This report is conducted by Connected Development (CODE) in partnership with INKA Consult from Denmark. It provides an overview of international climate finance for Nigeria from 2015 to 2021. The study also looks at the climate finance management system and evaluates the participation of citizens and civil society in climate finance planning and monitoring in Nigeria… Click the links below to download full reports
The State of Climate Finance in Nigeria
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?
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;
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.
Nigeria continues to contend with challenges of accountability, resource allocation, and service delivery, despite significant investments in education, health, and social sectors. These sectors are crucial for sustainable development, yet they suffer from inefficiencies, corruption, and a lack of transparency. According to UNICEF, over 10.5 million children are out of school in Nigeria, representing one of the highest rates in the world. Even with increased budget allocations, Nigeria’s education sector faces significant challenges, including inadequate infrastructure, low teacher quality, and high school dropout rates.
The healthcare system in Nigeria is plagued by issues such as poor funding, a shortage of medical personnel, brain drain, poor staff funding and inadequate facilities. The World Bank reports that Nigeria has one of the highest maternal mortality rates globally, with 814 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020. Social programs aimed at reducing poverty and inequality often suffer from mismanagement and lack of accountability. For instance, the NSEG report (2019) shows that the National Social Investment Program (NSIP) has faced criticism for inefficiencies and corruption, which undermine its effectiveness in alleviating poverty.
Application deadline: 4th October, 2024
Job description
Girl Child Mentor Volunteer
Location
Bauchi state (Alkeleri, Bauchi, Ningi, and Zaki)
Job type: Per time
This is a 3-year contract.
Reports to the project manager
Organizational Background
Connected Development [CODE] is Africa’s leading civil society organization whose mission is to empower marginalized communities in Africa. We strengthen local communities by creating platforms for dialogue, enabling informed debate, and building capacities of citizens on how to hold their government accountable through the Follow The Money project. CODE provides marginalized and vulnerable communities with resources to amplify their voices with independence and integrity while providing the communities with information that ushers social and economic progress. To enhance effective democratic governance and accountability, CODE creates platforms [mobile and web technologies] that close the feedback loop between citizens and the government. With global expertise and reach, we focus on community outreach, influencing policies, practices, and knowledge mobilization.
With support from the Malala Fund, CODE is implementing a three-year Girl-Child Education Project (GEP) in Bauchi State which aims to enhance transparency and accountability in Bauchi State’s education sector by adopting a citizen oversight model.
As part of the project objectives, CODE is calling for girl child mentors to empower girls by assigning them to female mentors who will guide them in becoming advocates for girls’ education and help them develop digital, social, and life skills, for three years. The training will be done 16 times a year.
Responsibilities of the mentor
What you bring to the team
As Nigeria faces yet another wave of devastating floods, with the recent disaster in Maiduguri on September 9th 2024 it has become abundantly clear that the country’s flood management systems are failing to protect our most vulnerable communities. The cycle of reacting only after a flood occurs, instead of preparing and implementing long-term flood prevention measures, reveals a systemic failure in planning and resource allocation. This catastrophe serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing environmental crises we have consistently raised alarms about through the Community Media Collaboration for Climate Justice (CMCCJ) project and other transparency and accountability initiatives.
We watch as the lives of women, children, and whole families in Maiduguri and elsewhere get turned upside down by this disastrous flooding. We urge immediate and sustained action by the Nigerian government and the international community. Our work in Rivers and Akwa Ibom states, alongside a powerful documentary emphasizing the vulnerability of communities during past environmental disasters, shows without a doubt the need for urgency in action and long-term planning to mitigate these preventable losses. Flooding is a predictable and preventable disaster, yet the focus remains on post-disaster management. This annual tragedy serves as a sobering reminder that there are no geographical limits to the environmental crisis. it is indeed possible to protect lives and livelihoods through proactive engagement, community-driven solutions, and openness in government action. But we must act now before another disaster strikes.
Key Challenges
1. Inadequate Early Warning Systems: The absence of a reliable early warning system in many parts of Nigeria means communities are often caught off guard, despite the likelihood of floods being known well in advance due to seasonal patterns.
2. Inadequate Flood Prevention and Response Systems: Despite commitments from the government and stakeholders following our documentation of the 2022 floods in Rivers State, effective flood prevention measures remain elusive. Vulnerable populations, especially women, children, and internally displaced persons (IDPs), continue to bear the brunt of these disasters.
3. Lack of Transparency and Accountability: Through our advocacy work, we have tracked funds such as the Climate Change and Ecological Fund, revealing the mismanagement and lack of transparency in disbursements for climate resilience projects. The recent floods only further show that it is imperative that these funds are properly allocated and monitored.
4. Breakdown and/or absence of infrastructure: The continued deficiency in government provision of infrastructure as well as poor maintenance of existing ones like dams that collect excess water has exacerbated the risk of flooding across communities in Nigeria.
5. Neglect of Marginalized Communities: Our work with community based organizations has consistently shown that marginalized groups, particularly women and youth, are the most affected by environmental disasters, yet they are the least consulted in the design and implementation of climate adaptation policies.
Call to Action
We call upon the Nigerian Government and the international community to take swift and decisive action to address the recurring flood crises and the broader climate emergency by adopting the following measures:
1.Immediate and Transparent Use of Climate and Ecological Funds: The climate change and ecological funds must be immediately mobilized to support flood relief efforts in Maiduguri and other affected regions. The government should ensure that the funds are utilized transparently, and all disbursements must be tracked and reported to the public.
2.Increased Funding for Climate-Resilient Infrastructure: We urge the Nigerian government, along with international partners, to prioritize the development of climate-resilient infrastructure in flood-prone areas. This includes the construction of dams, maintenance and expansion of existing dams, improved drainage systems, and sustainable housing for communities at risk of displacement.
3.Community-Led Solutions and Empowerment: Local communities, especially women and youth, should be empowered and supported to lead climate resilience efforts. This can be achieved through capacity building programs, the establishment of Community Reading Centers (CRCs) for awareness on environmental protection, and the mobilization of community based organizations to monitor government action on flood prevention.
4.International Support and Solidarity: We call on the international community to step in with both financial and technical support to address Nigeria’s climate/environmental challenges. Given the scale of devastation, international aid agencies and global climate funds should focus on flood relief and long-term climate adaptation strategies in Nigeria.
5.Holding Stakeholders Accountable: All levels of government, including local and state authorities, as well as corporations operating in flood-affected areas, must be held accountable for their role in exacerbating environmental vulnerabilities. This includes companies like Shell Plc, whose operations have contributed to environmental degradation in the South-South region as well as officials of the government found culpable of not maintaining the Alau dam in Borno state as the Federal government through the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation on October 12th 2023, committed to rehabilitating the collapsed 112 million reservoir capacity of the Dam in the state There is also a 78,210,989 Million Naira earmarked for Dam Safety Monitoring and another 159,403,663 Million Naira for Dams and Reservoir Operations Surveillance programme among others in the 2024 Federal Ministry of Water Resources’ budget. How has this been utilised?
The moment is now for immediate action! With the latest floods sweeping across Maiduguri, we are witnessing once again, the failure to adequately prepare for and respond to these climate disasters. While we applaud NEMA’s efforts to collaborate closely with state emergency management agencies and other relevant stakeholders through the National Emergency Operations Centre located in the Agency’s headquarters to ensure that necessary support, including rescue and relief operations, is available to affected communities. These steps are insufficient in the absence of long-term, inclusive solutions that prioritise the well-being of those affected.
CODE stands by the communities we have worked with in Rivers and Akwa Ibom States and extends our support to those currently suffering in Maiduguri. It is time for the Nigerian government and the international community to commit to lasting change and ensure that the voices of the most vulnerable are heard and their lives protected.
Connected Development (CODE) is implementing the Girl Child Education Project (GEP), sponsored by the Malala Fund, to revolutionize girls’ education in Bauchi State, Nigeria. This project aims to tackle the persistent challenges that have hindered girls’ access to quality education, including high dropout rates, inadequate infrastructure, and a lack of qualified teachers.
One of the key objectives of the GEP is to strengthen collaborations between the government and citizens to implement a transparent and accountable management approach for the State Education Accounts (SEA). The SEA provides a snapshot of education expenditures from public, private, and donor sources, and CODE seeks to make this process more citizen-driven.
By adopting the FollowTheMoney model, CODE empowers citizens to provide oversight functions on government expenditure, ensuring that funds are allocated and utilized effectively. This collaborative approach not only enhances transparency but also builds trust between the government and the people.
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Addressing Barriers to Girls’ Education
Another crucial aspect of the GEP is its focus on addressing traditional and societal barriers that hinder girls’ access to education. The project aims to enhance enrollment, retention, completion, and transition rates for girls in secondary education by applying a gender-responsive education framework.
CODE recognizes that traditional practices and societal attitudes can significantly impact girls’ educational outcomes. The GEP seeks to create an environment that supports and encourages girls to pursue their educational aspirations by engaging with key stakeholders and fostering gender-inclusive practices.
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Aligning with Gender-Responsive Education Sector Planning
To ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of its efforts, the GEP aligns with Bauchi state’s Gender-Responsive Education Sector Planning and Budgeting. This approach involves key stakeholders in decision-making and ensures that gender-responsive strategies are integrated into the education system.
By aligning with this framework, GEP-BAUCHI aims to create a more inclusive and equitable education system that addresses the specific needs and challenges faced by girls in Bauchi State.
Expected Outcomes
Through the GEP, CODE expects to achieve the following outcomes:
1. Increased transparency and accountability in the education sector through citizen-driven oversight.
2. Improved accessibility, retention, and completion of 12 years of free, quality education for girls in Bauchi State.
3. Enhanced collaboration between the government and citizens in the management of education resources.
4. Adoption of gender-responsive education policies and practices that support girls’ education.
The GEP represents a significant step forward in the fight for girls’ education in Bauchi State. By fostering collaboration, enhancing accountability, and addressing societal barriers, CODE aims to create a more equitable and inclusive education system that empowers girls to reach their full potential. Through sustained efforts and the commitment of all stakeholders, the GEP has the potential to transform the educational landscape in Bauchi State and serve as a model for other states in Nigeria.
Connected Development (CODE), in collaboration with Magamba Network, is spearheading a campaign to evaluate civic space in Nigeria and Uganda, focusing on its implications for parliamentary engagement. This initiative aims to bolster citizen participation and awareness regarding democratic processes in both countries. To facilitate this, CODE has developed a Civic Space Assessment Survey designed to identify specific challenges within civic spaces in Nigeria and Uganda.
The survey is intended to serve as a vital resource for raising awareness about the obstacles to maintaining a transparent and accountable democratic system. By gathering insights from citizens, the project seeks to bridge the gap between the populace and state actors, fostering an environment conducive to civic engagement.
The information collected through this survey will remain confidential, ensuring that responses are used solely for research purposes without linking them to individual participants. This approach underscores CODE’s commitment to protecting the privacy of respondents while striving to enhance democratic participation in the region.
Through this campaign, CODE and Magamba Network aim to empower citizens, encouraging them to take an active role in shaping their governance and advocating for their rights within the civic space.
JUNE 21, 2024
Preamble
The 21st International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC) 2024, themed “Confronting Global Threats: Standing Up for Integrity” hosted in Vilnius, Lithuania from 18-21 June, brought together civil society activists, journalists, academia, development organizations, world leaders, thought leaders, business leaders, and change agents from more than 140 countries to discuss crucial corruption-related issues and devise strategies for promoting integrity on a global scale.
Having participated in discussions on various thematic issues at the Conference, such as Strengthening the UNCAC’s Monitoring Mechanism to Increase Accountability & Promote Civic Space; Cutting off the Flow: Tackling Strategic Corruption in Political Finance; The Imperative of Inclusion: Marginalized Communities in The Fight against Corruption; Safeguarding Our Planet: Tackling Corruption in Climate Action, among others, we, the Nigerian delegates at the conference note the following disturbing trends in Nigeria.
Observations
Resolutions:
In light of the aforementioned observations, we hereby make the following resolutions:
1. The Need for Collective Action:
2. Dedication of Stakeholders:
Recommendations/Call to Action:
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!
Signed:
Job Description
Assistant Research Officer
Location: Abuja
Job Type: Full Time
Education: MA/MSc/MBA
This is a one-year contract with a possibility of renewal
Reports To: Head of Research
Deadline: 20th August 2024
Organizational Background
Connected Development [CODE] is Africa’s leading civil society organization whose mission is to empower marginalized communities in Africa. We strengthen local communities by creating platforms for dialogue, enabling informed debate, and building capacities of citizens on how to hold their government accountable through the Follow The Money project. CODE provides marginalized and vulnerable communities with resources to amplify their voices with independence and integrity while providing the communities with information that ushers social and economic progress. To enhance effective democratic governance and accountability, CODE creates platforms [mobile and web technologies] that close the feedback loop between citizens and the government. With global expertise and reach, we focus on community outreach, influencing policies, practices, and knowledge mobilization.
Your Role…
The Assistant research officer will support the research unit of Connected Development (CODE) by contributing to the design, implementation, monitoring and communicating research objectives and results..
The Assistant research officer will:
Conduct research that will lead into the development of high quality reports, policy briefs, op-eds, inform grant applications, and academic articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
Disseminate results in advocacy meetings, stakeholder engagements, national and international conferences, and pitches to local and international donors.
Participate in and contribute to CODE’s research activities across her project brands and support external engagements with CODE’s partners.
We expect the candidate to have firm grasp of research which aims towards enhancing the understanding, determinants and consequences of various forms of socio-economic inequalities. We are particularly -although not exclusively – interested in candidates with experience in innovative research focused on the impact of policy interventions on different areas, e.g. welfare of vulnerable and marginalized communities, governance and service delivery, economic security, discrimination, global development practices/objectives. Research might exploit large-scale, comparative micro-data sources (but we also embark on ethnographic studies leading to the collection and analysis of on-field data) to develop proposals exploring simulation and AI-based models or innovative data collection approaches.
What we expect from you…
Bachelor degree in social sciences discipline (economics, sociology, political science or a related field).
Having a Master degree with experience of publications in peer-reviewed journals, op-eds will be an added advantage.
Excellent skills in (and a taste for) qualitative and quantitative research.
Experience in research collaboration between academics and practitioners, NGOs, local organizations, and civil society organizations
Capacity to combine creativity and rigor.
Excellent writing skills
Knowledge and experience in research methods, tools, and ethics.
Knowledge and proficiency in using qualitative and quantitative data analysis and visualization tools (e.g. Nivio, MaxQDA, EViews, R, Python).
Ability to work autonomously within an interdisciplinary team
Organizational and time management skills. Ability to prioritize tasks while meeting deadlines.
Self motivated, initiative skills, and proactively.
How to apply:
Complete online form and attach the following:
Letter of motivation
Curriculum vitae
Any additional materials that may be deemed relevant by the applicant (e.g. a manuscript, a publication, policy brief, an op-ed with links to sources).
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:
Roles and Responsibilities of State Support Officer:
