Projects
──── OUR PROJECTS
Explore All Our Projects
Every project is a step toward a better world. From empowering communities with education to providing essential healthcare, our initiatives are changing lives every day. Browse through our projects and see how together, we are making a real difference.
Funder: United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
Project Title: Accelerating the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Imo and Ebonyi States
CIRDDOC worked with its downstream partners in a Joint Donor Program of UNFPA/UNICEF on the Abandonment of FGM. The project, which is aimed at achieving abandonment of FGM in focal states of Nigeria including Ebonyi and Imo, developed and published Ebonyi State Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on FGM and trained law enforcement agencies and the judiciary to enhance understanding, implementation and enforcement of FGM legislations in their states. The trained law enforcement agencies and the judiciary are linked with the Community-Based Surveillance Committee, who are charged with the responsibility of monitoring, documenting and reporting cases of FGM to the appropriate authorities for necessary action. Traditional and religious leaders were also empowered through to lead the campaign at the community level – facilitating household discussions and sensitization meetings with community group especially in the hinterlands.
The project also empowered in and out-of-school girls under the age of 18 with life skills-based education to resist and denounce FGM.
The establishment of a male coalition and all-girls End FGM champions advocating for the elimination of FGM are among the key outcomes of the project. Other achievements include public declaration of FGM abandonment by one hundred and eleven (111) communities (40 in Ebonyi state and 71 in Imo state) and 34 community-based surveillance committees established as watch dog to monitor compliance and the enforcement of bylaws on FGM; the establishment of male coalition in five (5) LGAs to promote positive masculinity and advocate for the elimination of GBV including FGM; and the establishment of School Club against FGM in five (5) secondary schools. The project also established eighty-eight (88) peer education clubs/community safe spaces in five (5) LGAs in Ebonyi state to promote gender-equitable norms, attitudes and behaviors, one thousand five hundred and twenty (1,520) engaged. About Three thousand, three hundred and thirty (3,330) youths and one hundred and twenty-five (125) women and girls were reached with information on women’s rights and gender equality – SGBV, HP and SRHR.
Funder: UNICEF and FCDO/DFID/ukaid
Project Title: Sub-National Budget Transparency Survey (SNBTS)
With funding support of DFID/FCDO, and technical support from International Budget Partnership (IBP), CIRDDOC worked with a wide range of independent and credible civil society partners in conducting rounds of research in 36 states of the federation under its Sub-National Budget Transparency Survey (SNBTS) project. The SNBTS, which was designed to consolidate on the successes of 2014 Sub-National Open Budget Survey project supported through a joint donor funding from SAVI/DFID and UNICEF in 15 states had the goal of raising awareness and consciousness of states on transparency and participation of the budget process and instilling a spirit of ‘competitiveness’ among states towards the promotion of increased public access to government budget information. This is targeted at fighting corruption, or inappropriate use of public funds, and ultimately poverty reduction.
The Nigeria State Budget Transparency Survey applied evidence-based research tool in evaluating the most important pillars in the budget accountability ecosystem in relation to the public availability of budget documents, public participation in the budget process and public availability of procurement information.
Among the achievements of the project was the adopted of the survey result by the World Bank and the Open Government Partnership (OGP) as baseline for its SFTAS program in Nigeria and criterion for determining support to state governments. In addition to improving the capacity of over 36 civil society organisations across Nigerian states in budget advocacy and governance accountability, the survey report also serves as tool of engagement for improved budget process and better service delivery to the citizens. As at the last count in 2022, only 14 states of the 36 surveyed scored below the national average in the overall Budget Transparency Index.
Funder: Amplify Change
Project Title: Building Bridges to end Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Increase Young People’s Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Information and Services’ and ‘Strengthening Campaign to end Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C)
CIRDDOC, the grant holder collaborated with the Coalition of Eastern NGOs (CENGOS), an umbrella organisation of over 100 member NGOs in implementing Network and Strengthening Grants of the Amplify Change across 9 states of the old Eastern Region of Nigeria between 2015 and 2022. The projects, which focused on Gender-Based Violence (GBV), Access to Comprehensive Reproductive Health Services and Sexual Health of Young People and Girls was aimed at building a movement to end GBV, promoting SRHR and creating enabling environment for marginalised groups to access quality reproductive health information and services. The 3 phase Network grant of 2 years each started in 6 states and was scaled up to 9 states in 2019 also aimed to increase young people’s awareness of GBV and SRHR through opening greater space for discussion of often silenced issues of sexuality and reproduction and to build capacity of CSOs to develop skills to advance the SRHR agenda. The Strengthening grants was focused on reducing the prevalence FGM/C in Ebonyi and Imo states.
Some of the problems addressed through the grant include violence against women and girls; social and cultural norms that reinforce acceptability of GBV in the society; limited capacity of women and girls to negotiate the terms and conditions of sex; harmful traditional practices such as FGM/C, early/child marriage; social norms and practices that exclude young people from access to reproductive health information and services; limited capacity of NGOs in SRHR advocacy; among others.
The project adopted four key areas of action including increasing women’s rights advocacy skills of stakeholders; building evidence for women’s rights advocacy and policy change; creating multichannel communication components and platforms for stakeholders’ engagement; and Networking to generate and share knowledge and foster community of practice.
Some of the key achievements of the project include emergence of Network of traditional rulers speaking out against GBV; established Peer Education Training (PET) clubs across 40 secondary schools following the training of 80 students as peer educators to influence young people’s attitudes, beliefs and behaviour through structured educational sessions in the context of promotion of SRHR and prevention of GBV; over 4,000 students reached with information on SRHR and GBV through the PET programme; installation of women into traditional ruling council and decision-making organs by traditional institutions; religious leader inspired into informed review of his existing publication on sexual and reproductive health for young people; inspired strengthening of community byelaw to address sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).
Other achievements of the project include training of 90 Community Based Volunteers as community educators (36 among them as paralegals with conflict resolution and management skill) reaching about 22,000 individuals with information on SRHR & GBV including FGM/C through household discussion and mediation sessions; reduction in culture of silence evidenced in over 93% increase in reported cases of GBV and SRHR violations.
The government provided support for the project through the publication, dissemination and awareness creation of existing law (VAPP Law) to end GBV including FGM/C, which contributed to the enactment of Community-Owned Bye-Laws and public declaration of FGM/C abandonment by 9 communities.
In addition to contributing to the global knowledge of GBV and SRHR through research works and publications of educational materials including advocacy and policy documents, women’s rights laws, newsletters and training manual, the project also strengthened the institutional capacity of younger NGOs as well as revived and increased visibility of CENGOS, which hitherto was in the state of nothingness.
The project also empowered in and out-of-school girls under the age of 18 with life skills-based education to resist and denounce FGM.
The establishment of a male coalition and all-girls End FGM champions advocating for the elimination of FGM are among the key outcomes of the project. Other achievements include public declaration of FGM abandonment by one hundred and eleven (111) communities (40 in Ebonyi state and 71 in Imo state) and 34 community-based surveillance committees established as watch dog to monitor compliance and the enforcement of bylaws on FGM; the establishment of male coalition in five (5) LGAs to promote positive masculinity and advocate for the elimination of GBV including FGM; and the establishment of School Club against FGM in five (5) secondary schools. The project also established eighty-eight (88) peer education clubs/community safe spaces in five (5) LGAs in Ebonyi state to promote gender-equitable norms, attitudes and behaviors, one thousand five hundred and twenty (1,520) engaged. About Three thousand, three hundred and thirty (3,330) youths and one hundred and twenty-five (125) women and girls were reached with information on women’s rights and gender equality – SGBV, HP and SRHR.
Funder: Justice for All (J4A) program of DFID
Project Title: Community Paralegal and Village Mediation Programme (CPVMP)
In line with the dreams of the founders of the organisation, emphasised in its vision and mission statement, legal aid services especially to the indigents and vulnerable population were sustained despite dearth of funding support. The mediation programme initially funded by HBF for about a decade was also supported by the Justice for All (J4A) program of DFID for 2 years (2013 – 2014) under its Community Paralegal and Village Mediation Programme (CPVMP). The CPVMP, implemented in partnership with Paralegal Advisory Service Institute (PASI), Malawi and Institute for Professional Legal Training (IPLT)/University of Kwa Zulu Nata, South Africa as well as Police and Magistrate Courts, was designed to increase access to quality and affordable justice (mediation and legal services) for people at the community level in Enugu state.
The community volunteers, 20 Community Paralegals (CP) and 150 Village Mediators (VM) who received sufficient legal training and support did not only provide legal aid including basic legal information and guidance, they also promoted legal and human rights awareness to their fellow community members. No fewer than 16,763 individuals were reached by the project through mediation and with legal and human rights information.
Generally, issues around Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) including marital dispute, family dispute, disinheritance, domestic violence, family abandonment, child welfare/custody were prominent among the cases handled by the mediation programme of CIRDDOC. There was notable decrease in registered cases over the years demonstrating positive outcome of our human rights and women’s rights campaign and sensitization programs. Client satisfaction was evident looking at the number of settled cases, increased referral rate, and testimonies of clients. Noteworthy among the achievements recorded by the legal aid/mediation programme was increased collaboration and referrals from stakeholders including the ministry of Gender Affairs and Social Development, the Nigerian Police Force, CSO networks, traditional leaders, community groups, trained paralegals & village mediators and beneficiaries.
Funder: Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ)/DFID
Project Title: Monitoring of Recovered Assets in Nigeria Through Transparency and Accountability (MANTRA)
CIRDDOC in partnership with the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) led the implementation of the Monitoring of Recovered Assets in Nigeria Through Transparency and Accountability (MANTRA) project in the South East of Nigeria. The project, which focused on improving policy, legislation and institutional framework for the recovery and management of recovered loots in Nigeria, also monitored the use of the returned $322.5million Abacha loot for the conditional cash transfer (CCT) programme of the Federal Government, targeting the poorest of the poor in Nigeria. The MANTRA project that was supported by DFID as part of its wider Anti-Corruption in Nigeria (ACORN) Programme, emphasised collective action and collaboration with the objective of building consensus through a robust civil society movement working towards achieving its objectives. The MANTRA project engaged stakeholders, created awareness of the CCT programme and deployed trained observers to monitor the payment of CCT to the beneficiaries. It also assessed the programme and made recommendations for greater impact.
Funder: National Democratic Institute (NDI)
Project Title: Women in Politics (WiP)
The Women in Politics (WiP) project, which focused on enhancing the capacity of women to participate effectively in politics was an NDI supported project in Anambra State. The two-phase project of 2 years each (2016 – 2020) ultimately seeks to increase women’s participation in governance in the state. As part of the strategies for achieving the objective were policy advocacy, campaigns, publication, awareness creation, and enhancing the capacity of identified female political office aspirants in constituents needs assessment, obligation in the advancement of democracy and serving the interests of constituents particularly the Nigerian women.
Among the project outcomes were the establishment of Anambra State Inter-Party Women Network (ASIPWN) at state and zonal levels, and setting up a Mentors/Mentees programme for young and upcoming female politicians. In addition to increased consciousness of women’s participation in politics, other outcomes include the emergence of twenty-two (22) women who benefited from the project and aspired for political offices as candidates for the 2019 general elections in Anambra State; and women won 2 of the 3 available seats at senate.
Funder: Women Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA)/MacArthur Foundation
Project Title: Improving Electoral Integrity and Accountability (IEIA)
Improving Electoral Integrity and Accountability project is another MacArthur Foundation funded project implemented by CIRDDOC in partnership with WRAPA in Enugu state. It commits to the implementing the 2021 National Gender Policy (NGP) and Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) principles at the LGA and community levels. The project, which was implemented in 102 communities across 14 LGAs of Enugu State was aimed at increasing women and youth participation in leadership, governance and decision-making. It influenced the installation and inclusion of 174 women and youths as Cabinet Chiefs and in local leadership and governance structures in 52 communities across 10 LGAs and, the admission 20 women as members of Town Union Executive with various positions as Secretary, PRO, Financial Secretary and Treasurer in Okpanku, Ndiabor, Agbudu, Ihe, Ogbuodoaba and Nru communities. Overall, the project promoted NGP and GESI principles through road walk, rally, media engagement – radio talk show, dialogue with traditional, political and faith-based leaders, among others.
Among the project outcomes were the establishment of Anambra State Inter-Party Women Network (ASIPWN) at state and zonal levels, and setting up a Mentors/Mentees programme for young and upcoming female politicians. In addition to increased consciousness of women’s participation in politics, other outcomes include the emergence of twenty-two (22) women who benefited from the project and aspired for political offices as candidates for the 2019 general elections in Anambra State; and women won 2 of the 3 available seats at senate.
Funder: Women Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA)/MacArthur Foundation
Project Title: Gender and Accountability Project (GAP)
In 2018, CIRDDOC in partnership with Women Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA) as one of its cohort member organisations implemented a MacArthur Foundation funded project titled Gender and Accountability project aimed at institutionalizing anti-corruption discourse reflecting women issues and voices. The two-year project (2018-2020) focused on reducing corruption, gender disparity and poverty in 9 selected LGAs in Enugu State by influencing rural women and youth to engage and demand accountability from their leaders. The project, which featured training, community mobilization and sensitization, advocacy and engagement meeting, stakeholders dialogue sessions, research, monitoring and evaluation recorded remarkable accomplishments including the installation of 254 women in community leadership and decision-making, establishment of Community Transparency and Accountability Group (CTAG) in 9 communities with the responsibility of monitoring government budget and public spending.
Networking, Collaboration and Partnerships
In fulfilment of its strategic objective of facilitating networking, collaboration and partnerships among CSOs, CIRDDOC has continued to provide leadership through mentoring and resource mobilisation for the network organizations under its governance. CIRDDOC facilitated the process of securing different funding supports for Affirmative Action Initiative for Women (NCAA) from Global Funds for Women (GFW) and MacArthur Foundation and served as its fiscal sponsor in ensuring good fund management and project outcomes. The GFW grants were not only aimed at mitigating the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on women, it also advanced the social and economic empowerment of women and girls in flood prone areas of Anambra and Bayelsa States through the provision of simple business tools for sustainable income generation.
CIRDDOC as a member of the Association of Civil Society Organizations Working on Malaria, Immunization and Nutrition (ACOMIN) participated in the GFW COVID-19 Response Mechanism and Community Systems Strengthening towards Resilient & Sustainable Systems for Health (GF C19RM/CSS-RSSH) Cycle 6 in Anambra state. The 18 months initiative which was funded through National Action Committee on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (NACA) and implemented by a CIRDDOC constituted Community Led Monitoring Team (CLMT) between the months of July 2022 and December 2023 influenced community support in upgrading community Primary Healthcare Centers (PHC). Such upgrades include provision of new power generating machine and increase in client inflow at Nawgu PHC, which hitherto was abandoned because of lack of responsiveness of the personnel and high cost of drugs. The intervention effected the renovation of two toilet cisterns and provision of water source (drilling of borehole) at Ukwulu PHC. CIRDDOC was also part of Cycle 7 of the initiative in 2024, from April to December.
In Ebonyi state, CIRDDOC collaborated with Women Friendly Initiative (WFI) in accelerating the implementation of the National Strategic Plan of Action for Nutrition (NSPAN) and Adolescent and Youth Friendly Health Services (AYFHS) in 5 states particularly Ebonyi. The USAID funded intervention under its Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement (SCALE) project ensured the inclusion of separate and improved budget lines for nutrition and AYFHS in Abakaliki and Ezza South local governments.
Riding on its strength and decades of experience in women’s rights advocacy and legal aid services, CIRDDOC was made a key member of the Ebonyi State Gender-based Violence Task Force (GBV-TF) established by the state Ministry of Women Affairs & Social Development and supported by the USAID Integrated Health Program (IHP) as a state multisectoral GBV response team coordinating body. This was designed to strengthen and enhance the efforts of stakeholders in preventing and responding to GBV incidences in the state. The GBV-TF comprising of members drawn from relevant line ministries (women affairs & justice), security agencies, CSOs and communities has since inauguration by the UNDP in 2021 responded to about 10,000 GBV cases, sensitized over 30,000 women across the 13 LGAs of Ebonyi State on GBV and women’s rights, established a legal team to support prosecution of GBV cases, conducted targeted GBV screening across 60 communities in Ebonyi State, facilitated the amendment of the state VAPP law among other.
Funder: United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
Project Title: Gender, Sexual and Gender Based Violence and the Right to Health
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) supported the Gender, Sexual and Gender Based Violence and The Right to Health project of CIRDDOC aimed at protecting the reproductive health and rights of women. The project, which was implemented in 2013 in Cross River and Ebonyi states adopted a strategy of sensitizing men, health workers and other relevant stakeholders through townhall meeting and capacity building to respect and observe the reproductive health rights of women. The project catalysed the involvement of men in the campaign for the reduction of sexual and gender-based violence and promoted the utilization of family planning commodity to reduce maternal deaths.
Funder: United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)
Project Title: Bridges to End Gender-Based Violence as Strategy for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Stigma Reduction
CIRDDOC in collaboration with Actionaid and the Ministry of Women Affairs in Cross River and Ebonyi states was supported from the United Nations Development Fund for Women in a project titled Bridges to End Gender-Based Violence as a Strategy for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Stigma Reduction. The 3-year (2007 – 2010) project that examined the intersection of violence against women and HIV/AIDS in Cross River state and Ebonyi states sought to reduce gender-based violence due to vulnerability, stigma and discrimination faced by women infected by HIV/AIDS as well as increase access to and utilization of services. It believed that reducing discrimination and stigma arising from VAW and HIV/AIDS and building the capacity of health worker and legal aid providers to understand their obligations will improve women’s demand for, access to and use of services. The project established Anti-VAW Committees among stakeholders advocating for change in harmful traditional practices and negative attitudes and mindsets of men on gender equality, VAW and HIV issues.
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