World Bank-Assisted HOPE-GOV Program Engages Interim Verification Agent for Year Zero Assessment of States
The World Bank-assisted HOPE Governance Programme has formalised a contractual agreement and onboarding of an Interim Independent Verification Agent (IVA), tasked with conducting the Year Zero verification exercise across implementing agencies and participating State Governments under the Program.
The verification exercise is a key precondition for the disbursement of Program incentives, as it will independently assess and validate the achievement of the agreed Disbursement-Linked Results by the respective implementing entities and State Governments.
Speaking at the signing ceremony held at the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning on Monday, the National Coordinator of the Program, Dr. Assad Hassan, stated that the appointment of the Independent Verification Agent followed a transparent procurement process to ensure that the most qualified consultant was selected.
“Remember, you were selected through a process that was designed to identify the very best candidates. We are happy to have you on board and we have full confidence in your abilities, especially given the high expectations not just within the National Program Coordinating Unit but also across the Ministry and implementing agencies,” he said.
Dr. Assad Hassan therefore urged the consultant to demonstrate a high level of transparency and integrity in the discharge of the assignment, and to bring her full expertise to bear in delivering quality outcomes.
He emphasised that the overarching objective of the HOPE Governance Program is to promote and sustain reforms in the administration of the basic education and primary healthcare sectors, even beyond the lifespan of the Program.
In her response, the Lead Consultant, Abimbola Ogunseitan, expressed her team’s readiness to commence the verification exercise in earnest.
She noted that a Work Plan outlining the approach to achieving the Year Zero verification had already been submitted, and pledged the team’s commitment to working round the clock to deliver on the assignment.
The onboarding of the Independent Verification Agent was conducted by the National Program Coordination Unit and a team from the World Bank led by the Task Team Lead, Mr. Ikechukwu Nweje.
Joe Mutah
Communications Officer
HOPE GOV
