United Nations Country Team in Nigeria
United Nations Country Team in Nigeria
United Nations Country Team in Nigeria

UNDP Conducts Baseline Survey of Communities in Niger Delta

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) embarked on a baseline survey for the Niger Delta Local Development Programme (LDP) in Akure, Ondo State , on 23 March 2009. The survey was being conducted in selected communities in LPD's pilot Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Okitipupa and Ilaje in Ondo State and Ogbia and Sagbama in Bayelsa States.
 
The aim of the study is to establish the status of public services in the LGAs, to collect benchmark data for each of the six components of the LDP, and to develop project Monitoring and Evaluation plan based on baseline study findings.

Okitipupa has a total of 13 wards with 166 communities, while Ilaje's 12 wards have 300 communities. In Bayelsa state, Ogbia has 13 wards and 49 communities while Sagbama has 14 wards with 38 communities.

The 2-month process started in Akure with a five-day training of 31 Community Development Assistants from Okitipupa and Ilaje, as data collection officers. This was followed by field activities in two LGAs. Data collectors were enlightened on LDP's objectives, goals, approach and strategies. They received trainings on monitoring and evaluation data collection which included practical sessions for data collection, data verification, basic data analysis and reporting. The study team was led by LDP 's Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist Aimtonga Amani Makawia assisted by two consultants, Dr Samuel Abiem and Professor Uka Ezenwe. A total of 1,250 heads of households from 144 communities of the LGAs in Ondo State were interviewed during the field data collection exercise.

The study also mapped public services in the 31 Wards of the LGAs, while selected key informants (such as youth group leaders, women leaders, religious leaders, traditional leaders, community leaders, teachers, market women and the LGAChairpersons) were interviewed. At the state level, the study team interviewed heads of planning research and statistics unit, state planning commission, heads of works department, project monitoring unit, and the head of finance department. Focus group discussions were also held with the LGAs heads of departments and councilors. The field activities were later ollowed by a review and verification leaders,of data in Akure.