Coordinating and Mobilizing Civil Society Response in Nigeria (COMCiRIN)

COMCiRIN project sought to support the coordination and mobilization of a multi-sector Civil Society Response to COVID-19 to mitigate community transmission and minimize the health, nutrition, social and economic impact of COVID-19 at the subnational and community level.

The project harnessed the collective voice, expertise and reach Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to mobilize and track resources to strengthen current and post-pandemic response, improve citizen feedback loops/insights through CSO-led community engagement and develop strong national/subnational accountability frameworks.

COMCiRIN had four integral pillars:

1. Coordination
2. Capacity
3. Communication
4. Accountability

Objectives

1. Strengthen CSOs coordination and harnessing synergies for impact.
2. Improve communication around COVID 19, in particular, understanding and bringing up community experiences of the pandemic and its response to higher levels, so as to better inform policy and action.
3. Build the capacity of CSOs to contribute to the response effort.
4. Drive accountability for the rescue and response

Key gaps addressed by the project

• Weak coordination and implementation of policies and approaches from the national to the state level.
• Lack of systematic and centralized tracking of economic assistance from government and/or CSOs
• Poor distribution methods and systems for food and relief materials increase the risk of exposure. 
• Poor public understanding of government strategies
• Misinformation and rumors about COVID

Project Partners: Health System Consult Limited (HSCL), Health Sector Reform Foundation (HERFON), Vaccine Network for Disease Control, and Silver Lining for the Needy Initiative (SLNI) 

Funded by: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation through Health Systems Consult Limited (HSCL), Nigeria