Policymakers around the world acknowledge that robust and responsive policy formation requires primary and evolving research evidence. Yet the divide between research and policy remains substantial.  CPPA aims to contribute to narrowing that divide through its work with the International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP) and the VakaYiko project.

Local government administrators, due to their proximity and accessibility to the general public, can be powerful repositories for primary data collection and analyses.  CPPA is targeting these administrators for capacity building on research and data analysis.  Specifically, CPPA is training selected Urban Local Administrators in Lagos state to use research outputs to inform policymaking, budgeting, and project design/implementation.

Building on the results of institutional capacity assessments of local governments (LGs) in Lagos state conducted under the SAVI Program of DFID Nigeria, this research project aims to (1) assess the challenges for urban service delivery and establish capacity needs of planning, research and information units of LGA/LCDAs in Lagos State; (2) improve statistical literacy by the design of an info-literacy curriculum; (3) deliver a capacity-training program on how to use data collection and collation tools; (4) run a pilot of the tool in 1-2 LGAs in Lagos state; and (5) roll out the improved information use process in 5-7 LGAs in Lagos state.

As part of this work, on July 28th 2015, CPPA hosted a Stakeholder Engagement Session at which key service agencies, including Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), Primary Health Care Board (PHCB) and the Lagos State Public Service Staff Development Centre (PSSDC) were represented. Discussions at the session helped to clarify relationships between these agencies and the Local Government Secretariats in terms of service delivery. In addition to identifying specific data capacity needs in each of these agencies, participants also highlighted gaps in information literacy across different administrative levels in their various agencies. One of the major challenges revealed by participants is poor information sharing and coordination across service delivery agencies in the State. As representatives of their respective agencies particpants acknowledged the usefulness of the Info-Lit project and confirmed their support for project implementation. In recognition of the importance of effective horizontal coordination for urban service delivery, it was agreed that the Lagos state Info-Lit Project will promote more interactions between participating agencies.

Read a recent report on the research project here.

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