Connected Development [CODE]
Gender Equality &
Social Inclusion.
Our commitment to gender justice is not a programme component — it is how we work.
Our Approach
Accountability without inclusion
is incomplete.
Connected Development [CODE] has spent over a decade working at the intersection of civic accountability and gender justice. Across Nigeria and beyond, we have supported women and girls to claim their rights, demand services, and participate fully in governance. Our approach is grounded in community, driven by data, and built on the understanding that accountability without inclusion is incomplete.
UN Spotlight Initiative · 2019
Developing Women: Strategic Focus Towards Ending GBV
Through the United Nations Spotlight Initiative, CODE deployed Follow The Money to strengthen women and girls across six states as advocates and monitors for the implementation of Nigeria's action plan on eliminating gender-based violence.
We built a framework for tracking women's inclusion in governance and budget processes and established a baseline for sustained GBV advocacy.
Canadian High Commission · Kano · 2021
Galvanising Mass Action Against GBV in Kano.
CODE mobilised communities, survivors, and policymakers in Kano State to demand the adoption of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act. The results were concrete and legislative.
Key wins: Kano State moved to harmonise the VAPP Act with the Penal Code. The House of Assembly constituted a Child Protection Bill committee, recommending the age of consent at 18. The Attorney General committed to four additional Sexual Assault Referral Centres. Phase 2 is underway.
Oxfam Voices · 2022
Project Sabi.
Rather than conferences and formal settings, Project Sabi went to where men are — motor parks, secondary schools, markets, and faith institutions across five states.
Over 2,610 boys were trained through the Boys Against Gender-Based Violence Club — the largest boys-focused GBV prevention programme in sub-Saharan Africa. Online campaigns reached approximately 2.5 million people.
Malala Fund · Adamawa · 2020
COVID-19 and Girls' Education in
Nigeria's North-East.
This project examined how social norms and harmful practices affected girls' access to education during the pandemic. Despite significant structural barriers, the majority of caregivers expressed commitment to returning their daughters to school.
The findings informed targeted advocacy on girl-child education financing in the north-east.
Bauchi State · Ongoing
Girl-Child Education Project —
Bauchi State.
Operating across four LGAs — Alkaleri, Bauchi, Ningi, and Zaki — CODE enrolled 40 adolescent girls in structured mentorship covering communication, leadership, and digital skills. Twenty-two radio episodes reached an estimated 22.6 million listeners.
A menstrual health intervention trained girls in reusable sanitary pad production, reaching over 300 girls in its pilot phase, with plans to scale to 2,000 girls across five LGAs.
CODE convened a Gender-Responsive Education Sector Planning workshop with senior officials and secured commitments on gender-responsive budgeting. Four School Monitoring Teams used NomTrac to track 25 school projects.
Kano State · 2019
Kano State Female Teacher Recruitment.
Through sustained Follow The Money advocacy, CODE pushed for the recruitment of female teachers in rural primary schools. The government responded by recruiting 1,500 female teachers.
CODE also partnered with SUBEB Kano on a community-level enrolment drive to support girl-child education and increase school attendance rates.
UN Women & British High Commission · Kaduna · 2021
Strengthening Women's Participation in COVID-19 Response.
CODE strengthened the capacity of 45 women, men, and girls in Kaduna State to monitor government's COVID-19 response through a gender lens, engaging 11 Ministries, Departments and Agencies and securing pledge commitments including from the Executive Governor.
Six radio programmes reached over 500,000 people. The online campaign recorded over 371,000 in reach and 1,400 interactions.
CODE secured pledge commitments from senior government officials and ran six radio programmes reaching over 500,000 people — demonstrating the scalable impact of gender-responsive monitoring of public health spending.
