About the Role:

Follow the Money (FTM) is inviting applications from dedicated and values-driven individuals to serve as State Leads. This voluntary leadership role is critical to advancing transparency, accountability, and citizen-led monitoring of public funds at the state, local government, and ward levels.

State Leads will support grassroots engagement, coordinate monitoring efforts, and serve as a bridge between communities and the national Follow the Money structure.

Who We Are Looking For

1. Alignment with Mission & Values

Applicants must demonstrate:

• A strong commitment to transparency, accountability, and integrity
• Understanding of local governance structures, including LGAs and wards
• A voluntary service mindset, driven by impact rather than compensation
• Willingness to collaborate with communities, stakeholders, and the national team

2. Local Network & Grounded Presence

Ideal candidates should have:

• Residence in, or strong ties to, the state they seek to represent
• Established networks across LGAs, wards, civil society, and community groups
• Ability to navigate diverse communities and stakeholders within the state

3. Operational & Organisational Capacity

Applicants should demonstrate:

• Basic project coordination or management skills
• Awareness of data collection, monitoring, and reporting
• Strong communication skills (written and verbal)
• Problem-solving ability, initiative, and adaptability in dynamic environments

4. Reputation & Integrity

Candidates must:

• Be trusted and respected within their communities or networks
• Have no significant conflicts of interest
• Demonstrate a track record of ethical conduct, reliability, and accountability

5. Strategic & Analytical Thinking

State Leads should be able to:

• Balance big-picture national objectives with local realities
• Prioritise LGAs or wards based on impact and need
• Learn, reflect, and improve processes based on feedback and evidence

6. Commitment & Availability

This role requires:

• Realistic time commitment despite being voluntary
• Willingness to travel across LGAs and wards when necessary
• Availability for remote coordination, reporting, and meetings with the national team

7. Diversity & Inclusion

Follow the Money strongly encourages:

• Gender balance in State Lead representation
• Inclusion across ethnic, geographic, and social groups
• Youth participation and leadership
• Sensitivity to and engagement with marginalised and underserved communities

Important Note

This is a voluntary leadership role. Selected State Leads will be expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity and represent Follow the Money with professionalism and credibility.

Serving as an FTM State Lead offers volunteers a unique opportunity to build leadership capacity while contributing to meaningful civic impact. State Leads gain hands-on experience in transparency, accountability, community monitoring, and project coordination, supported by training, toolkits, and guidance from the national team. The role provides access to a strong national network of civic actors, civil society organizations, journalists, and development partners, alongside opportunities for visibility, recognition, and representation on Follow the Money platforms. Volunteers benefit from professional growth through verifiable leadership experience, certificates of service, and performance-based references, while playing a critical role in amplifying community voices, strengthening local governance, and driving accountability across states, LGAs, and wards.

How to Apply

Interested applicants should:

1. Complete the online application form
2. Provide accurate personal and state-level information
3. Demonstrate motivation, experience, and alignment with FTM values

Apply here: Click here
Application Deadline: 30th January 2026

By Ruth Okafor

Each year, the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence serves as a distressing reminder of the ongoing struggle to eradicate violence against women and other vulnerable groups worldwide. Reflecting on this initiative, it is clear that our commitment must extend beyond these 16 days. While efforts in awareness, policy formulation, and implementation have advanced, the gruesome stories of violence remind us of the work still needed. These cases emphasize the urgency for action and concrete steps to address gender-based violence (GBV) globally.

That said, I must reiterate that the global observance of the 16 Days of Activism is not just a ceremonial marking on the calendar; it represents an essential effort to intensify awareness and generate momentum for ending the scourge of gender-based violence. This period is a call to elevate the voices of survivors and galvanize actionable change that resonates beyond these days. However, to bring about substantial and lasting change, activism must transcend these symbolic observances and become a constant pursuit of justice and equality.

Notably, this year alone has seen heartbreaking stories from around the globe that reiterate the need for a constant reminder of the societal menace of gender-based violence. 

For instance, there was a case involving a 17-year-old girl who was detained for allegedly receiving stolen property and was subsequently raped by a law enforcement officer in Edo State, Nigeria. Imagine an enforcer of the law forcing himself on a 17-year-old girl.

Additionally, we mourned the tragic loss of Ugandan Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei, who was killed by her partner, reminding us of the deadly consequences of intimate partner violence.

Another saddening case is that of Gisela Pericot, who was raped and drugged multiple times by her husband and other men. Gisela’s public declaration against victim shaming marks a pivotal moment in the fight against gender-based violence, emphasizing the need to shift the narrative of shame toward perpetrators rather than survivors.

These are only a few reported cases; many others go unreported due to stigma and lack of trust in the justice system. This highlights the urgent need for systemic change. Furthermore, cultural norms can silence survivors, preventing them from seeking help or justice. Overcoming these barriers is essential to empower victims to speak out. This underscores the necessity for greater awareness and concrete actions by stakeholders. They must make commitments that translate into sustainable policies and actions. 

How can we sustain momentum beyond these 16 Days?

1. Accountability and Follow-Up: Every year, numerous commitments are made by various stakeholders, especially government and community leaders. We must ask clear-cut questions to track progress and accountability to ensure they uphold these commitments made during activism events. Specific, timely reminders and monitoring systems should be prioritized to keep commitments in focus. This could involve civic organizations and active citizens demanding accountability through quarterly evaluations of policy implementations or changes.
2. Promote Local Engagement: As a believer in local solutions to solve global challenges, fostering community-driven initiatives that address cultural and contextual aspects of gender-based violence will further dismantle existing harmful beliefs. Strengthening local government involvement is crucial for sustaining dialogue and preventive measures at the grassroots level. Engaging Religious and Traditional leaders to take charge in addressing these issues will facilitate a bottom-up approach to societal change, significantly aiding in eliminating various forms of violence in our society.
3. Support Victim-Centric Solutions: Creating safe spaces where survivors are heard, believed, and supported without being judged. Amplifying their voices and prioritizing their needs in policy discussions is essential. Encouraging media narratives that highlight stories of resilience while demanding justice for survivors—rather than perpetuating shame—is crucial.

To effectively combat GBV, we must move beyond campaigns and slogans to implement year-round, actionable strategies that address the SYSTEMIC causes of GBV. Which include community education and awareness; technology for safety, and breaking the cycle of silence. Not forgetting that in addressing GBV strict accountability for perpetrators is required which must include; 

• Swift Justice for survivors
• ⁠Rehabilitation Programs for 
• Public Registers for perpetrators
• Zero Tolerance in Institutions

Finally, we must always remember that GBV is not insurmountable; it requires collective will and continuous action from everyone to overcome it. Beyond the 16 Days of Activism, we must commit to a future where safety, dignity, and justice for all are non-negotiable. Every voice matters in shaping this change—your voice can be the difference. Stand with survivors! Let us move from commitments to actionable plans as a society.

Position: State Support Officer (SSO)

Location: Imo and Rivers State

Project: Power of Voices Partnership (PVP) Project

Project Deadline: 19th July, 2024

Introduction 

Connected Development (CODE), is on the lookout for dedicated and dynamic individuals to join our team as State Support Officers (SSOs) for the Power of Voices Partnership (PVP) Project in Imo and Rivers State. This project aims to empower Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and community stakeholders to enhance transparent governance, particularly in regions rich in oil resources with support from OXFAM Nigeria. 

Qualifications:

1. A degree in Social Sciences, Development Studies, Project Management, or a related field
2. Minimum of 1 year of experience in community development, project management, or a related role.
3. Experience working with students and teachers.
4. Strong understanding of governance issues and civil society dynamics in Nigeria.
5. Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
6. Ability to work with little or no supervision
7. Proficiency in Google Suite and other relevant software.
8. Fluency in English and the local language(s) of the state.

Roles and Responsibilities of State Support Officer: 

1. Organize and lead community meetings, workshops, and sensitization sessions to promote project objectives. 
2. Oversee the implementation of project activities at the state level in alignment with the project’s goals and timelines. 
3. Prepare and submit reports on project activities, progress, and impact to the project lead 
4. Promote awareness of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and its adoption in the state.
5. Provide guidance and support to the patrons and matrons of the civic clubs, ensuring they have the necessary resources and materials to function effectively.
6. Foster strong relationships with local government officials, traditional leaders, and other key stakeholders
7. Performs any other duties as requested by the Project Lead.

APPLY HERE

Finacial-Report-2020

Click Here to download the report document.

By Steffia Imoesi

Growing up, I always believed that a lady should live in the shadows and not be seen so as to avoid attracting the wrong crowd. We were taught to settle, be shy, contended, and not speak to elders. This notion was born out of the fact that society made us believe that a woman’s place is at home and they are unfit to handle senior executive roles in an organization. The man’s duty is to work and care for the family. A man is allowed to dream big but when a woman does, she is seen as too ambitious and inconsiderate of her family and domestic obligations.

I have come to understand that some of the challenges of female leaders include limitations caused by societal norms that impede women from attaining leadership roles or competing in a ‘man’s world. As the world evolved, these notions became meaningless. I started to read and watch women break the glass ceiling and take on more important roles, making a great show of exemplary leadership qualities. Women have become  Presidents of Nations, lead global corporations and have done exceedingly well.

Recently, I picked an interest in Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, a renowned Nigerian Economist with a wealth of knowledge in international development and global economy. She sits on the Boards of Standard Chartered Bank, Twitter, Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), and the African Risk Capacity (ARC).

Previously, Dr Okonjo-Iweala spent a 25-year career at the World Bank as a development economist, scaling the ranks to the Number 2 position of Managing Director, Operations (2007–2011). She also served two terms as Finance Minister of Nigeria (2003–2006, 2011–2015) under the leadership of President Olusegun Obasanjo and President Goodluck Jonathan respectively.

Okonjo was the first woman to become Finance Minister of Nigeria, and first woman to become Finance Minister of Nigeria twice. In 2005, Euromoney named her global finance minister of the year.

Rising to the second position of the world bank, as Managing Director, she had oversight responsibility for the World Bank’s $81 billion operational portfolio in Africa, South Asia, Europe and Central Asia. She spearheaded several World Bank initiatives to assist low-income countries during the 2008 – 2009, food crises, and later during the financial crisis. In 2010, she was Chair of the IDA replenishment, the World Bank’s successful drive to raise $49.3 billion in grants and low interest credit for the poorest countries in the world. She recently clinched the position of the Director-General of the World Trade Organization based on her merit and creditable portfolio over the years

Dr Okonjo-Iweala has shown us that with tenacity, a high degree of professionalism, integrity and influence, women can achieve anything. All these are the qualities I admire in this Icon. She has also taught me that life is limitless, we can dream big as women and be all that we want to be. Infact, Okonjo-Iweala has proved that having it all is a function of personal determination.

2016 Annual Report: Big Stories from Rural Communities

In Nigerian rural communities, overtime, billions of dollars have been appropriated for the provision of health facilities , teaching aid, water and clean energy inputs, and have remained only spent “on paper”. 80% of such funds do not reach these communities. Many times they are not aware, and at times, they do not have the will/capacity to challenge and ask questions. It’s Game Over! There is a new movement that has been empowered and organised to reverse this trend. This is a compilation of what these “citizen monitors” were able to achieve in 2016.

Click here to read full report.

2016-Reports-FTM-BIG-STORIES-1

MHM: Periods Do Not Stop In Pandemics

Menstrual hygiene management can be challenging for women and girls in developing countries, where access to clean water and toilet facilities are not adequate. In rural communities, some women and girls do not have the capacity to purchase sanitary towels, so they mostly rely on the use of reusable cloths and rags which has grave implications to  health.

Research shows that over 800 million women and girls menstruate every day globally and they lack the tools needed  to properly manage their periods. There is a cultural and social stigma surrounding menstruation, often preventing women and girls from attending work and school. Even when they do attend while menstruating, the lack of access to menstrual hygiene products, lack of sanitation infrastructure such as private toilets and handwashing facilities, and lack of menstrual hygiene education can prevent women and girls from reaching their full potential in the classroom, in the workplace, and at home. 

In some societies, there is a norm that women should not talk about menstruation openly because it is something to be  ashamed of. This often leads to their discomfort during this period. There are  situations where men  have described menstruation, which is a natural phenomenon, as disgusting and shut down female folks who tried to speak openly about it.

WASH means Water, Sanitation and Hygiene while they are separate fields of work, they are interdependent. Without clean water, proper hygiene can not be practiced, without toilet facilities our water sources can be contaminated. Without access to WASH facilities, girls and women find it extremely difficult to manage their menstruation safely. Prioritizing WASH facilities has a direct link to improving  menstrual hygiene and can create opportunities for the integration of menstrual hygiene management into policies and programmes. A good example is seen in CODE’s work on Effective -Water Sanitation and Hygiene (EWASH) project which it is currently implementing with the support of the USAID in Nigeria. CODE has successfully advocated for the passage of WASH laws in Niger and Taraba states. These laws will ensure States prioritise the provision of clean and potable water for residents and increase the building of WASH facilities, which can improve menstrual health of women and girls. The lack of access to WASH facilities can affect the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) like Goal 4.

May 28 of every year is set aside as Menstrual Hygiene Management Day (MHM Day), a day where Nonprofits, organized groups, private and government agencies come to celebrate the MH Day and advocate for good menstrual hygiene management. The theme for this year’s MHM helps to drive the narration IT’S TIME FOR ACTION with the hashtag #PeriodsInPandemic. Periods do not stop in a pandemic, so we can collectively as organizations, organized groups and individuals effectively advocate for the improvement of Menstrual hygiene management.

Managing Your Finances During the COVID19 Pandemic

We are currently facing a pandemic that has not only impacted our lives, but also businesses, the economy, and the world at large. The Coronavirus pandemic has become a global issue with no prior warning as the entire world was caught unaware hence, the lack of proper planning for the impact.   This suddenness has taken a huge toll on our daily activities and lives in general. People reacted differently to the COVID- 19, especially because of the uncertainty as to when things will get back to normal, there is a range of emotions from fear, panic buying, job retrenchment, pay cut and other issues.

How can you manage your finances during a crisis like COVID- 19?

I have outlined a few ideas;

 Evaluate Your Financial Health: What you should do first,  is to analyze your assets and liabilities to ascertain your net worth. Net worth is basically really everything you own that is of significance (your assets) minus what you owe in debts (your liabilities), which can be positive or negative. Assets mean what you own that can enable economic benefit (Inflow) to flow to the entity/ person examples include Cash, buildings, land. Liabilities are what you owe on those assets — including car loans, your mortgage, and amounts payable.  

For you to effectively manage and monitor your finances then you need to create a monthly budget which is recommended or a weekly budget, whichever suits you). The budget will help track expenses and ensure that projected expenses are not above expected income. At this point, you should re-evaluate your budget tossing out unnecessary spending.

Understand the Differences between Wants and Needs: Before you spend, especially during an emergency of this type, in a pandemic, ensure that it is absolutely necessary. It is best to know what to prioritize,  such as your needs, and make sure to avoid the wants that are not necessary.  Basically your needs are essential to you and your wants are not to be prioritized at this phase. The 2 by 2 matrix below sheds more light on needs and wants.

Build your income streams by diversifying investments, this is not the time to sell off assets-avoid panic selling. Find profitable ventures while considering their risks and authenticity. The best form of investment is self-investment and also leverage on long and short investment options like cash and cash equivalents, money market, Eurobonds, mutual funds. We need investments so we can have a soft landing after the pandemic, to hedge against currency risk and to save for rainy days. 

Please hold cash, basic secondary economics classes taught us that people should hold cash for three (3) major reasons; Precautionary motive to meet uncertainties or emergencies, Speculative motive which I like to call exploring advantageous opportunities and when cash is held to meet day to day activity then it is called Transactional motive. In a nutshell, it is important to hold cash so as to cover unforeseen expenses, meet short term obligations, and take advantage of a juicy investment option.

We should all learn from experiences like this and plan adequately for unforeseen circumstances, whether you experienced a change in your finances or not, it is important to assess your financial resources and plan to ensure financial success. 

This is a phase that will pass. Change, they say, is constant, so this phase will pass. Stay safe.

Connected Development (CODE) has launched its 2018 Annual Report that highlights the impact of its social accountability initiative, Follow The Money, in tracking an estimate of NGN 1,289,579,737 (USD 3.6 million) budgeted for projects in  69 grassroots communities across water, sanitation and hygiene [WASH], primary healthcare and education sectors, in the year 2018.

In the report, CODE emphasised its effort to spur stronger and inclusive growth for grassroots communities in Africa by providing them with the resources to amplify their voices; creating platforms for dialogue, enabling informed debate, and building the capacity of citizens on how to hold their elected representatives accountable through the Follow The Money initiative.

“It was a year of resilience and remarkable achievement,” said CODE’s Chief Executive, Hamzat Lawal, in his introduction speech at the launch of the 2018 Annual Report themed Amplifying Voices from the Grassroots. Lawal stated that “our priority in 2018 was to track subnational budgets and ensure that Federal allocations to States and Local Governments reached grassroots communities for socio-economic development.

“CODE activated Follow The Money for 9 Local Government projects and 41 State Government projects championing 5 advocacy campaigns for improved first-mile health infrastructure and services, 60 advocacy campaigns for improved education infrastructures for children to learn in schools, and 6 advocacy campaigns for communities to access safe, clean water and we impacted 1,292,848 grassroots people in 21 States of Nigeria, Lawal added.

The report also featured CODE’s tracking of spending in the extractive sector through its Conflict and Fragility Campaign, aimed at mitigating human rights and conflicts issues  to improve the livelihoods of grassroots communities in the Niger-Delta region. CODE engaged policy makers, stakeholders and beneficiaries, on the effects of artisanal mining activities in Nigeria, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire. It also features Follow The Money’s expansion to other African Countries in Kenya, Liberia, Cameroon and The Gambia.

During the year, CODE faced key challenges including threats for exposing misappropriation of funds, poor access to data to enable tracking of government funds, security issues in NorthEast of Nigeria, and limited funds in reaching more grassroots communities, according to CODE’s Chief Operating Officer, Ojonwa Miachi.

CODE’s 2018 Report was launched alongside the presentation of Follow The Money’s award as the 2019 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Mobilizer of the year. The presentation was supported by John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, OSIWA, Oxfam Nigeria, Luminate and Indigo Trust.

Chief Activist, Hamzat Lawal, dedicated the award to rural grassroots communities across Africa, the CODE team for their resilience in promoting the Follow The Money mission even in the face of insurmountable pressure; and to the donor agencies who believed CODE’s vision and contributed to actualising its mission.

Background:

The 2018 Annual Report outlines CODE’s work in tracking government and international funding in 3 thematic areas; WASH, Health and Education. It also describes its FTM sustainability model of building capacities of rural dwellers on how to hold their elected representatives accountable without CODE’s influence; and the inauguration of new local and international Follow The Money chapters.

The report highlights key activities in different regions including Kano, Lagos, Yobe, Kaduna, Bauchi, Ondo, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Zamfara and Borno.

Copies of the Annual Report are available at CODE’s HQ in Abuja Nigeria or downloadable via http://followthemoneyng.org/2019/05/10/2018-annual-report/

For Media Enquiries, contact Kevwe Oghide, Communications Lead, Connected Development via ke***@******************nt.org

Follow The Money, an initiative of Connected Development that tracks national governments’ and foreign assistance spending to empower citizens – including marginalized communities- to hold governments to account for their commitments, has been shortlisted as a finalist for the 2019 Sustainable Development Action Awards!

This announcement which was recently made by the SDG Action Awards Global Project Leader, Laura Hildebrandt, revealed that this year’s selection process was harder than ever with more than 2000 excellent applications from 142 countries. 3 finalists have been selected for each of the 7 categories representing initiatives based in all world regions: Arab States, Lebanon, Africa Malawi, Nigeria (2) South Africa (3), the Americas (Peru, Brazil, Haiti and USA), Asia (India (2), Malaysia, and the Philippines) and Europe (Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland).

Follow The Money was one of the 3 initiatives in the finalist category of Mobilisers. Other categories are Storytellers, Campaigners, Connectors, Visualizers, Includers and Creatives. The finalists in each category will present their achievements at the UN SDG Global Festival of Action.

According to the Founder of Follow The Money, and Chief Executive of Connected Development, Hamzat Lawal, “we are excited to have been nominated among the top  21 initiatives showing how innovation, creativity and commitment lead to impactful SDG Actions from over 2000 entries of amazing organizations & initiatives around the globe. We are honoured that our social mobilization efforts are being recognised by the United Nations and are committed to ensuring that the sustainable global goals are achieved in Nigeria, other African countries and beyond.

Lawal added that Finalists are now being reviewed by a judging panel of over 20 experts that will select the top initiative in each category. Everyone has the chance to act by supporting their favourite entry for the People’s Choice Award. We urge our fellow colleagues in the development space and Nigerians to help bring this award home by liking and retweeting Follow The Money mentions on SDG Action Awards social media accounts. We will join other world leaders in Bonn, Germany in May where the winners will be announced.

Every year, the UN SDG Action Campaign opens the SDG Action Awards to call for the top individuals, civil society organizations, subnational governments, foundations, networks, private sector leaders who are advancing the global movement for the Sustainable Development Goals in the most transformative, impactful and innovative way.

Follow The Money which started in Nigeria over seven years ago, has chapters in Kenya, The Gambia, Cameroon and Liberia. As the largest social mobilization & accountability movement in Africa, it has advocated, visualized and tracked USD 10 million meant for social development across African grassroots communities, impacting directly over 2,000,000 rural lives. F