Gombe, UNICEF Targets Better Welfare For Children, Women In Social Protection Policy

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GOMBE – The Gombe State Government, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has held a three-day workshop towards developing a comprehensive monitoring, evaluation and learning plan for the State’s Social Protection Policy.

The Social Protection Policy document, developed with the support of UNICEF, prioritises the welfare of Women and children, identified as the most vulnerable in virtually all communities in Gombe State.

The workshop, which took place in Valada Hotels and Resorts Jos, from 4th to 6th August, 2026 with participants from relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), development partners, civil society organizations, and other key stakeholders, compiled a comprehensive costed and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEAL) plan for seamless implementation.

Participants at the workshop also translated the Gombe State Social Protection Policy into a practical, implementable, and adequately resourced framework through developing a realistic costed plan, designed to strengthen implementation planning, promote effective coordination among stakeholders.

When put together, the MEAL plan is expected to enhance accountability, and establish a system for tracking progress, measuring results, and facilitating continuous learning throughout the policy implementation period.

Earlier in his address, the Gombe State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Micah Sunday Hamman, described the workshop as another significant milestone towards building a more inclusive, equitable, and resilient society where vulnerable groups including women, children, persons with disabilities, older persons, internally displaced persons, and other disadvantaged populations are protected and empowered.

He emphasized that beyond welfare intervention, social protection is a strategic investment in human capital development, poverty reduction, economic resilience, and sustainable development.

“The objective of the workshop extends beyond developing a policy document to producing a practical, costed, and results-oriented implementation plan, supported by a robust Monitoring and Evaluation Framework to guide implementation, resource mobilization, accountability, and performance tracking.

While acknowledging UNICEF’s invaluable support in strengthening the State’s planning and policy processes, the Commissioner expressed confidence that the workshop would deliver a realistic Costing of the Implementation Plan, and an effective Monitoring, and Evaluation Framework to guide coordinated social protection interventions across Gombe State.

In his goodwill message, Dr. Yusuf Auta, Social Protection Specialist, UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment towards promoting the well-being of women and children, noting that they remain at the heart of the organization’s country programme and interventions.

According to him, “investing in women and children is fundamental to achieving sustainable development, as they constitute the foundation upon which prosperous communities are built.

“A mother’s instinct to nurture and protect her child often transcends even the most difficult circumstances. Unique caregiving role underscores the importance of prioritizing interventions that improve the welfare, protection, and empowerment of women and children”, he stressed.

He highlighted the need to invest in the capacity development of younger generations, emphasizing that, “foday’s children and young people are tomorrow’s leaders and custodians of national development. Building their knowledge, skills, resilience, and opportunities is essential to ensuring sustainable social and economic progress”.

Giving a background of the Gombe State Social Protection Policy, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Jalo Ibrahim Ali, explained that though the Social Protection Policy was initially conceived as a four-year policy document, its implementation period was subsequently revised to three years to ensure alignment with the Gombe State 10-Year Development Plan.

According to him, “this strategic alignment will promote coherence in planning, implementation, monitoring, and resource allocation across sectors”, while commending Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, for the visionary leadership that culminated in the development of the State’s first-ever 10-Year Development Plan.

“With the Plan now halfway through its implementation period, preparations are underway to conduct a comprehensive Mid-Term Review to assess progress, evaluate outcomes, identify implementation gaps, and inform the remaining years of implementation”, he pointedout.

Through a series of technical presentations, plenary discussions, and thematic group exercises, participants reviewed the strategic objectives of the Social Protection Policy, identified priority interventions and implementation activities, estimated resource requirements, and developed monitoring and evaluation indicators to guide implementation.