Northern Pulse

By Abbas Bamalli

The Gender Awareness Trust (GAT) has strengthened the capacity of State and Local Government Implementation Committees through a two-day intensive Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) training in Katsina.

The training, supported by SPRiNG, a U.K government initiative, and being implemented by Tetra Tech International Development, aimed to deepen the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the exercise brought together key actors from government ministries, security agencies, civil society organisations, traditional institutions and community peace structures.

Speaking during the training, Halima Abba-Ibrahim, the GAT’s representative, disclosed that all participants were charged with driving the State Action Plan (SAP) on WPS.

She added that the exercise focused on transforming policy commitments into measurable impact, ensuring that the WPS SAP does not remain a document on paper but delivers tangible results for women and communities across the state.

Abba-Ibrahim further underscored the role of monitoring and learning in achieving sustainable change, adding that “Policies alone do not create transformation.

“It is consistent monitoring, learning and accountability that turn commitments into real impact for women and communities.

“Strengthening our M&E systems ensures that women’s voices and contributions to peacebuilding are properly captured, recognised and supported,” she said.

Also , Commissioner of Women Affairs, Hajiya Aisha Aminu Malumfashi, described the initiative as a crucial milestone in strengthening accountability and performance tracking under the SAP framework.

Represented by Hajara Abdullahi, a staff officer in the ministry, Musawa said that the WPS SAP represents their commitment to promoting women’s meaningful participation in peacebuilding and security processes.

“This training equips our committees with the technical tools to monitor progress, identify gaps and ensure effective implementation,” Musawa said.

She called for a renewed commitment by members of the implementation committees to apply the knowledge gained in tracking progress, advancing inclusive peace and security initiatives across Katsina.

Participants were taken through practical sessions on understanding SAP indicators, deploying gender-sensitive data collection tools, harmonising reporting templates, and applying results-based reporting systems.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that emphasis was placed on evidence-driven implementation and the importance of accurate documentation in shaping policy decisions.

Some of the participants expressed optimism that improved monitoring mechanisms would enhance coordination, transparency and sustainability of interventions under the SAP.

NAN