TITLE:
Evaluating the Impact of a Technical Assistance Approach for COVID-19 Vaccination Coordination and Coverage in Nigerian States: A Most Significant Change Evaluation Study
AUTHORS:
Loveth Metiboba, Toju Ogele, David Akpan, Temitayo Tella-Lah, Atef Fawaz, Ngodoo Akuto, Jeremiah Edi, Glory Nwakaogor
KEYWORDS:
COVID-19, Technical Working Group, Vaccination, Technical Assistance, Planning and Coordination, Data Use, Institutional Strengthening
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Social Sciences,
Vol.14 No.5,
May
20,
2026
ABSTRACT: In 2023, the challenge of achieving COVID-19 vaccination targets in Nigeria, especially at the subnational levels, was enormous. The Technical Assistance for COVID-19 Vaccine Deployment Project was implemented in 18 states to strengthen coordination, data use, and institutional capacity. A Most Significant Change evaluation was conducted to identify outcomes attributable to the TA intervention. Six states, one from each geopolitical zone, were purposively selected. Fifty-five stakeholders participated, and 32 significant change stories were randomly selected and analyzed. Findings revealed notable improvements across all domains. COVID-19 Technical Working Groups demonstrated stronger planning, coordination, and functionality, and increased use of data for planning, resource allocation, and targeting. Institutional strengthening was reflected in greater government ownership, enhanced supervision, and improved capacity of state actors to manage data and logistics. The evaluation highlights the critical role of targeted technical assistance in strengthening health systems in resource-constrained settings and addressing key response gaps.