PROJECT UPDATE
Project Overview
This initiative supported the Observatory for the Family, Women, and Children (OFFE) under Benin’s Ministry of Social Affairs and Microfinance (MASM) in enhancing the availability and utilization of data related to social protection and gender equality.
Project Profile
The Technical Assistance Partnership—Expert Deployment Mechanism (TAP-EDM) and Canadian expert in information technology, Vanina Ngalley, collaborated with the Government of Benin’s Observatoire de la Famille, de la Femme et de l’Enfant (OFFE) to support the delivery of comprehensive, inclusive, and gender-sensitive data. OFFE was established through an agreement between the government and its technical and financial partners to help improve the performance of the Ministry in charge of social affairs in managing information on social action targets.
This initiative reviewed OFFE’s current approach and tools for collecting and disseminating data on gender-based violence cases to automate the system and enhance data accuracy and quality.
Vanina developed a data visualization tool within the Système Intégré des Données relatives à la Famille, la Femme et l’Enfant (SIDoFFE) to support the OFFE in digitalizing the data collection infrastructure. Additionally, an expert in Communications supported the OFFE in creating a communication strategy to improve database management and effectively disseminate statistics.
Key Deliverables
- Capacity Support and Training
- Delivered training for external actors on newly digitized data collection tools
- Technical Support and Knowledge Products
- Completed a diagnostic assessment of the existing data collection architecture
- Developed an interactive data visualization dashboard
- Produced a digitized data collection tool for use by multi-sectoral actors
- Created job aids to support use of the new tools
Project Outcomes and Lessons Learned
The initiative strengthened the capacity of the Observatoire de la Famille, de la Femme et de l’Enfant (OFFE) to collect and share data on social protection and gender equality.
Key lessons learned include the value of continuous collaboration with partners and maintaining open communication channels throughout the project. Building strong relationships across institutions helps sustain momentum and supports the long-term use of results.
Direct Project Reach:
- 32 participants engaged through activities conducted and project deliverables
Public Engagement (Canada):
- 41 Canadians reached through outreach and engagement activities
Public Engagement Activities:
- Canadian expert Vanina Ngalley:
- Participated in a webinar
- Attended the TAP-EDM 4th Knowledge Harvest and Closing Event in Montreal
- Published the blog West Africa Mission – Stories of Implementation and Impact
- Published Webinar: Building Capacity to Make Rights a Reality
- Shared a LinkedIn article TAP-EDM/PAT-MDE expert deployment mechanism
