The
Ministry of Agriculture on Tuesday commenced a three-day capacity building for
monitoring and evaluation officers, focal person and assistance monitoring and
evaluation officers at the Wellingara horticultural model centre.
The training, which attracted a large number of monitoring and evaluation officers across the country, is funded by the NEMA project.
The training is among others meant to introduce the monitoring and evaluation officer to data management, ethics and standard in data collection and processing, understanding the GBOs standards and guidelines on data, reflecting on the data quality criteria, linkage between data collection tools, indicators, data sets, disaggregation and information needs.
The expected outcome of the training is to outline the Ministry of Agriculture – GNAIP PM and ES data collection arrangement and required data set.
Also part of the expected outcomes is to have a common understanding of the key term used in data management.
It is also expected that at the end of the training, monitoring and evaluation officers will be able to design, plan, and manage survey for gathering high quality data.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Ebou Mendy, director of administration at the Department of Agriculture, who deputized the Director General of the Department of Agriculture, said one of the objectives of the training is for the monitoring and evaluation officers to share their knowledge in strength on the data management scheme.
According to him, the training will serve as an opportunity for the participants to reflect on their memories and skills in the past.
He stated that one of the perspectives of the training is that the Ministry of Agriculture and its partners are committed to the principle of evidence-based planning and designing as well as policymaking.
Mendy also told participants that the purpose of the training is for them to interact and discuss with a view to coming out with a common ground for a sound mind and recommendation for effective and proper data management system.
While underscoring the importance attached to data management, Mendy noted that there is always a burning issue with the data generated by the department of agriculture.
“Agriculture being the implementing arm of the Ministry of Agriculture has a very crucial role to play and that is why focal persons and the eight technical services units have been identified to participate in this training session,” he stated.
He challenged the participants to take the training seriously as this will provide them with the opportunity to equip themselves with the necessary knowledge that will help them in their service delivery at their work areas.
Mendy also commended NEMA project for funding the training.
