Communique Issued At North East Humanitarian Multi Stakeholder Engagement, Borno

Communique Issued At The End Of North East Humanitarian Multi Stakeholder Engagement Held At Borno State Government House, Maiduguri On 27th And 28th October, 2015

1. INTRODUCTION

National Emergency Management Agency in collaboration with the Office of the Vice President and Borno State Government organized the North East Humanitarian Multi Stakeholder Engagement. This is with the aim of ensuring that the activities of Local and International humanitarian actors are well coordinated, monitored and evaluated in line with the plans of the Federal Government of Nigeria, so as to avoid duplication of efforts, waste of resources and time.

The programme was held on 27^th and 28^th October, 2015 at the Borno State Government House, Maiduguri. The theme of the programme is ‘Coordination, Communication and Cooperation in Humanitarian Response’. The main objectives were to proffer ways of:

1. Improving the coordination mechanism among stakeholders;
2. Enhancing cooperation among stakeholders;

• Supporting a robust protocol for sharing information among stakeholders and the public.

The meeting was declared open by His Excellency, the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo GCON, SAN. The keynote address was delivered by His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Borno State Alhaji Kashim Shettima while the welcome address was delivered by the Executive Chairman, Borno State Emergency Management Agency, Engr. Ahmad Satomi. The Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Muhammad Sani Sidi OFR, gave the objectives and thrust of the Multi-Stakeholder Engagement. A presentation of the Federal Government Marshal Plan of the North East was delivered by Mohammed Danjuma of the Presidential Committee on the North East Interventions (PCNI) while a good will message was delivered by the representative of the UN Country Team Mrs Ratidzai Ndhlovu who is the Country Representative of United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

2. In attendance at the programme were Officials of Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Officials of State MDAs in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Taraba, Gombe and Bauchi, National and International Non Governmental Organizations, the United Nations (UN) system, Security agencies and the Press amongst others.
3. PAPER PRESENTATION AND SYNDICATE GROUP

Day 2 of the programme witnessed a presentation on ‘Coordination, Communication and Cooperation in Humanitarian Action’ which set the tone for the discussions.

Thereafter, three syndicate groups were formed namely:

1. Coordination;
2. Communication; and
3. Cooperation
4. OBSERVATIONS

At the end of the two-day multi stakeholder engagement, the following observations were made:

1. There is need to strengthen the existing Disaster Management structures in the country;
2. Coordination of different sectors by lead Government agencies need to be developed to fit into the overall coordination mechanism of the country;

• SEMAs and LEMCs are not as effective and visible in some states during emergencies and need to be strengthened to work better;

1. There is need for management of communication in emergencies to be improved upon in the country.
2. There is need for capacity assessment of NGOs in the humanitarian sector.
3. There is a need for regulations and standards for Monitoring and Evaluation, Accountability, Transparency and Beneficiaries Impact assessment.

• National Planning Commission (NPC) is the point of entry for INGOs and the UN system while NEMA and SEMA are entry points for humanitarian actors.
• There are frameworks for cooperation of relevant stakeholders which needs to be strengthened

1. The needs of the country has to be harmonized with individual organizations’ operational plan
2. The regulation of national and international Non-Governmental Organizations is carried out by National Planning Commission and NEMA
3. There is need to develop and enforce the rules of engagement for humanitarian actors (NGOs and INGOs)

• Private sector participation in humanitarian activities is low
• There is mistrust about information emanating from government agencies during emergencies.

4. RECOMMENDATIONS

The meeting therefore recommended as follows:

1. NEMA should strengthen existing Disaster management architecture by integrating NGOs into the structure.
2. Lead government agencies should develop coordination schema to key into the national coordination system

• Capacity of SEMAs and LEMCs should be strengthened by various states and local governments

1. NGOs, CSOs and independent media should be included in the framework for management of communication in emergencies in the country.
2. NEMA should carry out capacity assessment and mapping of NGOs in humanitarian sector across the country to enhance performance and effective service delivery.
3. NEMA should ensure that there are regulations and standards for Monitoring and Evaluation, Accountability, Transparency and Beneficiaries Impact assessment

• The National Planning Commission (NPC), Ministry of Foreign Affairs and NEMA should ensure effective management of entry and exit of all humanitarian actors in the country.
• Rules of engagement should be developed for the management of humanitarian actors in the country and where necessary sent to the National Assembly for necessary legislation by NEMA in collaboration with Ministry of Foreign Affairs and National Planning Commission.

1. A national round table on integration of private sector into emergency management in Nigeria should be held to encourage private sector participation in humanitarian activities by NEMA in collaboration with the Office of the Vice President.
2. A monument should be set up for humanitarian actors who lost their lives in active service.
3. VOTE OF THANKS / APPRECIATION

The meeting appreciates His Excellency, The Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo GCON SAN for supporting the collaborative effort in organizing this programme aimed at improving coordination in order to alleviate the suffering of our affected people and also His Excellency, the Governor of Borno State, Alhaji Kashim Shettima for being an excellent host. The meeting also wishes to thank the Governors of Adamawa, Yobe, Bauchi, Taraba and Gombe States for their support and cooperation as well as members of National Assembly and the private sector. The meeting finally appreciates the participation of National and International Organizations, MDAs, the UN System and others present at the programme.