The UNICEF–CHAN PACE Project is a strategic partnership designed to strengthen the quality, efficiency, and accountability of Polio Supplemental Immunisation Activities (SIAs) across high-risk states in Nigeria. At a critical time in the global push toward polio eradication, the project addresses one of the most decisive, but often overlooked, drivers of campaign success: the timely, transparent, and accountable facilitation of operational payments.
Implemented across 15 high-priority states (Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara), PACE supports the seamless execution of Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilisation (ACSM) and Vaccine Supply and Logistics (VSL) activities by ensuring that frontline workers, community influencers, and service providers are mobilised, compensated promptly, and fully supported to deliver high-quality campaigns.
A Systems-Strengthening Approach to Polio Eradication
The PACE Project is built on a clear and impactful premise: when systems work efficiently, campaigns perform optimally. CHAN plays a pivotal role by strengthening the operational backbone of SIAs through:
- Timely Payment Facilitation: Ensuring rapid, accurate, and well-documented payments to thousands of campaign actors across all implementation levels
- Enhanced Accountability Systems: Deploying robust financial controls, verification processes, and audit trails that significantly reduce fiduciary risk
- Operational Efficiency: Aligning payments with campaign timelines to sustain motivation, improve participation, and minimise disruptions
- Community-Level Reach: Supporting activities ranging from stakeholder engagement and media outreach to community dialogues and frontline worker training
This systems-driven approach directly improves campaign quality, reduces non-compliance, and enhances vaccine uptake in underserved and high-risk communities.
Demonstrated Excellence and Financial Integrity
CHAN has delivered exceptional performance under the PACE Project, consistently meeting and exceeding implementation benchmarks. With strong institutional systems and a proven track record in managing large-scale donor funds, CHAN ensures:
- Traceable and verifiable payments across all supported activities
- Rapid disbursement cycles, enabling uninterrupted field operations
- Compliance with UNICEF financial and reporting standards
- Comprehensive documentation, including payment vouchers, attendance records, and verification reports
This level of financial discipline not only strengthens programme delivery but also builds confidence among partners, governments, and communities.
Expanding Impact: Integration with MNTE
Building on its success in polio SIAs, CHAN is extending its expertise under the PACE platform to support Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus Elimination (MNTE) activities in Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, and Sokoto States. This expansion demonstrates the adaptability and scalability of CHAN’s systems, leveraging established operational and financial frameworks to support broader immunisation and public health priorities.
Beyond polio eradication, the PACE Project is contributing to long-term health system strengthening by institutionalising efficient payment systems, improving coordination across stakeholders, and reinforcing trust at the community level.
Through this partnership, CHAN continues to demonstrate that strong systems, trusted networks, and financial accountability are critical enablers of public health impact, ensuring that life-saving vaccines reach every child, everywhere.
