During the selection and review processes, the role of IOM country offices has been significantly recognized and emphasized by the ECOWAS Commission. Through the evaluation process, significant information and expertise coming from the IOM COs have allowed the Grant Evaluation Committee (GEC) to proceed efficiently with the selection of the proposals received. Also, the NSA projects implementation may pose many challenges that cannot be solve at the regional level as they have to be resolved in a timely manner with regular monitoring and technical assistance at the country level.

In March, 2017 the IOM Chiefs of missions in the region nominated national focal points to support the implementation of the NSAs projects in their respective countries. Key responsibilities of the national focal points are to coordinate and cooperate with the NSAs in order to ensure the implementation of the project within the proposed timeframe.

A Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Plan is also being developed in this regard. As such, it is critical to establish a mechanism to ensure that the M&E Plan is implemented and that the follow-up activities are conducted in a coherent and efficient manner. Therefore, it is envisaged to organize a training to help the IOM focal points to monitor and evaluate the projects

The training brought together the IOM focal points and discussed on the implementation of the projects by the NSAs in their respective countries and to provide IOM focal points an initial understanding of the monitoring exercise; their roles and responsibilities; and the processes that will take place during the implementation.
The training objectives included:

• To present the NSA Fund objectives and give an overview of the NSAs project activities;
• To review the monitoring system put in place that will be implemented by the IOM focal point;
• To provide training in the basic tools and steps that will help the IOM focal points to monitor effectively and in a participatory way the implementation of the project activities and to discuss how to implement their work plans effectively;
• To develop a concrete monitoring and evaluation plan at the outset of the project and ensure compliance with the NSA Fund specific planning, reporting and monitoring activities;
• To plan strategically on the way forward