Nutrition workers from the 17 local government units in NCR composed of City Nutrition Action Officers (CNAO), Assistant CNAO, Medical Nutrition Program Coordinator, City/Municipal Nutrition Program Coordinators and members of local nutrition committees attended and completed the Training on the Updated Monitoring and Evaluation Protocol held on February 26-27, 2019 at St. Giles Hotel, Makati City.
NNC-NCR Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Milagros Elisa V. Federizo and Nutrition Officer (NO) II Theresa A. Rivas also attended the training as participants. The training was facilitated by NO III Emerenciana L. Francia of NNC-NCR and Ms. Jasmine Anne DF. Tandingan from the Nutrition Surveillance Division of the National Nutrition Council (NNC).
The updated M&E framework and system, also known as the Monitoring and Evaluation of Local Level Plan Implementation (MELLPI) Protocol or MELLPI Pro was developed for the nutrition sector covering the assessment of nationwide initiatives along policy and legislation, nutrition service delivery, and capacity-building.
Aside from assessing the local nutrition programs using efficiency (inputs and outputs) and effectiveness (changes in nutritional situation) criteria, the new tool in addition emphasizes the following: a) assessment of LGUs’ progress toward compliance to quality standards, b) evidence-based validation, and c) mentoring through joint discussion for learning and action discussion with the LGU or nutrition workers assessed.
During the training, participants were provided with a background on the MELLPI Pro and were introduced to its key features, guidelines and tools. The group had hands-on training on the MELLPI Pro Tools for LGUs (city/municipal) and local nutrition workers (NAO, City/District Nutrition Program Coordinators and Barangay Nutrition Scholars).
To familiarize the participants on how to conduct the actual monitoring and evaluation activity, simulation exercises were done using the Local Nutrition Worker Monitoring Tool. The participants separated in groups did the actual desk review, use of electronic tool, presentation of results to the local nutrition workers and immediate supervisor and submission of MELLPI Pro results. The same was done using the LGU monitoring tool wherein participants acted as members of their city/municipal evaluation team evaluating their barangay nutrition committees (BNC).
Starting this 2019, the MELLPI Pro will be used in monitoring and evaluating the local implementation of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN). All LGUs are also expected to use the new tool in evaluating their respective local nutrition workers.
In her closing message, RNPC Mila Federizo thanked the participants for a very productive training. She appreciated the group for voicing out their comments, reactions, hesitations and fears in using the new tool. All feedback will be relayed to the NNC Central Office to help improve the MELLPI Pro guidelines.
“Change is never easy but it is inevitable. We ask for the cooperation of everyone to give the new a tool a chance since it is a national undertaking for the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN). Let’s give the MELLPI Pro a try and work together to further improve the nutrition situation in Metro Manila”, RNPC Federizo said.
A separate training will be conducted for the members of the Regional Nutrition Evaluation Team (RNET) on March 6-7, 2019. (TAR/NPC MEVF/NNC-NCR)
