HERHER

NIGERIA

3 PILLARS OF RHV NIGERIA

PILLAR ONE: CAPACITY DEVELOPMENTDevelop capacity of grassroots women to efficiently and effectively engage in decision making processes on issues affecting their lives “Women of my constituency now know how to engage with the government particularly our representatives at the National Assembly. This is kudos to WRAPA and the Raising Her Voice Project”…Chief (Mrs.) Felicia Sani, National President; of Market Women Association of Nigeria

Chief mrs sani pix

PILLAR TWO: LEGAL REFORMSEnactment of integral laws that would eliminate discriminatory provisions in existing laws/policies and guarantee the enjoyment of human rights by the Nigeria woman“With the sustained advocacy to legislators particularly at state levels, integral laws are being enacted to address issues of concerns around women issues especially violence against women. This is in line with the provisions of the AU Women’s Protocol that makes it obligatory for state parties to legislate on certain provisions of the document…Abiola Akiode, Exe. Dir., Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (RHV Partner)

PILLAR THREE: Domestication of the African Union Women’s Protocol in Nigeria

OBJECTIVES OF RHV NIGERIA

Networking/lobbying/Advocacy/LinkagesSustained engagement with Public/Traditional institutions & decision making forumsCapacity development of CBOs/grassroots associations to achieve the rights of poor womenLearning/lessons sharingDisseminating good practice through innovative media and communications work

STRATEGIES/APPROACHES

A traditional ruler admonishing the people during a THM

PROGRESS Legal Reforms Legislation on GBV/VAW

National: VAPP Bill –successful Public Hearing awaiting 3rd Reading Lagos - Domestic Violence and Related Offences law Enugu, Anambra & Imo - Prohibition of Infringement of Widow and Widower Fundamental Right Law Edo - Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Law

Domestication of the AU Women’s Protocol Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill

National: After its articulation, had to wait because of the elections; will be introduced by September 2011 Kaduna & Ebonyi – awaiting 2nd reading Lagos & Plateau – process of being gazetted not yet read Anambra – passed by legislature awaiting Governor’s consent Ogun – held Pub hearing awaiting 3rd Reading

Alliance building / Networking Equipped and improved the capacity of grassroots women leaders with skills and knowledge to engage in advocacy for women’s inclusion through capacity building trainings Mobilization rallies at state and national levels

Public Hearing on VAPP Bill

Constituency Outreach in Ilorin

PROGRESS CONTD. National lobbying and advocacy Active involvement of FBOs as implementing partners Successful advocacy visits Engagement of members of the traditional councils at THM in different communities Wide dissemination of reader friendly IEC/BCC materials Community mobilization and strengthening Attitudinal changes ---consent in marriage, GBV impunity, son preference, HWPs etc “Catch Them Young” (School debates)

Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E)Baseline surveyfield visitsReview/Planning meetings with implementing partners / stakeholdersimpact assessment and sustainability trackingMidterm evaluation by an external consulatant

Nkechi Nwabueze speaking during a review & planning meeting with implementing

partners/stakeholders

OUTPUT

10 Capacity building trainings on advocacy for grassroots women leaders and activists 100

10 Capacity building trainings on advocacy for grassroots women leaders and activists 100

Mandate Protection Training for female political aspirants in collaboration with CDD, GAA & WPEP in FCT for the 7 Statesin North Central zone of Nigeria 30

Mandate Protection Training for female political aspirants in collaboration with CDD, GAA & WPEP in FCT for the 7 Statesin North Central zone of Nigeria 30

Leadership development for womenEnhanced political participation for women

Capacity building for female aspirants for elective office towards the 2011 elections in collaboration with the Fed. Min. of Women Affairs, GAA and WPEP in FCT & Minna in Niger State229 out of a national total of 820 female aspirants

Capacity building for female aspirants for elective office towards the 2011 elections in collaboration with the Fed. Min. of Women Affairs, GAA and WPEP in FCT & Minna in Niger State229 out of a national total of 820 female aspirants

Interventions to address

GBV

2 Constituency Outreaches

18605 Town Hall Meetings

280

Interactive Session with

Law Enforcement

Agents 112

1st & 2nd Reading of VAPP Bill

430 (Cumulative of Parliamentarians in

session, CSOs, media & other

stakeholders)

1st & 2nd Reading of VAPP Bill

430 (Cumulative of Parliamentarians in

session, CSOs, media & other

stakeholders)

Public Hearing

on VAPP Bill 360

Public Hearing

on VAPP Bill 360

2 Commemor

ation of Annual ‘16

Days Activism on

VAW’

2 Commemor

ation of Annual ‘16

Days Activism on

VAW’

Production & Dissemination of IEC Materials on GBV &

AU Women’s Protocol9,500

Media Campaign Jingle in 4 local FM Stations

1,500,000

2 Annual Press

Conferences in the FCT3,000,000

Panel discussions:*2 National TV - 8,000,000*3 National Network Radio - 15,000,000*4 local FM stations - 4,000,000

Media Dialogue/Capacity Building for

gender correspondence

of print & Electronic

Media20

Gender focused IEC Intervention

IMPACTLegal Reforms Gradual increase in social intolerance to GBV/VAW thereby dismantling common justifications for GBV especially rape as well as accountability of institutions in Nigeria, the Police in particularAlliance building / Networking Synergy and Unity of Purpose among Civil Society Actors Enhanced knowledge and leadership skills for grassroots WomenNational lobbying and advocacy Improved response to gender issues by policy makers particularly the legislature Improved Collaboration between government and CSOsCommunity mobilization and strengthening Enhanced CSO-Media partnership Significant shift in the mindset of rural women

Members of the RHV Network in a strategy meeting with the Chair, HCWA, NASS

Knowledge of the workings of systems and institutions engenders support and removes potential bottlenecksProgramming for grassroots projects requires looking at issues from the lenses of the grassroots peopleEffective and meaningful engagement of Legislators requires sustained dialogueThe use of indigenous language, simplification and translation of vital documents and communication engenders buy in and commitment to a causeConfidence building and support of community leaders are key to achieving programme depth and high impact on the lives of the members of the communityBest results for work in communities are achieved when participatory training methods and THM to achieve the objectives of the project are utilized Working with grassroots communities require appropriate timing and involvement

LESSONS LEARNT

LESSONS LEARNT CONTD. Identifying and leveraging on policy moments is strategic for the amplification of a cause and makes easier entry points Inclusivity through sectoral engagement of the institutions of religious and culture dismantles apprehensions and engenders dialogue and negotiations on issues of women’s rights Promoting shared lessons and best practices helps to improve the capacity of partnersTransparency and full disclosure of financial status is key in gaining the confidence of group membersAlways necessary and advisable that agreement on expectations and deliverables are put in writing and endorsedQualitative knowledge when passed on to women improves their self esteem and commitments towards promotion and protection of their rightsThe assumptions around illiterate and less privileged women is misplaced as the project has established that these women can negotiate for their rights when their capacity to do so is built appropriatelyEngagement of legislative technical support staff secures institutional memory to mitigate the turnover of elected members of Parliament

Dialogue with male heads of households on issues of

Domestic Violence

Hadeezah Haruna-Usie, RHV Nigeria project coordinator in a

dialogue with Sam Dabeng, Dep. Dir., AU Div., Min. of Foreign

Affairs during a partnership visit to the Ministry

CHALLENGES Poor budgeting for programme activities ? Active participation of secretariat at programme and events for effective impact assessment? Limited reach in terms of beneficiaries Deep-seated traditions and cultural inhibitions informed by patriarchal system Sectarian crisis in some parts of Nigeria Weak resource support for monitoring and evaluation

Leverage on existing platforms and intervention Diversified fund raising for the project Replication of the DFID Issue Based approach to generate support and project buy in by other stakeholders strategic seizure of policy moments and landmark events to raise the visibility of specific gender issues and the voices of women

WHAT IS WORKING

“intervention stra

tegy

adopted for the

implementation of th

e

RHV project has proved

very efficient and

effective”

…Hauwa Evelyn Shekarau,

Consultant fo

r Mid Term

Evaluation of R

HV Nigeria.

“intervention stra

tegy

adopted for the

implementation of th

e

RHV project has proved

very efficient and

effective”

…Hauwa Evelyn Shekarau,

Consultant fo

r Mid Term

Evaluation of R

HV Nigeria.

Ladies & gentlemen!

Thank you for your spared time!!!!