures

Objective

The main objective is to strengthen coordination of NBSAP activities for effective implementation and also to ensure that the set out national goals and targets for NBSAP are met.

6.1.1. Considerations for Establishment of NBSAP National Coordinating Structure

The following options should be considered in establishing an effective and efficient national coordination structure.

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  High-level inter-ministerial and stakeholder steering committees shall be established for the implementation of the NBSAP and as elements of an overall national implementation mechanism.
  
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  The cross-sectoral nature of biodiversity planning requires strong coordination structures. On paper, most existing NBSAPs provide for coordination structures across ministries and interest groups, but often these have had limited or no effect on coordination and implementation. A high-level inter-ministerial body and a stakeholder committee, or a combination of the two, should be established to ensure comprehensive coverage and political buy-in for the development of the NBSAP and subsequently to oversee implementation. Whether these are deliberative or advisory bodies is for the country to decide; the important thing is to ensure the broadest level of participation and buy-in, create permanent fora for considering new scientific information and policy options, and ensure effective monitoring and oversight. Where there are sub-national NBSAP process in place, similar mechanisms should also be established at the appropriate level.
  
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  NBSAPs shall also provide for sub-national levels (State and local governments) decisions and actions that affect biodiversity are often taken at the local level, and the overall NBSAP will only be implemented if corresponding strategies and action plans are also developed and implemented at the relevant sub-national level(s). Decentralization of biodiversity planning to sub-national levels has been largely neglected in existing NBSAPs and this is one of the main causes of poor NBSAP implementation.
  
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  NBSAPs shall be an instrument for implementation of all the biodiversity-related conventions and thereby promote coherence in national implementation of these. The country should promote coordinated and coherent action at the national level to meet their commitments under the various conventions. NBSAPs should provide the overall framework for national biodiversity planning and should be an instrument for achieving the objectives of all the global biodiversity-related conventions to which the country is a party.
  
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  NBSAP support mechanism should be established to assist countries to develop and implement their NBSAPs and to monitor and analyze the experience of implementation. To maximize the opportunities for meeting the goals and targets of the new Strategic Plan for Biodiversity, greater efforts should be made to promoting coordination and coherence. There need to be arrangements in place for ensuring that available capacities are effectively employed to the greatest effect, that an overall picture of ongoing support initiatives is available, that gaps and unmet needs are identified, and that lessons learned are systematized and disseminated.
  

6.1.2. Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Structures

The responsibility for implementing the NBSAP is held by relevant multi-stakeholder institutions identified in the NBSAP document which constitute the Biodiversity Steering Committee (BSC). The Ministry of Environment, through the Department of Forestry which houses the key biodiversity National Focal Points, will be responsible for the direct monitoring of the implementation of this NBSAP.

Monitoring and evaluation entities, consistent with the established NBSAP national coordinating structure outlined in Table 6.1, on NBSAP Stakeholders and Responsibilities, that will regularly use indicators to track progress and ascertain results, will be established. Based on data collected and systematized, the entities will develop an annual report on the implementation of the NBSAP. Also, the monitoring and evaluation entities will inform the Government on the progress made and results achieved in implementing the NBSAP.

Table 6.1: NBSAP Stakeholders and Responsibilities

S/No.	National Actors	Suggested Roles and Responsibilities	Make up
1	The Steering Committee or National Coordinating Unit	Oversee the process of NBSAP implementation	Civil servants, bureaucrats, senior scientists, community leaders
2	Coordinating Agency	Initiates and coordinate the process of preparing / drafting the NBSAP Liaise with CBD secretariat and with other national and international agencies on NBSAP Source for resource persons, including scientists, NGOs, and Consultants are specialists/experts on the various ecosystems and thematic/crosscutting issues identified Budget implementation and identification of appropriate funding sources Review exercise, monitoring and evaluation	Federal Ministry of Environment (Biodiversity Unit). The country focal points are: CBD NFP, CHM NFP, SBSTTA NFP, Resource Mobilization NFP, ABS NFP, Biosafety NFP, Protected Areas NFP, Coastal and Marine Biodiversity NFP.
3	Other national agencies	Play leading role in the process of NBSAP implementation	Ministries include education, finance, agriculture and rural development, justice, water resources, culture and national orientation, science and technology etc.
4	Non-Governmental Agencies (NGOs)	Contribute to community mobilization and capacity building Ensure wide spread community sensitization and awareness creation Participate in stakeholders brainstorming	Civil Society Organizations, CSOs and NGOs focusing on biodiversity conservation
5	Local Communities, Community Based Organizations (CBOs)	Participating in brainstorming process to elicit reactions/response and commitments Bridging forth special knowledge about opportunities in their locality; Local-level involvement in planning to generate increased support and commitment, stimulate self-help, and mobilize local resources including lands	Traditional leaders Occupational groups Youths Women groups
6	Consultants and Researchers, the University Community	Stocktaking and assessment to identify major gaps that emerge through NBSAP implementation process Contribute to various ecosystems and thematic / crosscutting issues identified	University lecturers Individual consultants and professionals
7	National and State Governments	Provide funding for NBSAP implementation	The federal government of Nigeria, 36 federating States and FCT Abuja
8	International Agencies and Donors	Provide technical support and funding	CDB Secretariat, GEF, UNDP, WWF, World Bank etc.
9	Private and Corporate Sector	Provide other sources of funding i.e. Voluntary contributions	Private organizations, e.g. oil and gas companies