|| ACTIVITIES || OKOBO LGA

SUMMARY

A.      Executive Summary

Applicants Welfare & Development Centre is a Non-Governmental Organization established in March 2000. It was registered with the Akwa Ibom State Government through Ministry Of Women Affairs And Social Welfare in 2003, and the Federal Government of Nigeria through Corporate Affairs Commission in 2010. AWANDEC has promoted  over time  gender balance, sustainable OVC Programming, Environmental Health, Food Security through encouragement of Home Stead Farming, WASH, Good Governance & Leadership, Education, Training, Employment & Job Creation and ICT & Enterprise Development. Our service interventions entail improving lives of the vulnerable population in communities of  intervention through advocacy, service delivery and engagement with duty bearers to meet the felt needs of the less privileged in the society.

AWANDEC CVs visited Households in the month of August 2016 and through this visit,  growth levels and nutritional levels were examined for referrals using height, weight and mid upper-arm circumference as an indicator for malnutrition and possibly reactive.

Still in the same month, AWANDEC carried out Caregivers Forum in 12 communities with the total number of  971 (665 females, 311 males) Caregivers in attendance, Adolescent Girls Meeting in 12 communities with the total number of 519  Adolescent Girls in attendance  and Kids Club meeting in 12 communities with 1,618 Children (765 females, 853 males) in 5 wards of Okobo LGA. The total of 1,288 participants (847 females, 441 males) were reached with gender norms. 

AWANDEC Team was able to inaugurate and complete 1-3 modules for 7 VSLA groups across Okobo LGA. To further strengthen Households, 8 beneficiaries (7 female, 1 male)  were presented with HES Start Up Business Materials on the 31^st August 2016. CV/CBO review meeting was also held with 38 CVs (17 females, 21 males) in attendance. (Note: One CV was reported to be seriously ill and could not attend the meeting).

Still in the System of LOPIN REGION 1 Project, AWANDEC’s Capacity was built as they participated in a 4 Day Training on  Household Economic Strengthening and VSLA on 1^st August 2016 to 4^th August, 2016 at Claridon Hotel & Suite, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Effort was made by State ARFH Team to strengthen the capacity of AWANDEC Staff through Supportive Supervisory Visit and Data Quality Assessment (DQA) on 9^th August,  2016. To verify the impact of service provision by AWANDEC, Joint Data Verification was also conducted by the State ARFH Team and SMWA on 19^th August 2016 in the various Communities of intervention in Okobo LGA. AWANDEC also participated in FY16 Annual CBOs Coordination Meeting on 26^th August 2016 at EEMJM Hotel & Suites. ARFH/CBOs Advocacy visit to Uyo Local Government Council on 30^th August, 2016. Also Obot Inwang Child Protection Committee visited AWANDEC Office on 2^nd September,  2016 for a familiarization visit and to brief the Organization on the efforts made by them over three months in the CPC.

IR1: Improved systems and structures at community, LGA and States providing responsive quality care, protection and support services for vulnerable children and their households.

·         Home visit

·         Caregivers Forum

·         Adolescent Girls Group Meeting

·         Kids Club Meeting

·         VSLA Formation/Training

·         CV/CBO review meeting

·         Presentation of HES Start Up  Business Materials to Beneficiaries

·         Obot Inwang CPC Familiarisation Visit to AWANDEC office.

IR2: Improved organizational and technical capacity of local Nigerian partners and other local providers offering services to vulnerable children and families

·         Supportive and Supervisory Visit

·         Data Quality Assessment

·         A 4 Days HES Training/VSLA

·         Joint Data Verification

·         Annual CBOs Coordination Meeting/Report Presentation

IR3:  Local indigenous civil society partners engage more effectively with local government and private partners.

·         ARFH TEAM/CBOS Advocacy Visit to Uyo Local Government Council

B. Introduction

The LOPIN REGION 1 Project is a 5 years USAID funded project modeling inclusiveness in programming for Orphans and vulnerable Children in selected States in the Country ie Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Lagos State with respect to the National Priority Agenda which explains the paradigm shift in OVC programming. This is made possible as Association for Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH) implemented a synergy with LOPIN 1 project across the 3 States. ARFH is partnering with 13 Community Based Organizations across the 3 project States. LOPIN REGION 1 is working in close collaboration with States Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare in Akwa Ibom State and in the State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation in Rivers.

AWANDEC has promoted  over time  gender balance, sustainable OVC programming, environmental health, food security through encouragement of home stead farming, WASH, Good governance & leadership, education, training, employment & job creation and ICT & enterprise development. Our service interventions entail improving lives of the vulnerable population in communities of  intervention through advocacy, service delivery and engagement with duty bearers to meet the felt needs of the less privileged in the society.

AWANDEC CVs visited Households in the month of August 2016 and through this visits,  growth levels and nutritional levels were examined for referrals using height, weight and mid upper-arm circumference as an indicator for malnutrition and possibly reactive.

In the same month of August, AWANDEC carried out Caregivers Forum in 12 communities with the total number of  971 participants (665 females, 311 males) caregivers in attendance, Adolescent Girls Meeting in 12 communities with the total number of 519 participants in Adolescent Girls in attendance  and Kids Clubs meeting in 12 communities with 1,618 Children (765 females, 853 males) in 5 wards of Okobo LGA. The total of 1,288 participants (847 females, 441 males) were reached with gender norms.  

AWANDEC Staff was able to inaugurate and complete 1-3 modules for 7 VSLA groups across Okobo LGA. To further strengthen Households, 8 beneficiaries (7 females, 1 male) were presented with HES Start Up Business Materials on the 31^st August, 2016. CV/CBO review meeting was also held with 38 CVs (17 females, 21 males).

Still in the System of LOPIN REGION 1 Project, AWANDEC’s Capacity was built as they participated in a 4 Days Training on  Household Economic Strengthening and VSLA on 1^st August, 2016 to 4^th August, 2016 at Claridon Hotel & Suite, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Effort was made by State ARFH Team to strengthen the capacity of AWANDEC Staff through Supportive Supervisory Visit and Data Quality Assessment (DQA) on 9^th August, 2016. To verify the impact of service provision by AWANDEC, Joint Data Verification was conducted by the State ARFH Team and SMWA on 19^th August, 2016 in the various Communities of intervention of Okobo LGA. AWANDEC also participated in FY16 Annual CBOs Coordination Meeting on 26^th August, 2016 at EEMJM Hotel & Suites. ARFH/CBOs Advocacy visit to Uyo Local Government Council on 30^th August, 2016.  Obot Inwang Child Protection Committee visited AWANDEC Office on 2^nd September 2016 for a familiarization visit and  to brief the Organization on the efforts made by them over three months on CPC work in the community.

C. ACTIVITY FINANCIAL SUMMARY

LOPIN 1 FINANCIAL SUMMARY AS AT August, 2016

Activity Name :Local Partners for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (LOPIN 1)

Sub-grantee: Applicants Welfare & Development Centre

Life of Activity(start and end dates):5th Aug 2014 to 4th Aug 2019

Total Estimated Sub-Agreement Amount:

Amount disbursed to date: N12,897,785.40

Balance as at reporting time:

Cumulative Expenditures to Date:

Estimated Expenditures Next month(based on work plan): NIL

Report Submitted by: Applicants Welfare & Development Centre

Submission Date: 5 September 2016

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PROGRAMMATIC MONTHLY PROGRESS (NARRATIVE)

IR1: Improved systems and structures at community, LGA and States providing responsive quality care, protection and support services for vulnerable children and their households

The following activities were carried out to achieve above named intermediate result of the project:

HOME VISIT

AWANDEC CVs visited Households in the month of August 2016. It was on this note that,  growth levels and nutritional levels were examined for referrals using height, weight and mid upper-arm circumference as an indicator for malnutrition and possibly reactive, other services rendered were Health Education, Nutrition Education, PSS, Food security and Nutrition Training through Home Stead Farming. Notwithstanding, the Team also engaged in house to house taking and fixing of passport on household files. At the end of the home visit, it was seen that the services rendered were of good outcomes, they took cautions and noted areas for improvement.

CAREGIVERS’ MEETING IN 12 COMMUNITIES IN 5 LOPIN WARDS OF OKOBO LGA.

The meeting took place on 16^th August to 1^st September 2016 and the total number of caregivers in attendance were 971 participants (665 females, 311 males). In Okopedi 1 (Mbieduo had the total number of 93 participants (60 female, 33  males). In Nung Atai Ube 2 (Nung Atai Etta had the total number of 197 participants ( 114 female,83 males), Nung Udom Odobo had the total number of 155 participants (148 female, 7 males), Atipa Odobo had the total number of 37 participants (36 females, 1 male). In Ekeya (Idibi-Enin had the total number of  42  participants (37 females, 5 males), Nung Ukana had the total number of 80 participants (67 females,13 males), Anua  had the total number of 17 participants (10 females, 7 males). In Akai Mbukpo (Afaha Akai  had the total number of 87 participants (24 females,  63 males), Mbukpo Oduobo had the total number of 35 participants (18 females, 17 males). In Eweme 1 (Uruie Ita had the total number of 84 participants (47 females, 37  males), Udung Ulo had the total number of  68 participants (61 females, 7 males), Oyoku Assang had the total number of 76 participants (43 females, 33 males) .

The meeting began with opening prayer by one of the caregivers followed by the introduction of the project; AWANDEC team comprised the Program Officer – Inemeka Ubak, Program Officer Assistance – Aniekeme Anam and M&E Officer – Aniefiok Ekere.

The Caregivers Forum was a platform for rendering services to Caregivers. Emphasis was placed on food security as Home Stead Farming was encouraged. Financial literacy was rendered as service through Village Savings and Loans Association. The caregivers were happy as they acquired new knowledge on how and what to eat to keep them healthy, their financial literacy was built, as they underwent VSLA training.

Gender Norms intervention has been an interesting tool to dig deep into the culture and norms on gender based issues in Okobo LGA. The intervention took place in 7 communities i.e Nung Udom Odobo, Mbukpo Oduobo, Afaha Akai, Idibi-Enin, Mbieduo, Nung Atai Etta and Atipa Odobo) in April 2016 to August 2016. AWANDEC was able to complete 10 session/hour for  Caregivers. The total number of Caregivers who have completed the 10 hours session were 768 ( 385females, 383 males).

ADOLESCENT GIRLS GROUP 12 COMMUNITIES’ IN 5 LOPIN WARDS OF OKOBO LGA

The meeting took place on 16^th August to 1^st September, 2016 and the total number of Adolescent Girls in attendance were 519 participants. In Okopedi 1 (Mbieduo had the total number of  18 Participants). In Nung Atai Ube 2 (Nung Atai Etta had the total number of  128  participants, Nung Udom Odobo had the total number of  59 participants , Atipa Odobo had the total number of  14 participants). In Ekeya (Idibi-enin had the total number of  25  participants, Nung Ukana had the total number of  35 participants, Anua  had the total number of  11 participants. In Akai Mbukpo (Afaha Akai  had the total number of  55 participants, Mbukpo Oduobo had the total number of  91 participants). In Eweme 1 (Urue Ita had the total number of  26 participants Udung Ulo had the total number of 34 participants, Oyoku Assang had the total number of  23 participants).

The meeting began with opening prayer by one of the girls followed by the introduction of the Project, AWANDEC team which comprised  Program Officer – Inemeka Ubak, Program Officer Assistance – Aniekeme Anam. It was a platform  for educating the girls on sex education, confident building, life skills, HIV awareness and  the roaming gender issues in the communities. Justice was made on sex education as it unfolded inexpressible question to their Caregivers at home.

Gender Norms intervention has been an interesting tool to dig deep into the culture and norms on gender based issues in Okobo LGA. The intervention took place in 7 communities i.e Nung Udom Odobo, Mbukpo Oduobo, Afaha Akai, Idibi-Enin, Mbieduo, Nung Atai Etta and Atipa Odobo).