Good Humanitarian Information Management: Key to Social and Economic Recovery in North East Nigeria.
Report by: Francis Etuk
The determination of international humanitarian organizations to hasten the process of social healing and economic recovery in the North East of Nigeria has deepened engagements with the local non-governmental organizations in the region.
In a practical approach to stabilizing the beleaguered socio-cultural and economic systems through a responsive humanitarian action in the region, the USAID funded iMMAP Nigeria who facilitated the training in collaboration with UNOCHA and the American University of Nigeria (AUN). Together, they have brought creative solutions to building the capacity of over 30 representatives from different local and international non – governmental organizations in Adamawa State.
The five-day capacity training program succinctly tagged; ‘Improved Humanitarian Information Management Through Capacity Building and Localization Efforts’ was held between 3-7 July, 2023 at Waziri Hall of Atiku Institute for Development, was formally declared open by the President of American University of Nigeria who was represented by Dr. Liman Audu, Head of the Atiku Institute for Development at the University.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Audu sensitized the participants on the strategic importance and relevance of the training program to, not only the selected participants for their individual activities in their organizations, but also in the fact that, the program will gain penetration to the local communities thereby driving home the gains of the localization efforts.
He told the participants that the contents of the capacity training program was compressed into five days considering the academic level of the participants whom he described as; ‘worthy advocates for peace in our communities through informed humanitarian service dlivery.’ He thanked iMMAP for extending the program to Adamawa State as this will contribute in hastening the process of socio-economic recovery in the State.
Setting the salvo, the iMMAP Head of Capacity Building, Sulaiman Badamasi laid bare the total contents of the program before the participants and sought for maximum concentration in order to derive the intrinsic values of the program after which he introduced his team of facilitators to the participants.
He presented the introduction to humanitarian information management and outlined the humanitarian principles with the integrated components of the principles all of which are designed to mitigate suffering and protect life while ensuring respect and welfare for human beings to fulfill the fundamental drive for a concerted humanitarian action.
The participants learnt of the qualities of good information in humanitarian contexts and were shown how it can support response to emergencies and contribute to saving lives and minimize human suffering.
Timely and accurate information will improve the capacity of stakeholders in analyzing the circumstances surrounding an emergency to guide decision making for possible humanitarian actions to follow and this involves complimenting the information and set a common baseline with other humanitarian actors within the emergency context.
Participants were introduced to the use of Kobo Toolbox, a digital process of data collation and processing to achieve authentic information needs for the preparation of questionnaires through key informant interviews with focus groups and community leaders.
In a sense of contentment, one of participants from Adamawa State Universal Education Board (ADSUBEB) expressed appreciation of the detailed hands-on experience in configuring Kobo Collect and retrieving data from online form. According to him; ‘with Kobo Toolbox the burden of collating data and provide accurate information on out-of-school children in Adamawa is gone, I thank this people for bring this program to Adamawa’
Participants were taught how to identify objectives and information needs for use in preparing analysis plan which determine the questionnaire design that will enhance all levels of needs assessment in the target communities.
To further equip the participants for their work in the remote terrains and hard-to-reach areas in the North East, they were given in-depth training in the use of the Geographic Information System (GIS) to enable them navigate their way and familiarize with the demography and topography of target communities.
They highlighted on the ease of resource exploration with enhanced inventorization, incident mapping and spatial measurement, logistics routing and a wide range of functions that can be performed by understanding the use of GIS.
At the introduction of Quantum Geographical Information System (QGIS), participants were guided on hands-on production of the regional map demarcating the BAY States and their local government areas. The map is titled Round 38 Training Map and was made handy to all the participants.
Participants were also introduced to basic field data processing and visualization tools and the broad based application of Excel Spreadsheet in humanitarian information management. All participating organizations were encouraged to extend the training on digital tools application to their staff with emphasis laid on the understanding of Excel Spreadsheet as it is relevant in all disciplines, databases and analysis with the capacity to increase their chances of employment.
Responding on behalf of all the participating NGOs to the quality of the training program, Dr. Husuruna Amos of Moddibo Adama University of Technology, Yola who is also the Executive Director of Agro Ecological Sustainable Technology Initiative (AGESTI), commended the effort of the sponsors of the program as it has really prepared the local NGOs for an altruistic humanitarian service delivery in Adamawa State.
He expressed appreciation to The Atiku Institute and the administration of the training program. On his part, Mrs. Anna Balami of Community Empowerment and Peace Building Foundation, commended the organizers for bring the program to Adamawa State.
In the same vein, the Executive Director of Mandara Community Development Network (MACDEN), Mr. Manasa Koji and Mr. Joshua Mamman of Save the Children International both joined their appreciation to the sponsors of the program as the training has built the confidence of the local NGOs and will engender proficiency in humanitarian service delivery in the region. Participants were awarded Certificates at the end of the capacity building program.