The Federal Government, in partnership with the World Bank, has commenced the implementation of the Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity–Governance (HOPE-GOV) Programme.
It is a $500 million credit facility aimed at strengthening financial and human resource management in basic education and primary healthcare across the country.
The programme, which is domiciled in the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, is designed to support improved funding, accountability and workforce development in the two critical social sectors.
Of the total financing, $480 million is set aside to incentivise states to achieve specific Disbursement Linked Results, while $20 million is allocated to an Investment Project Financing component.
National Coordinator of the HOPE-Governance Programme, Dr. Assad Hassan, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja while briefing the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Deborah O. N. Odoh.
He explained that the Investment Project Financing component focuses on programme coordination, verification of results at the state level alongside monitoring and evaluation, and technical assistance for implementing agencies.
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“$480 million is earmarked to incentivize the states to achieve the Disbursement Linked Results in the two sectors while $20 million Investment Project Financing component has three key areas for implementation. One is programme coordination, second is verification of results at the state level as well as monitoring and evaluation and third is technical assistance for implementing agencies i.e. the states, UBEC, Ministerial Oversight Committee of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning,” he said.
Dr. Hassan noted that the HOPE-GOV Programme is structured as a World Bank-assisted credit split into two components, namely the Programme-for-Results (P-for-R) and the Investment Project Financing.
According to him, the initiative is focused on addressing long-standing challenges in financing, governance and manpower in basic education and primary healthcare.
“In terms of programme financing and scope, it’s a World Bank assisted credit of $500 million, which is split into two components. One is the Program for Result while the second is Investment Project Financing,” he stated.
He identified the programme’s core focus areas as increasing financing for basic education and primary healthcare, strengthening transparency and accountability in budgeting and audit processes, and supporting the recruitment and retention of teachers and primary healthcare workers to close manpower gaps.
“For HOPE-Governance, our primary objective is to see how we improve financial and human resource management in these two sectors by focusing on three key areas: the first is increase in funding for the two sectors. In this regard, we are working with the Universal Basic Education Commission as well as the Ministerial Oversight Committee, Basic Health Care Provision Fund in the Federal Ministry of Health and their counterparts at the states level,” Dr. Hassan said.
He added that the second pillar of the programme centres on public financial management reforms. “Then the second key area is enhancing transparency and accountability in the budget for both sectors, audit report, citizens format budget. Basically it is about public financial management in the two sectors,” he explained.
On workforce development, he said the programme is targeting better staffing outcomes in schools and health facilities. “Then the third and final area. We want to see improved recruitment and retention of teachers as well as primary health workers,” he said.
Dr. Hassan disclosed that participating states are assessed using six Disbursement Linked Indicators, which are tracked by the HOPE-Governance Programme and evaluated by Independent Verification Agents before funds are released.
He stated that the incentive-based structure of the programme encourages states to reinvest funds earned from achieved results into subsequent performance cycles.
“The way the Programme is designed, you achieve something this year and you get incentivized so that you put that money back to work on the second year results,” he said, adding that the programme would soon engage Interim Verification Agents to validate first-year results submitted by the states.
Providing a background to the initiative, the National Coordinator said the World Bank approved the HOPE-GOV Programme on September 26, 2024, following the successful negotiation of the Financing Agreement in August 2024. He added that the Federal Executive Council granted approval in February 2025, the Financing Agreement was countersigned by the Federal Government in April 2025, and the programme became effective in September 2025.
He disclosed that all 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory have indicated interest in participating in the programme, with Subsidiary Agreements already dispatched to the states for execution.
In her response, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Deborah O. N. Odoh, pledged the ministry’s support for the successful implementation of the HOPE-Governance Programme.
She also commended the programme for the progress achieved within a relatively short period, expressing confidence that its objectives would significantly strengthen service delivery in basic education and primary healthcare nationwide.