UNICEF, Benue govt review lifeline interventions, map fresh strategies for 2026

UNICEF, Benue govt review lifeline interventions, map fresh strategies for 2026

By Ade Ade

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with the Benue State Budget and Economic Planning Commission (BSBEPC), has concluded its end-of-year review consultation with Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs), and Civil Society Organisations implementing UNICEF-supported programmes across the state.

Declaring the meeting open in Makurdi, BSBEPC Director General, Prof. Jerome Andohol, described the exercise as crucial, considering UNICEF’s “enormous interventions” across multiple sectors since the inception of the current administration.

Prof. Andohol lauded the organisation’s support in developing the state’s 10-year development plan, nutrition policy, and social protection policy, as well as helping transition from zero-based budgeting to programme-based budgeting.

He further noted UNICEF’s role in supporting medium-term sector strategies and attracting additional funding to Benue through initiatives such as the EU-funded social protection programme, capacity-building on the social register, and expanded data gathering for vulnerable groups.

According to him, the review aims to assess the performance of these policies and interventions over the past year, strengthen successful components, and address existing challenges ahead of the 2026 programme cycle within the 2024–2027 framework.

Speaking on the objectives, UNICEF Planning and Monitoring Specialist, Enugu Field Office, Maureen Zubie-Okolo, said the yearly engagement helps partners evaluate progress on outcomes, identify lessons, respond to emerging trends, and refine strategies for the coming year.

She highlighted key focus areas, including implementation strategies, innovations, bottlenecks, financial performance, and major results impacting children in 2025.

The session featured presentations from MDAs detailing achievements, challenges, innovations, and expenditure performance over the past year.