Kingsley Agu, Kaduna State Chapter Lead

Kingsley sensitizing head teacher, community & SBMC members in Fadan Kamatan, Zango Kataf LGA, Kaduna state.

In 2017, my team and I began tracking education projects in grassroots communities across four Local Government Areas (LGA) in Kaduna state, Nigeria. During the course of tracking, we adopted a more sustainable approach which was to get the community buy-in and collaboration. This means they take responsibility for ensuring these projects are implemented. We decided to review existing structures that address education issues at the community level.

Prior to this, we had heard a lot of discussions about how the community members cannot really comprehend and actualize development projects because of their technicalities. We identified this as a knowledge gap and devised strategies to empower the people by building their capacity on understanding these projects.

We chose the community structures because they are the direct beneficiaries of the work being done at the community level. They have children attending schools built at the community level; they receive healthcare from the Primary Healthcare Centres and because they are directly impacted by the outcomes of these projects, it is important that they own the tracking processes.

The task at hand was to track the construction of 70 schools within a frame of three years in four LGAs of Jema’a, Kudan, Kajuru and Zango kataf Local Government Areas, so that more children in marginalised communities can access basic education.

Since the Follow The Money team cannot be everywhere at a time,  we set up a structure made up of already existing Community Based Organizations (CBOs), School-Based Management Committee (SBMC), the Parents Teacher Association (PTA), Artisans, Community members (Youth and Women leaders) and Traditional rulers in some instances. These groups formed what we call the School Monitoring Team (SMT).

Kingsley sensitizing head teacher, community & SBMC members in Nisama, Jema’a LGA, Kaduna state.

We identified gaps in the capacity of the SMT, the quality of information and the amount of information they had access to regarding constructions or Projects going on in the communities. We discovered the gaps in the way and manner with which they implemented the guidelines for their associations. For example the SBMC has a guideline that empowers it to monitor schools in its local communities but the unit has not been optimal so our job was to empower and build the capacity of the  team.

To get them ready, we organised a series of training targeted at the gaps we observed. We also provided them with information needed to offer  oversight on education projects particularly the Universal Basic Education projects in their respective communities. We were able to access information (including the Bill of Quantity)  about the projects from Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board (KAD-SUBEB) using the Freedom of Information act. We trained the SMT on how to interpret and make use of a Bill of Quantity (BOQ), how to effectively track, monitor and report their findings and how to carry out a Community Action to demand for accountability from respective government agencies in whatever project-education or healthcare-in their communities. By empowering their skills, we were giving them a voice to demand accountability from their government.  Together with these community members, we formed a formidable team. We attended meetings with Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board, engaged them in tracking activities and tracked projects going on in 23 schools in the four local government Area worth over 1.5 million US Dollars in just a bit above one year.

Outcome of the capacity of these groups that we had built was that the community members independently petitioned the anti-graft agency, Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to sanction SUBEB in Taban Sani to apologized to the Contractors for acting ignorantly in Kufana to the detailed Community members of Fadan Kamantan down to ever active Nisama Community members, they are the unsung heroes of our tracking Success. They understood their right from the onset that if these projects were not properly implemented, they would suffer for it. They knew that their livelihood depended on the success of these projects, they understood that they have a role to play in ensuring better service delivery at their respective communities and they delivered- the SMTs delivered!

Together with their delivery and our engagements with Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board, the community members earned themselves a seat at the procurement table and tendering process of the board and will be part of the project pre-contract processes and KAD-SUBEB has also made a policy that no Contractor will ever go to any community to carry out any project without first informing the community, a policy we helped influence.

By Lucy Abagi James

‘My daughter forfeited her chance to study Engineering at the University of Port-Harcourt because she had compounded breathing problems caused by soot.  She is currently learning how to sew clothes and we are hopeful that by the next admission season, she will gain admission to study at another University’. – Anonymous

A lady (in her late 30’s) who lost her younger brother a year ago to cancer, believes his death was linked to environmental pollution’ of black soot. Sadly, these harrowing experiences are the daily realities of people living in Port-Harcourt, Nigeria. 

Many years ago,my grandmother journeyed from her village in Oron, in search of a ‘better life’ in Port-Harcourt. Her countless stories on her sojourn for a better life in Po-ta-kot (Pidgin) as she fondly called it, kept arousing my inquisitiveness to understudy Port- Harcourt. The city of PH as it called, is one of the boisterous in Nigeria,  and the capital of Rivers State, Nigeria. Through the benefits of the Nigerian Petroleum Industry, PH further developed, becoming commercially viable and attracting migrants from other States who sought better means of living.

The narrative has since changed. A city that was once the dream of a people has suddenly become their nightmare.  This situation is further worsened for the marginalized and deprived sub-sect.

People have not only lost their means of livelihood but also their lost loved ones to the clutches of the Black Soot. Some have had their health deteriorate, and have been diagnosed with cancer. Others have had to relocate to other cities for fear of the dreadful. The town covered in black, has now become a shadow of what it used to be. If you swipe a finger at a car glass, the colour on your thumb is black soot. Food, windows, beds, furniture, electronics, merchandise are all  smeared with soot. Children are deprived of the opportunity to explore their childhood because movements are restricted, still, in their small play areas, their feet are stained, and unknowingly the soot particles find their way into their homes creating more harm and unavoidable damages to their health.

Soot broke out in the city two years ago as a result of incomplete combustion of carbon, the burning of crude oil on both illegal refinery grounds or government confiscation policy. Experts estimate that about six (6) million residents of Port Harcourt are exposed to the risk of cancer since the emergence of SOOT in the city.

Black soot is the fine black particle, chiefly composed of carbon, produced by incomplete combustion of coal, oil, wood, or other fuels. Soot can consist of acids, chemicals, metals, soils, and dust. The common trait of soot particles is that they are extremely tiny – 2.5 micrometers or smaller in diameter. This is smaller than dust and mold, and is about 1/30 the diameter of a human hair’. 

As a result of this menace, Port Harcourt is now known as the Black City. Majority believe that the source of this black soot is due to incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons as well as asphalt processing, burning of barges used for oil bunkering and illegal artisanal refinery operations in some parts of the state. 

In a more humane clime, black soot would be called  a national disaster and a state of emergency declared. A saner government would have halted the insensitive activities of these Oil Companies, and evacuated citizens in most affected regions. It would have accelerated the  total clean-up of the region. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Little or low attention has been given to the effect of this environmental and climate conditions The tall buildings and white sparkling mansions are slowly losing their splendour. The town has gone sour and many like my grandmother have long lost faith of a better life in po-ta-kot. 

Clearly, as are many issues in Nigeria, soot is believed to be  hugely politicized, making allowance for roles to be shifted. The State Government points fingers at the Federal Government and vice versa. Painfully, the magnitude of the blast is yet to hit the State, although the menace is not getting any serious attention, most of the people affected still go about  their daily tasks. Experts still maintain that the presence of soot in the atmosphere is dangerous and carcinogenic and constant exposures can result in numerous and diverse respiratory diseases. 

After years of waiting, wailing and increased death toll in the black city, on Thursday 19 April 2018 the people of Po-ta-kot marched out in quantum to demand immediate action by the government. Connected Development holistically joined this march and KC Nwakalor, a distinctive and professional Photographer brushed up his magic camera to gather live images and experiences, so the voices of the residents can be amplified, and the oil rich state rescued from total environmental degradation. 

KC Nwakalor recounting his ground experience, and direct impact of SOOT on the masses, He opined that the black soot settles on everything and finds its way into the corners of living rooms no matter how hard people try to stop it. “Food items in Port Harcourt markets are not spared from getting mixed with these deadly black particles that are massively present everywhere.

Deeply concerned by this issue, should citizens carry placards before a serious attention is drawn to a case of environmental setback like this?  Be that as it may, this march elucidates citizens distrust in the government and lack of human empathy by the bourgeoisie in ensuring that a joint action is taken to support the marginalized and most affected populace of the state. 

Nwakalor further arbitrated that the mass turnout of people was to ensure that likely solutions and steps are taken by the government to stop the activities of Illegal refineries (a huge business venture enjoyed by certain political thugs and loyalists). The Federal and State Governments, security agencies as well as all agencies in charge of environment and other agencies handling related issues, should toe a defined and safe path in handling illegal oil vessels. “The government should constitute local councils into environmental councils to monitor their areas for any possible illegal refining of crude and other dangerous acts that are inimical to human existence.”

I am positive that some day, the tall, gigantic, stainless and sparkling white buildings of Po-ta-kot will return. Po-ta-kot will be scrubbed white and the present black city will receive its redemption and be polished in gold. Our children will explore the blessings of childhood, market women will display their goods in style, the hospitals will not be crowded with victims  and development will return to the Black City. 

“I am the voice of dying children, displaced women, and people suffering at the hands of the climate crisis created by rich countries…Voices from the global south deserve to be heard… we are humans who do not deserve to suffer a crisis that we did not create.” 

-Hilda Flavia Nakabuye, Ugandan Climate Activist.

After running-over an extra 48 hours, COP25 ended with a lack of any tangible results and instead highlighted the extreme disconnect between the governments of the largest polluting nations and the scientific and activist communities. This conference was supposed to be an opportunity for governments to raise their ambitions in response to the climate emergency, but instead allowed them to continue to evade the issue and stick their heads in the sand, leaving the big issues, such as carbon markets, for COP26 in Glasgow. With the devastating climate catastrophes currently happening, such as the bushfires in Australia, this is an extremely disappointing outcome. It highlights just how far we are from making significant progress in the climate discussion, with the largest countries showing no plans to increase their ambition.

Although being the continent that contributes the least to the emissions of greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide, Africa is the first to be severely impacted by the effects of climate change. In fact, Africa is already suffering from the consequences of climate change, from the burning of the Congo rainforest to the shrinking of Lake Chad. These, and other extreme weather events such as droughts and floods, are severely impacting Africa’s chances to grow by affecting crop yields and livestock production, leading to food insecurity, further exacerbating poverty and hunger. Moreover, it increases internal migration as places become inhabitable; water scarcity, which in turn could lead to higher instances of armed conflict due to competition for resources. It also increases health risks, such as malaria due to an increase in temperature, respiratory diseases such as asthma due to an increase in air pollution, and heat stress; and so much more, all of which will have a negative impact on the chances of achieving the SDGs. 

Despite these current issues, for many in the global south, climate change is often seen as a far-away problem, as western media focuses on issues that are not relatable, such as the melting of the icebergs. That is not to say these issues are not important and should not be discussed, but rather highlights the need for the amplification of localised crises caused by climate change, as only then will we be able to combat these crises effectively.

Although assistance from the global north is necessary to make tangible change, in order for these changes to be implemented, it is vital for national governments to take action and be more accountable. In Nigeria, there are no shortage of options for ways the government can respond to climate change, for example, making an investment in climate change research and supporting brilliant organisations like the National Agency for Great Green Wall (NAGGW), Establishment of the Climate Change Commission Bill (ECCC),  and other initiatives and deploy new solutions to problems society is currently facing. These investments can help eliminate the use of coal as an energy source and focus on renewable energy; enforce sustainable policies, especially in the energy sector; increase financing in health and education sectors and so much more. The failure of the largest and most guilty nations during this conference should not be an excuse to focus on one of the biggest issues threatening human existence. Instead, developing countries, such as Nigeria, should use this as an opportunity to lead by example. Organisations like Connected Development (CODE) are vital in order to apply pressure to the government to ensure it is doing everything in its power to respond appropriately to the climate emergency, especially in terms of transparency and financial accountability.

Despite its shortcomings, if COP25 showed us anything, it was that the youth and grassroots activists are not going anywhere anytime soon. Fridays For Future occupied the main plenary stage on the 11th and were commended for their efforts, highlighting the impact grassroots groups have on the climate movement. However, on the same day, Indigenous activists gathered to sing and chant as another form of protest, but these activists were treated aggressively by security, thrown out of the conference, and had their badges confiscated. This difference in treatment between the two groups highlights how indegnous and marginalised voices are still silenced and forcefully pushed out of climate conversations. As the continent with the younger population, Africa has so much potential for youth-led activism. CODE, as an organisation whose main goal is to amplify these voices, must continue to use its platform to bring awareness to these issues. 

Nigeria Health Watch and Connected Development launched a report on primary health care to advocate for improvements and greater accountability in the primary health care system in Nigeria.

In order to show primary health care provision at the State level, the report looked at primary health care service provision in Kano State as a case study, evaluating whether the state’s primary health care provision is in line with the minimum standards of primary health care as outlined by the Federal Ministry of Health. The monitoring of service delivery in Primary Healthcare Centres was designed to monitor progress in the implementation of primary health care services particularly maternal, newborn and child health services.

The assessment in 49 primary health centres (PHCs) across Local Government Areas (LGA) in Kano State was carried out using both qualitative and quantitative methods.

Speaking at the launch in Kano, Director of Programmes at Nigeria Health Watch, Vivianne Ihekweazu said, “Results reveal that all the PHCs assessed seem to lack some component of the basic requirements as outlined by the NPHCDA minimum standards for PHCs. Based on the minimum standards, some basic infrastructure and human resource are expected to be found in a PHC facility. This is essential in order to facilitate delivery of timely and efficient services to healthcare users.”

Receiving the report, the Executive Secretary of the Kano State Primary Health Care Management Board, Dr. Tijjani Hussaini said, “…

According to CODE’s Chief Executive, Hamzat Lawal, the report has provided greater clarity on the standards of PHCs in Kano State. Now is the time for Kano State NPHCDA and other statutory regulators to step up and put in place sustainable measures to strengthen the healthcare system. I must add that the gaps identified in this report are not unique to Kano alone. NPHCDA and the Ministry of Health should prioritize provision of the basic requirement that will ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all.

From the report, it is clear that there are gaps in service delivery and adherence to the minimum standards for primary health care. The resultant effect is poor health seeking behaviour among patients in the State. The consensus at the end of the launch of the report was that the local health authorities need to re-examine the services provided at PHCs  and re-equip them with necessary infrastructure and human resource to enhance their service quality and readiness, in order to achieve universal health coverage (UHC).

Other states in Nigeria should carry out a similar assessment of service delivery in their local primary healthcare centres.

About Nigeria Health Watch

Nigeria Health Watch is a not-for-profit organization that aims to advocate for the health of Nigerians, strengthen the capacity of health sector organisations, enlighten Nigerians on good health habits and practices and engage and support government and other partners to formulate and implement positive and effective health policies. Its dual strengths in health and communication enables it to provide solutions for communications and advocacy in the health sector.

About Connected Development

Connected Development [CODE] is a non-governmental organization, whose mission is to improve access to information and empower local communities in Africa. Its initiative, Follow The Money, advocates and tracks government/international aid spending in health, WASH, and education across grassroots and communities to promote and ensure open government and service delivery.

Africa’s leading anti-corruption and social accountability initiative, Follow The Money, has emerged winner of the 2019 Council of Europe’s Democracy Innovation Award.

The award which recognizes Follow The Money as one of the leading ground-breaking initiatives in the world, that are promoting democratic principles, was received by the Initiative’s Chief Communications Officer, Kevwe Oghide at the closing plenary of the Council of Europe’s World Forum for Democracy 2019, recently concluded in Strasbourg, France.

Expressing delight about the recognition, Founder of Follow The Money, Hamzat Lawal, says this award comes with the responsibility to intensify our commitment to promote transparency and accountability in governance and to amplify the voices of the marginalised as a way to accelerate social change.

Lawal who also doubles as the Chief Executive of Connected Development [CODE] stressed the need for more African countries to adopt Follow The Money as a tool to build stronger institutions. This would place African countries on the pathway to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and the Afrucan Union Agenda 2063. He thanked the donors- Luminate, John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Open Society Initiative for West Africa, Oxfam and Actionaid- who have  supported the movement and helped us reach more grassroots communities.

The Democracy Innovation Award comes at a time when Follow The Money is celebrating 7 years of leading citizens campaigns at the grassroots and have successfully tracked over $10 million and directly impacted over 4 million lives with over 6,000 dedicated volunteers using technology tools to bring voices to the front burner. 

Ms Oghide, who presented the initiative alongside over 27 brilliant initiatives from across the world, stated that, “it is incredible that we won knowing that Nigeria is not even a member state of the Council of Europe. Nigeria, Poland and France emerged finalists, yet delegates at the Council’s Hemicycle voted for Follow The Money to win the Democratic Innovation award. This evidently shows democracy at work.”

The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić, in her remark, noted that Follow The Money has shown exemplary leadership in advancing democratic governance. She added that the internet, social media and Artificial Intelligence have all democratized access to information and given millions of people their voice. The challenge is to ensure that information contributes to democracy, which Follow The Money is doing.

The World Forum for Democracy is a platform for dialogue and democratic participation which brings new ideas into the work of the Council of Europe and promotes its principles across the world. The forum is placed under the high patronage of Emmanuel MACRON, President of the French Republic and will hold between the 5th and 8th of November 2019.

By Saater Ikpaahindi

As I looked through Connected Development’s array of remarkable pictures that document the organisation’s work, many pictures grabbed my attention. Perhaps it’s because of my child protection background but this picture instantly brought me a thousand worries. The picture of children drawing water from a poorly constructed, widely gaping water well.  The thoughts that ran through my mind were; what if the children fell into the well? What if there was no adult in sight to help them out? What if they drowned? 

My mind kept racing with these thoughts as I also pondered if the water was clean enough to make these children risk their lives. Pictures like these, draw you into the reality of the limited access to clean water supply many Nigerians face especially those living in rural communities.

Although Nigeria has made great progress in the provision of clean water for its citizens, however, 59 million people in Nigeria do not have access to clean drinking water (according to WaterAid), that is approximately 1 in 3 people. This has contributed to high morbidity rates, especially among children under five. Using dirty and contaminated water increases the likelihood of contracting water borne diseases which leads to thousands of deaths yearly, disproportionately affecting women and children. According to UNICEF, 70% of diarrhoeal and enteric disease burden can be traced to poor access to adequate water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and this affects the poorest children the most.

Like the appalling provision of many basic amenities, the inadequate provision of clean water facilities in Nigeria can be traced to poor governance, corruption and poor accountability and transparency. Funds dedicated for the provision of basic social amenities like clean drinking water are often siphoned by public officials for their own personal enrichment, pushing millions of Nigerian’s especially women and children into extreme poverty. 

To address these issues, for the past seven years, Connected Development (CODE) has been working with marginalised communities to build their capacity to hold government accountable for the provision of social services meant for their communities. CODE’s innovative initiative Follow The Money, provides a platform for communities to track government and international aid funds for building of schools, restoration of healthcare facilities and installation of WASH facilities.

Water is an essential necessity of life; as a matter of fact, water is a matter of  life and death. Every Nigerian child deserves safe water and adequate sanitation in School, every healthcare centre deserves WASH facilities especially in relation to maternal and new-born health (MNH), every Nigerian household deserves clean drinking water and a basic toilet and, every community deserves to be open defecation free. 

It is time to take greater action. I therefore call on the Nigerian government and relevant stakeholders to accelerate efforts to improve access to WASH facilities across communities in Nigeria by adopting innovative and sustainable global best practices and institutionalising inclusive WASH policies. 

Zaliha Abdullawal

Prior to joining Follow The Money, my notion of Non-Governmental Organisation was a bit different. Although, I had always been interested in humanitarian work, I could not access the right platform to build my skills. In 2017, when I got the chance to work for Connected Development (CODE), I hit the ground running. My first task was to track Universal Basic Education Intervention Funds in Kaduna State across four Local Government Areas (LGA)— Kudan, Kajuru, Zangon Kataf and Jema’a. It was a huge task at the time and I was completely overwhelmed. We vigorously campaigned for change in the Education system in Kaduna state where 1 billion naira Universal Basic Education (UBEC) funds was earmarked for the construction and reconstruction of facilities in 23 basic schools across the four LGAs. We inaugurated a committee called School Monitoring Team (SMT) which comprises of School Based Monitoring Committee, National Union of Teachers, Parents Teachers Association and over 200 community members to foster ownership of Monitory and Evaluation of government projects in their communities.

This task challenged but strengthened my ability and with tremendous technical assistance from my superiors, we were able to achieve remarkable results. Tracking UBEC Funds in Kano has now become a model adopted for tracking education funds all across Nigeria.

Through media sensitization, we were able to reach 1.4 million people with our advocacy message and 20 communities directly benefited from our campaign. Using advocacy tools like our Follow The Money radio programme, we sensitized more people and enhanced citizen’s participation in governance. Some of the visible results is the recruitment of over 30 volunteers in Kaduna, who showed interest in learning the FTM model and are presently tracking government spending in their communities.

Because Follow The Money is driven by its mission to empower marginalized communities, we are always intentional in our approach to track government spending and ensure project implementations at the grassroots level. For instance, In Likoro, a community in Kudan LGA, after community dwellers noticed funds had been allocated to construct a new fence, contractors had not begun work. FTM Team, working with the community, wrote petitions to anti-corruption agencies independently. This move sparked a reaction from the contractors who were awarded the project and they began implementation.

Similarly, In Kajuru Local Government Area (LGA), we started a campaign, #RebuildKufana, about the school with dilapidated structures in Kufana community. Children could not go to school because of the deplorable state of the school building. FTM trained Kafuna community members on how to monitor, evaluate and hold their elected representatives accountable. They also learnt how to check for quality control, as such when they noticed irregularities in the specification of materials, they stopped the contractors from continuing substandard work. The school community organized town hall meetings, inviting relevant stakeholders, and demanding for the Bill of Quantities for the project. The local government provided them with detailed information about the project and ensured contractors followed due process.

The impact of our activities made Kaduna State Basic Education Board to involve representatives of all School communities in contracting process for the 2017 action plan, in line with Open Government Partnership that Kaduna State signed up.

Nigeria is one of the top three countries with the largest absolute number of children who are stunted and wasted, according to the Global Nutrition Report of 2018. Preventable deficiencies of critical vitamins and minerals such as iron, Vitamin A, D, iodine, folic acid and zinc contribute globally to over 3 million child deaths annually. These micronutrient deficiencies are prevalent in Nigeria, particularly among young children under 5 years of age as well as women of reproductive age.

Concerned by this issue, two Non-Governmental Organisations, the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) and Connected Development (CODE) have partnered to advocate for increased compliance by food manufacturers on Food Fortification policies in Nigeria.

The partnership signed recently in Abuja under GAIN’s Large Scale Food Fortification Project, seeks to raise consumer awareness on the benefits of fortified foods and the dangers of micronutrient deficiencies in their food intake. Nigeria loses over US1.5 billion in GDP to Vitamins and mineral deficiencies, however, scaling up micronutrient interventions would cost the country less than USD 188 million per year, according to the World Bank.

Speaking about the project, GAIN’s Large Scale Food Fortification Project Manager, Dr Phoebe Olapeju, stated that through enhanced business operations and an improved regulatory environment, high quality and adequate fortification of staple foods has the potential to improve nutrition for 180 million Nigerians.

According to CODE’s Chief Executive, Hamzat Lawal, “Malnutrition is one of the most serious global development issues holding back millions of individuals, families and countries from achieving their full potential. Failing to address malnutrition will continue to negatively impact not only the health and wellbeing of Nigerians, but the country’s economic growth and prosperity.”

The project hopes to improve policies and compliance practices of manufacturers in the food industry. The team plans to work with the Consumer Protection Council (CPC), National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the Ministry of Health and other regulators to strengthen regulation of fortified foods.

Actionaid, through the Youth Organizing and Leadership, in partnership with Connected Development to amplify voices of young people in Nigeria to ensure that fund allocations in State Budgets, for young people to thrive, are properly utilized for the purpose.

Governance sets the structure by which governments and public officials exercise power and make decisions to guarantee effective service delivery and foster relationships between citizens, civil society and the state. Effective governance is where state-citizen relationships are transparent, accountable, inclusive and responsive to the needs of all citizens, particularly the youths who constitute the majority – as is  the case in Nigeria. In 2019, estimates by the National Population Commission puts Nigeria’s population at about 201 million people. Of this figure, the share of the youth demography stands at about 60% of the total population. To harness demographic advantages of young people, policies must reflect youth friendliness and sensitivity in a strategic and comprehensive manner.

On the other hand, the budget of any government is a public proclamation by the government of its projected and actual expenditures, it provides vital evidence of where a government places its priorities – whether it  addresses issues that concern young people or not. The statistics on young people’s access to public services in Nigeria is very poor and this can be linked to the disconnect in the budgetary process and the non-inclusiveness of young people in the formulation, implementation and oversight stages of the budget. 

Past budgetary trends in Nigeria reveal a wide disparity between actual budgetary allocations and the amount of resources released for implementation of projects. This resource gap becomes even wider, taking  into cognizance the fact that most items on the budget are lump sums, without any kind of disaggregation of what exactly these funds are meant to achieve in terms of actual service delivery.

The CODE/ActionAid YOL Project  is a multi-country intervention under a Strategic Partnership Agreement with ActionAid Denmark and Funded by the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA). The Intervention has three (3) key strategic Objectives Quality Gender Responsive Public Services through progressive taxation, Participatory Democracy and Youth Representation, Economic opportunities and decent work for youth.

For the first phase of the project which spans from June – November 2019, Nigeria will be responding to Strategic Objective 1. 

To this end, The Youth Organizing and Leadership (Light Touch), a three-year project funded by the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) seeks to mobilize young people and their organizations for progressive social change. It aims at enhancing young people’s power to influence public expenditure towards gender responsive public service delivery through progressive taxation. The project intends to;

• Strengthen capacity and knowledge of young people on issues of public finance, tax and GRPS 
• Generate information and education materials (research and analysis) to engage young people on issues of PF, Tax and GPRS
• Facilitate Initiatives and platforms for young people to participate in public finance engagement 
• Facilitate reflection on development trends, organizing initiatives and policy reform agenda for youth development 
• Facilitate youth engagement with progressive taxation, EPA and other related International Trade Issues

The main activities for this assignment will include:

1. Budget Analysis and Factsheet Production
   • To Mobilize  30 young people selected across different youth groups; artisans, drivers, traders and ‘street people’ as well as university students and young professionals.
   • Facilitate a participatory budget analysis workshop aimed at  producing a budget factsheet as an evidential tool for advocacy in areas   that affects young people, especially in education and health sector.

1. Budget Town hall Meetings 
   • Study and identify topical areas from the budget factsheet for a stakeholders mapping towards hosting a needs specific town hall meeting.
   • Engage relevant youth groups to understand how these issues resonates in their spaces
   • Plan a monitoring and evaluation framework to include responses to the following questions; 
     1. What is defined as success or achieving the set objectives? (example: getting tangible commitments from critical stakeholders towards mainstreaming the issues affecting young people with respect to service delivery)
     2. What specific areas or sectors will government engage in? (example: visible political will to focus on demand-driven, tax for service delivery based on identified needs from the above step)
2. Advocacy and Interactions with Sectoral MDAs on Budget and Service Delivery

• Based on the outcomes from the Town hall meetings, relevant government stakeholders  would be engaged through a courtesy and advocacy visit to key MDAs across the DANIDA States.

We call on all relevant stakeholders, government agencies, Civil societies and the general public to join in on this project to ensure better gender sensitive public service delivery.