1. Ekiti March to Renewal
An overview of the Justification and substance of DFID
Support
By
Sina Fagbenro-Byron
Regional Coordinator
DFID South West
Lagos

2. PURPOSE:
To support reforms that promote more effective and efficient use of state
resources as key to promoting institutional and socio-economic
development in Nigeria and achieving the MDGs.
INFORMED BY:
A. The government’s strategic priorities as captured in clearly articulated
development Agenda (e.g Ekiti 8 Point)
B. The Three Pillars of the Country Partnership Strategy (DFID, World Bank,
AfDB, USAID)
1. Improving Governance (general and sector-specific)
2. Improving Human Development –health, education
3. Sustaining Non-Oil Growth
C. Consultations between DFID and its programmes with state government
officials and other stakeholders
D. Experience of recent past assistance

3. History of DFID-Ekiti State Engagement
1. DFID Ekiti office opened in 2001 April
2. Initial work included:
1. SJG - Security
2. CUBE – Basic Education
3. Insecticide Treated nets - Malaria
4. PATHS – Health Policy
5. Ekiti Rural Access Programme (ERAP)
3. DFID Ekiti Office- Closed as a result of creation of a SW regional office
opened in 2004 and moved to Lagos, after Lagos was declared a lead state
due to population and reforms consistent with DFID’s agenda and vision.

4. Current Ekiti Re-Engagement – Logic 1
DFID support assessment mission to Ekiti State was agreed upon at a
meeting between H.E. Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State and the
DFID Nigeria Head of Office, Mr. Richard Montgomery in Abuja,
December 2010.
At that meeting, the Governor of Ekiti State asked for specific help
around implementation of his 8-point agenda for the recovery of the
state and it was agreed by both parties that early in 2011, a team of
independent consultants would visit Ekiti State to identify what, if
anything, DFID Nigeria could do to assist.

5. Mutual Understanding
1. Strong commitment to tackling MDGs evidenced by
increasing expenditure on primary health, primary education
and water.
2. Strong commitment to improving governance demonstrated
through more credible, realistic and transparent budget and
procurement processes.
3. Strong commitment to the reducing poverty and
unemployment through enabling private sector-led growth
initiatives.
4. An Assessment be commissioned by DFID to identify critical
areas of support

6. ASSESSMENT FINDINGS
IMPERATIVES FOR 8-POINT AGENDA
1. The state needs to develop viable economic sectors to reduce
poverty and grow its revenue-base
2. Need for inclusive planning (and Monitoring) to cater for women
and vulnerable groups
3. Public Finance Management reform is crucial for improving
resource availability and utilization
4. Service-wide transformation is needed for enhanced service
delivery capability
5. Institutional arrangements and mechanisms are needed to
sustain participation
6. State needs to review and codify laws to reflect current realities
7. An effective judicial system is needed for a conducive business
environment

8. INTERVENTIONS STATUS
1. SUPPORT THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE Work commences on 17th October , Consultants have been
(Coordination, Transformation Bureau, Public Expenditure Mgt engaged with clear TORs and mobilised
Framework, MDG Office.)
2. COMMUNICATION STRATEGY Communications Field researched to be engaged TORs ready
(Corporate Comms. Strategy, Stakeholder Engagements, Media) Stakeholder –communicating MDGs to public
3. PRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY Done: Next steps include implementation
(improving the business environment, reducing govt distortion and
improving access to finance)
4. STATE VOICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY Self-assessment of state legislature completed
(Legislative support, Justice Sector & Quick wins in replicating More capacity Building expected
lessons from their existing work) Justice for ALL programme is expected to support Ekiti In
Justice Secice deklivery
5. RELEASE EXISTING LANDSAT DATA ON EKITI Satellite imagery obtained but discovered to be dated and
(to help with policy development. comprehensive review of state inadequate , Ekiti State needs to commission a fresh and more
statistics and baseline data generation capacity for immediate and modern one
long term planning)
6. KNOWLEDGE AND LESSONS SHARING- SW Regional Heads of Services –up-coming
(from various DFID Technical Assistance programmes at State
level )
7. SW REGIONAL MDG CONFERENCE IN EKITI STATE Done – Report being awaited