Strengthening Public Accountability For Results and Knowledge (SPARK 2)

The project aims to address significant challenges and power relations and provide system-level evidence across the two thematic areas on inhibitions to the delivery of BHCPF, MSS, and the Agriculture Development Projects across SPARKs focal states – focusing on systemic, political, and economic issues such as inadequate budgetary support, the influence of party politics in policy as well as cultural and other nuanced influences that impact on outcomes. Nigeria grapples with high maternal and newborn mortality rates, along with socioeconomic disparities in accessing essential health services. The implementation of BHCPF began in 2020, with the state government paying the initial 25% counterpart fund of N100 million, allowing the state to access the direct facility fund (DFF) in two tranches of 601,500 in 2020, as well as one and two tranches in 2021 and 2022, respectively, in addition to funds from other gateways.

It also focuses on systemic, political, and economic issues such as inadequate budgetary support, the influence of party politics in policy, gender disparities as well as cultural and other nuanced influences that impact on outcomes.

It was designed to build the capacity of journalists to hold power bearers, policymakers, and implementers accountable by publishing focused special and investigative reports and documentaries on delivery end at Primary Health Care, Ward Development Committees, across commodity groups within Small Scale Women Farmers Organisation (SWOFON) networks in the focal states to report and investigate the health and agriculture sectors.