By Abubakar Rabilu, Gombe
The Gombe Network of Civil Society Organisations (GONET) has trained 32 member organisations on Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) to strengthen evidence-based programming, accountability and effective project implementation across Gombe State.
The capacity-building workshop, organised by the GONET Executive Committee, brought together representatives of civil society organisations working in the areas of health, education, women and youth development.
Participants were equipped with practical knowledge on key MEL concepts, including Monitoring and Evaluation principles, Theory of Change, Logical Framework development, indicator setting, data collection methods, and the use of learning frameworks for tracking project results and impact.
Speaking at the closing of the training on the Chairman of GONET, Ambassador Ibrahim Yusuf, described the workshop as a strategic intervention aimed at enhancing the capacity of civil society organisations to generate credible evidence and improve programme delivery.
He said many grassroots organisations were implementing impactful projects but often lacked the technical skills to measure and communicate their results in ways that meet the expectations of government and development partners.
“A lot of our organisations are doing transformational work at the grassroots, but many cannot measure or report impact in a way that government and development partners understand. This training has given 32 CSOs the capacity to track outcomes, not just activities,” he said.
Yusuf noted that the initiative aligns with Gombe State’s implementation of the National Monitoring and Evaluation Policy, under which the state was selected as one of the pilot states with support from UNICEF. He recalled that the state formally launched its Monitoring and Evaluation Policy in October 2024.
According to him, harmonising the monitoring and evaluation approaches of civil society organisations with those of government will promote transparency, strengthen collaboration and ensure that development interventions deliver measurable benefits to communities.
Also speaking, the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Officer of BREACH Initiative for Leadership Development, Maryam Muhammad Khaleed, commended GONET for organising the training, describing it as timely and impactful.
“I appreciate GONET for organising this training. I will apply the knowledge gained in discharging my duties professionally,” she said.
Some participants described the workshop as practical and relevant, saying it would improve their capacity in donor reporting, project design and engagement with government monitoring and evaluation systems.
GONET said it would provide post-training mentoring and technical support to participating organisations to ensure they institutionalise effective Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning systems in their operations.
