Report: Local Rights Programme (LRP 03) – Child Sponsorship Programme Implemented by CITAD with funding support from ActionAid Nigeria

Italy Sponsorship Communities

• Dakwa
• Kaida Tsoho
• Kaida Sabo
• Kilankwa
• Kuchibuyi
• Leleyi Bassa
• Leleyi Gwari
• Pasepa
• Rafin Zurfi
• Vine Heritage Home Foundation (VHH)

United Kingdom Sponsorship Communities

• Angwan Gwalada
• Gaube
• Gofidna
• Jiwa Tsoho
• Kayace
• Tukpeki
• Tungan Ashere
• Tungan Nasara

(total number of male, female and PWDs)

Female=620

PWDs =5

(Did you submit all financial documents with regards to your activity?)

Before implementation, the programme team identified several issues that could affect successful message collection:

• Delay in grant disbursement.
• Procurement processes affected timely commencement.
• Some sponsored children had migrated.
• Rainy season posed transportation challenges.
• Risk of absenteeism due to school schedules and farming activities.

These informed the development of community mobilization strategies and mop-up plans.

Post-Activity Findings

Following implementation:

• 96% of expected child messages were successfully collected.
• Community mobilization significantly improved attendance.
• Mop-up visits recovered many initially missed children.
• Community ownership and volunteer participation increased.
• Health education sessions successfully reached more than 1,000 additional unlinked children.
• Distribution of customized water bottles reinforced hygiene promotion.

The evaluation indicates that integrating health awareness with sponsorship activities greatly enhanced programme impact.

(detailed report of activity)

The exercise commenced with community entry visits, consultations with traditional rulers, volunteers, caregivers and community stakeholders to communicate the objectives and implementation schedule. Volunteers mobilized caregivers and sponsored children ahead of the collection dates.

Child messages and photographs were collected from sponsored children in all eighteen communities using ActionAid Nigeria’s approved sponsorship guidelines. During the process, children received guidance on writing meaningful messages to their sponsors, while programme staff ensured that all forms were completed accurately.

Recognizing the opportunity to promote child wellbeing, CITAD integrated malaria prevention and hygiene awareness sessions into the exercise. More than one thousand unlinked children participated in these sessions, thereby extending programme benefits beyond sponsored children. Customized reusable water bottles carrying health messages were also distributed to reinforce good hygiene practices.

Throughout implementation, the team encountered several operational challenges. Delayed release of implementation funds and procurement procedures affected the planned commencement of activities. Heavy rainfall also created significant field challenges. In Kaida Sabo, a fallen tree damaged the project vehicle. Fortunately, no injuries were recorded. The community chief immediately mobilized local youths to remove the obstruction, while also supporting the cost of engaging a machine operator to clear the road. This timely intervention enabled the team to continue the exercise safely.

Similarly, after completing activities in Rafin Zurfi, flooding prevented the team from crossing the river for over three hours, resulting in their departure from the community late in the evening.

Despite these challenges, the implementation team conducted mop-up visits to communities with absent children, which significantly improved the overall collection rate. Out of 1,316 expected sponsored children, 1,264 child messages and photographs were successfully collected, representing an overall achievement rate of approximately 96%.

The exercise further identified children who had migrated, were absent during collection, or could not be reached. Appropriate documentation was completed for each case to support ActionAid Nigeria’s sponsorship database updates.

The successful implementation demonstrated strong collaboration between CITAD, ActionAid Nigeria, community leaders, caregivers, volunteers and local stakeholders, reinforcing community ownership of the Local Rights Programme.

Community leaders appreciated the consistency of CITAD and ActionAid Nigeria in maintaining communication between sponsored children and their sponsors. Caregivers expressed satisfaction with the respectful conduct of field staff and volunteers during the exercise.

Children enthusiastically participated in writing messages and appreciated the opportunity to communicate with their sponsors. The health education sessions and distribution of customized water bottles were also well received.

Recommendations

1. Ensure timely release of implementation funds.
2. Commence procurement immediately after activity approval.
3. Improve caregiver mobilization before field activities.
4. Strengthen child tracking systems for migrated children.
5. Continue integrating health and child protection education into sponsorship activities.
6. Develop contingency plans for weather-related emergencies.
7. Conduct regular learning and reflection meetings after each collection exercise.
8. Sustain collaboration with community leaders and volunteers to improve participation.
9. Strengthen database updates to promptly capture migration and child status changes.

• Successfully collected 1,264 child messages and photographs from 1,316 expected sponsored children, representing an overall achievement rate of 96%.
• Strengthened communication between sponsored children and their international sponsors.
• Improved accountability and quality of sponsorship documentation.
• Reached over 1,000 unlinked children with malaria prevention and hygiene awareness education.
• Enhanced community participation and ownership through active involvement of traditional leaders, volunteers, and caregivers.
• Strengthened collaboration between CITAD and ActionAid Nigeria in implementing sponsorship activities.
• Successfully documented cases of absent and migrated children for sponsorship database updates.
• Demonstrated effective risk management through successful completion of activities despite funding delays, adverse weather conditions and transportation challenges.
• Reinforced child wellbeing through integrated health promotion and hygiene interventions.
• Generated valuable lessons that will improve planning, implementation and monitoring of future Child Message Collection exercises.