Nigeria under President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan recently added another feather to her democratic cap by passing into law on May 24^th, 2011 the Freedom of Information Act (FOI), 2011. However, the legal and security implications of the Act, ipso facto, could be enormous following the country’s ethno-religious complexities, endemic and past leadership quagmire. Thus, the Act struggles fundamentally to strike a balance between “making public records and information more freely available and protecting Public records and information to the extent of its consistency with the public interest” amongst others.

Consequently, the Act contains even more exemption section and clauses than sections that grant access to information; leaving the courts of justice to determine in each case what would amount to ‘public interest”. Upon this pedestal, it is therefore safe to conclude that the omnibus proviso against denial of information that says

“where the interest of the public would be better served by having such records

being made available, thus exemptions to disclosure shall not apply”

becomes commendable with the  expectation that the judiciary would do well to interpret the proviso liberally for the public good.

This Friday, 20^th April, 2012, we would be talking on the topic “Citizenship Engagement in Policy Processes: An Imperative for Stable Democracy and Good Governance”

Vision Nigeria: Friday 6^th April, 2012: The guest Barrister Dorothy Oleka talked on the topic “Consequences of Gender Blind Policies, Programmes and Laws on the Achievement of Nigeria’s Macro-economic Policies”. The abstract of this presentation is found below:

Globally the concept of Gender awareness has gained relevance as a development strategy for reducing poverty levels, improving health and living standards of women, men, children, the vulnerable and excluded; and enhancing efficiency of public investments.

Introduction: This piece attempts to contribute to the debate that there is direct link between gender informed Laws, policies and programmes and socio-economic development. Also make a case that Gender is no longer a consequence of development, rather have become a necessary pre-condition for achieving sustainable development.

In Nigeria public policies and programmes has been pursued through structural adjustment and broad liberalisation policies, with less attention paid by policy makers to the correlation between our socio- cultural landscape, tripartite Legal system cum-practices (traditional and civil)  and  proportionate make-up of the population expected to benefit from it.

Development is about human-beings – child and adult, male and female, young and old, able and persons living with all forms of disability, literate and illiterate etc. As stated by Jhingan[1] (2007) ‘Planning in Nigeria … is informed by the need to address characteristic development challenges: poverty, urbanization, rapid population growth, agricultural development, under-developed resources, technological and economic backwardness, unemployment, disguised unemployment, … ‘ if so then there is need for a detailed appraisal of the trends of such plannings and the impact on the different category and strata (social and status , economic, educational, age, sex, etc) of constituents of the society. More so as it thus appear that ‘robust economic growth and poverty alleviation largely depends on national commitment to focused development’.

Since Independence Nigeria is replete with brilliant impeccable and well written, laws, macro- economic policies, visions and reforms agenda based on welfarism principle – Gender concerns have been subsumed within the national interest, reinforcing a trickle down approach to development.  Examples: from first National Development Plan 1962 -1968 to Nigeria Vision 20: 2020 of today.  Various policies and programmes designed to bring about economic growth and tackle poverty like Better life Programme, Family Support Programme/Family Economic Advancement Programme, National Directorate of Employment  to Subsidy Reinvestment Empowerment Policy (SURE-P- 2012) document.

How to achieve Macro-economic policies within public policies/programmes/laws.

1. Gender audit of existing Nigeria’s local laws, policies and programmes.
2. Stakeholders to intended policy/ laws analysis along gender lines
3. Gender-aware policy appraisal
4. Gender-disaggregated beneficiary assessments
5. Gender-disaggregated public expenditure incidence analysis
6. Gender-disaggregated tax incidence analysis
7. Gender-aware medium term economic policy framework
8. Gender-aware budget statement

Conclusion: Gender issues are not strictly women relate issues; it is beyond mere mention of gender within the document or hiring gender expertise only as add-on. Gender based legal, policy or programme documents and implementation framework requires that such documents derive from detailed gender analysis. An analysis where interests, concerns and implications for men, women, children, youths (female/male), persons with disability, vulnerable and illiterate persons and all often erroneously taken would naturally fit into these policies are considered of core and accommodated.

The workshops were conducted in Ukwuani community during the first two weeks of March 2012; and in Isoko during the last 2 weeks of March, 2012. Each workshop lasted for 3 days. A total of 171 (95% of planned) traditional, women and youth leaders were trained in the 2 workshops that were conducted in the two communities.  Participants were drawn from the mosques, churches, community development associations, non-governmental organizations, market associations, youth groups, local government staff, etc.

Participants in each workshop consisted of diverse ages, occupations, ethnic and religious background. Two experienced resource persons were engaged to conduct the trainings in each community. The trainers effectively combined simplified English language and vernacular to ensure that participants optimally understood topics treated.

Topics treated at the workshops include: Understanding Conflicts and peace, Conflict analysis and transformation, Violence and non-violence in conflict, Communication and conflict, Negotiation in conflict, Mediation, Women/Youths and community peacebuilding; Conflict monitoring and early warning.

The Capacity Building in Conflict Management manual developed by IMPACT and the Gender and Conflict Prevention training manual developed by the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP- Nigeria) was adapted by the resource persons to conduct the training.

By the close of each training workshop, participants were encouraged to impart their skills to their group members and other target groups in the community. This action which is funded by the European Union has built indigenous capacity for continued peace and security within communities.

Results generated upon completion of the training workshops include the following:

• The capacity of 171 traditional, community women and youth leaders in 2 Delta State communities built in non-violent conflict management.
• Women empowered for active and skilled participation of women, youth and in peace processes within beneficiary communities.

Another year has come to an end. We have once again arrived at another threshold as we consolidate our emerging democracy through civilian to civilian transition in an election which  though had its challenges, was described as being the most credible to ate since 1999 by majority of Nigerians and the international community. This success could be attributed in part to the level of awareness created and the mobilisation of CSOs, security agencies, government and communities, of which IMPACT played a crucial role through the strengthening of its early warning teams and other target groups in different communities within the country.

This year however, our capacity as peacebuilders was once again challenged by the myriads of conflicts and violence that shook the nation such as the continued crises in Jos, Plateau state and the increasing number of women and children reported dead; the Boko Haram acts of terrorism across the northern parts of the nation- the bomb explosions in Abuja, Bauchi, Borno states etc; the increasing political and economic tensions in the country as  the Federal Government consolidates plans to remove fuel subsidy. Again the Niger Delta issues- which may have lost the level of violence associated with it in the past, and other clusters of crises and their security implications for the country have had negative socio-economic repercussions for everyday life, peace and security.

Nevertheless, as serious as these challenges appear, IMPACT remains undaunted in its resolve to serve as a credible peacebuilding organisation working with our partners and various stakeholders to meet head-on with these challenges and find solutions to them. We maintained our holistic approach to the issues ravaging the nation in the programmes we implemented.

Within this year, Impact for Change and Development (IMPACT) integrated a gender perspective in the implementation of all programmes. Bearing in mind the mission statement of the organization “to bring succor to those in difficult circumstances and situations, through the protection /promotion of their rights and empower them for positive change and sustainable development”, the organization made remarkable progress working with community women, men, youth, civil society organizations and law enforcement agents (Military, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), State Security Services (SSS).The main objective of the Gender arm of our programmes is to enable IMPACT to empower its target groups with skills to mainstream gender within their organisations and transactions at policy, programme and activity levels.

The year equally provided another opportunity to advance peacebuilding within communities across Nigeria. In Lagos State, IMPACT continued to broaden the scope of the Early Warning System through improved capacity building for the Lagos Early Warning Team members and state security stakeholders for effective collaborations to prevent the eruption of conflicts. The publication of the book, “Early Warning and Early Response to Conflict, a handbook for Understanding Early Warning System Implementation’ has helped facilitate easy warning and response to conflicts.

During the latter part of the year there was a re-focus of the organization’s programmes towards the Niger – Delta region of Nigeria.  The goal was to build skills for civil society organizations using a gender perspective to enable them effectively collaborate with stakeholders in mainstreaming gender into the ongoing peace processes in the region. Stakeholders at community and state levels were visited and sensitized on the need to work with women in building peace. Para-military officers were equally equipped with skills to effectively manage conflict in the course of their operations.

Our gratitude goes to all our partners both old and new:  Cordaid Netherlands, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAF), ARDS/USAID, UNICEF, International Labor Organization (ILO), United Stare Institute for Peace (USIP), Urgent Action Fund, Africa,  African Women  Active Non-violence Initiative for Social Change (AWANICh)- formenly Women Peacemakers Programme Africa (WPP -Africa) and European Union (EU) Delegation amongst others.We have been able to make the impact that we have achieved through your support and belief in us. We appreciate your dedication.

This year, IMPACT implemented programmes aimed at promoting sustainable participation of its target groups in peace processes at all level. Although the organization witnessed certain challenges with regards to accessing funds in the earlier part of the year, the Board, Management and staff of both the Head office and the Niger Delta office worked to ensure that all planned activities for the year were implemented with positive results.

PROGRAMMES REPORTS:

During the year, IMPACT worked towards achieving its strategic objectives that fall within our Strategic Action Plan covering the period 2008- 2012. Thus, our programmes and activities revolved around the following strategic objectives;

1. Strengthen the participation of women in decision making, peace and security matters in Nigeria
2. Increase women’s participation in electoral processes and election into political offices in preparation for 2011.
3. Empowerment through civic/political education.
4. Build the capacity of paramilitary and military sustenance of peace and security in the Nation.
5. Enhance the promotion and protection of the rights of women, children and young persons in Nigeria including those in conflict with the law.

Major activities carried out during the year under the various programmes desks include;

A. Research and Documentation:

• Early Warning and Early Response to Conflict; A Handbook for Understanding Early Warning System Implementation.
• Organisational Newsletter Touching Lives………..Making a difference; July 2011/ Volume1 Number 4

B. Civic and Political Education Programme:

• Vision Nigeria: A Radio Civic /Political Education Programme.

IMPACT in conjunction with Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAF), has been organizing a radio civic education programme titled “Vision Nigeria” to educate the populace since 2007.  This year, the weekly live phone in radio programme featured 46 episodes from the 7th January to 25^th November, 2011 on the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) Enugu from 1p.m- 2p.m.every Friday.  The programme provided a forum for the discussion of civic and political issues and their implications to human rights by renowned guest speakers from different fields of endeavour ranging from politics, business, liberal, professional to the academia, who have a good knowledge of the nation’s political terrain.

C. Conflict Management and Peacebuilding Programme:

• 1-Day Experience Sharing Workshop on Response Mechanisms to Prevent Electoral Violence.

In continuation of the ARD/EWARDS project on Strengthening Early Warning and Early Response mechanisms in Lagos State, a 1-day experience sharing workshop was held on Thursday 6^th of January, 2011 for the executive members of the early warning team, representatives of the state security agencies and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs). The workshop provided a platform for interactions amongst the groups through relaying of experiences on response mechanisms that have been used at various levels across the country to prevent the eruption of violent conflicts particularly during and after elections.

• Expanded Early Warning Team (EWT) Meeting to strategize on linkages of Activities between the Team and Security Responses at State Level.

IMPACT organized an expanded meeting for members of the Lagos Early Warning Team and trained security stakeholders on 27^th January 2011. The meetings provided an avenue to strategize on effective linkages between early warning team activities and security responses at various levels. At the meeting, issues bordering on early warning and responses to identified systematic conditions and proximate factors that nurture conflicts in the society were discussed.

• Media Campaign against Electoral Violence in Lagos State.

With the theme “Curbing Electoral Violence in Lagos State”, a media campaign was organized as one of the response activities to prevent violence during the election period. The media campaign created awareness on the response strategies that have been adopted to prevent the eruption of conflicts during the election period in Lagos State.

• Evaluation of the Project – Strengthening Capacity and Linkages for Effective Early Warning/Early Response in Lagos State.

As part of the activities of the ARD/EWARDS funded project, an evaluation of the project was carried out by an external evaluator. The evaluation findings revealed a high degree of achievement of project objectives. It was recommended that the project should be expanded to accommodate other conflict prone states in Nigeria.

• Development of Business Plan on the capacity needs of Civil Society Organisation in Nigeria.

As a kick off to the project on “Strengthening Peacebuilding Processes in the Niger Delta through Gender Mainstreaming”, IMPACT engaged a team of consultants to carry out a feasibility study for the organisation in April 2011. Findings from the surveys carried out revealed a dearth of human resources and non-availability of organisational development services among CSOs and governmental institutions.  Based on findings of the feasibility study, a 3-year business plan was developed for the Consultancy and NGO arms of IMPACT.

• The Nigerian Army College of Logistics (NACOL) Seminar/ Training Workshop on “Democracy, Peacebuilding and Conflict Management”.

Impact for Change and Development (IMPACT) in partnership with Konrad Adenauer Foundation and the Nigeria Army College of Logistics (NACOL) continued its annual 5-day seminar / training workshop on Democracy, Peacebuilding and Conflict Management for the military.  With the theme “The Military and the Challenges of Managing Sectarian / Ethnic Crisis in a Democracy” the event held from June 13 to 17, 2011 at the Nigerian Army College of Logistics (NACOL), Lagos Island, Lagos. Six papers were presented at the 2- day seminar after which the training workshop commenced on the third day. The capacity of over 100 officers was built at the programme.

• Conflict Analysis and Community Mapping in Ukwani and Isoko communities, Delta State.

In the month of October 2011, IMPACT began the project, “Capacity Building in Non-Violent Conflict Management Skills for Enhanced Peace Processes between and amongst Communities in Delta State” with funds from the European Union (EU). The project began with a conflict analysis and community mapping exercise in Ukwani and Isoko communities in Delta State. The exercise was carried out by the Deputy Executive Director IMPACT and the Programmes Director.  Methodologies used to elicit information from the people in the identified communities included questionnaires and focus group discussions.

• Capacity Building in Conflict Management and Peacebuilding for the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

IMPACT in line with its strategic objective to build  the capacity of paramilitary and military sustenance of peace and security in Nigeria, organised a training workshop for  50 officers of the National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). The training which aimed at equipping security operatives with peacebuilding and conflict management skills to enable them effectively protect vulnerable groups in the course of addressing conflict was held from 28^th November – 1^st December 2011 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

• The National Early Warning System Reporting

The  National Early Warning System  Reporting programe was initiated by the WANEP secretariat  since 2009 to monitor conflict signals. IMPACT Niger Delta office coordinates the program me in Delta State and periodically sends reports on conflict situations within Delta state to the WANEP secretariat for compilation and analysis. The reporters from the various states had earlier been trained on why they have to report, what the reports are used for, who analyses the reports and the end point of the analyzed reports. This initial training has been followed by refresher courses

D. Disaster Management Programme:

• The Human Emergency Response And Development (Phase III) –

IMPACT through its Deputy Executive Director Niger Delta Office participated in the Human Emergency Response and Development programme organized by WANEP – Nigeria in June 2011. At the programme conflict reporters were brought together during a refresher course and enlightened about the expectations of the programme. IMPACT has in the course of the year begun processes towards collaborations with other civil society organsiations for entrenching disaster management education in relevant government and non-governmental institutions.  Currently, discussions are on-going for a likely collaboration with an NGO headed by a former Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for the promotion of disaster management education in government educational institutions across Nigeria.

E:Gender Programme:

• Advocacy Visit to Key Stakeholders in Akwa- Ibom State.

To engage stakeholders and establish linkages for effective implementation and sustainability of the gender mainstreaming project, IMPACT, carried out advocacy visits to key stakeholders in Akwa- Ibom State. Amongst the stakeholders visited were, Honourable Commissioner Women Affairs and Social Welfare, the Chairman Traditional Rulers Council, the Chairman Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Akwa- Ibom State Chapter, chairman Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) and the Chairman Akwa- Ibom State Conflict Resolution Committee.

• Consultative Meeting with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) on Mainstreaming Gender in Peacebuilding and Decision Making Processes.

In order to have a better understanding of the various conflicts existing in the Niger Delta, as well as map out a possible entry point for intervention, the project  “Strengthening Peacebuilding Processes in the Niger Delta through Gender Mainstreaming”  continued  with a 1-day consultative meeting with civil society organisations on mainstreaming gender in peacebuilding and decision making processes. The event which was held on 30^th June 2011, at Asabana Hotels, Asaba, Delta State had in attendance women and men drawn from all strata of civil society within the three project states (Delta, Akwa- Ibom and Rivers) in the Niger Delta.

• Workshop on Gender Mainstreaming For Civil Society Organizations in Akwa- Ibom State

As a follow up to the consultative meeting, a 3 -day training workshop was held for civil society groups on gender mainstreaming. The event which was held from August 31^st – September 2^nd 2011, at La- Mems Hotel, Akwa- Ibom State had several CSOs in attendance.

• Workshop on Advocacy Skills, Proposal Writing and Resource Mobilization for Civil Society Groups/ Organisations in Akwa- Ibom State.

Following the Gendermainstreaming programme, the need to leverage resources for gendermainstreaming by CSOs informed the   2- day training workshop on advocacy skills, proposal writing and resource mobilization .The programme which was held on 19^th and 20^th September 2011 at La- Mems Hotel, Uyo, Akwa- Ibom State, had in attendance representatives of civil society organisations same as were in attendance at the gender mainstreaming workshop. At the end of the training, the capacity of civil society organizations was enhanced to conceptualize, fundraise and implement projects,

F:Institutional Strengthening:

• Capacity Building Workshop For Staff Members In Gender Mainstreaming, Advocacy Skills, Program Planning, Proposal Writing, And Resource Mobilization.

As an effort to enhance organisational capacity, IMPACT conducted a 5-day capacity building workshop for staff members in gender mainstreaming, advocacy skills and project management (proposal writing, program planning and resource mobilization) and monitoring and evaluation amongst others.  The event had all staff members from the Head and Niger Delta Offices in attendance.

• Strategic Action Plan Review Consultative Meeting.

Following this, IMPACT held a Strategic Action Plan review meeting at its head office in Magboro, Ogun State in August 2011. In attendance were all staff members from both the head and Niger Delta offices. The programme which aimed at reviewing the existing strategic action plan (2008- 2012) of the organization in order to assess and reposition the organization for the next two years was facilitated by a team of consultants from Growth & Development Consults Lagos

G:  Other Activities in 2011 (Staff Participation in Training Programmes)

Other activities through which organisational capacity was enhanced and staff exposure provided in the course of the year include the following:

• Capacity Building Workshop To Enhance Skills of Non –State Actors (NSAS) Organised By EU-INSIDE held at leisure Spring Hotel Oshogbo, Osun State from 16^th- 22^nd January, 2011.
• Attendance Of Event Of International Exposure –The 55^th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) held from 22^nd February to 4^th March 2011 at the UN headquarters in New York. With the theme “Access and participation of Women and Girls in Education, Training, science and Technology including for the Promotion of Women’s Equal Access to Full Employment and Decent Work”.
• Women Network Forum for Peace builders organised by African Women Nonviolence Initiatives for Social Change (AWANICh) held from 20^th – 23^rd June, 2011 in Nairobi Kenya.
• Refresher Training in Gender Active Non Violence for Trainers organised by African Women Non- violence Initiatives for Social Change (AWANICh) held from 25^th – 29^th July 2011 in Lagos, Nigeria with participants drawn from Kenya, Togo, Ghana, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroun, Uganda, Zimbabwe  and Nigeria.
• Conference on Improving Human Rights Situation in Nigeria through Effective Engagement with the National Action Plan On Human Rights (NAP) and the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) organised by Partnership for Justice.
• Public Forum on Foreign Policy and Human Rights Organised by Partnership for Justice on 28^th July, 2011
• Training Workshop on Accounting Principles for Accountants organized by Konrad Adenauer Stifung (KAS) in KAS office, Abuja on 15^th of June, 2011.
• Advanced Management Monitoring And Evaluation Training organized by Konrad Adenauer Stifung (KAS) from 25^th – 27^th July 2011 in Abuja for their partners.
• General Meeting With Vision Nigeria Partners Organized By Konrad Adenauer Stifung (KAS) on 28^th July 2011,
• The WANEP South – South Annual General Meeting held from 25^th – 26^th November 2011 at Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
• NGO Management Training Workshop For Civil Society Organisations In Nigeria organised by the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI), established by the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) and the George Soros Foundation in Lagos, Nigeria from 6^th – 9^th December 2011.
• Strategic Planning Meeting For The Niger Delta Women’s Movement held on 11^th- 14^th December 2011

ACHIEVEMENTS:

In the outgoing year, some of the organisation’s achievements include;

1. Publication of the fourth edition of the organisation’s Newsletter and the Early Warning and Early Response to Conflict Handbook
2. The events of international exposure, international and national capacity building programmes attended by staff members have helped broaden the knowledge base of staff members in different programming areas for achievement of strategic organisational goals.
3. IMPACT has continued to consolidate its partnership with different key stakeholders in the Niger delta region of Nigeria through both vertical (with funding partners and government institutions) as well as horizontal (with likeminded and focussed CSOs) collaborations.
4. The increased interest of donors to partner with IMPACT expresses a clear indication of the organisation’s credibility and competence in programme implementation in our areas of focus . Donor agencies such as CORDAID, KAF, ARDS/USAID, and EU all provided funds to implement different projects during the year and pledged their continued support to the organisation.

CHALLENGES:

• A major challenge encountered during the year was the failure to receive approval from the National Defence Headquarters to implement a project that targeted capacity building for the Joint Task Force in the Niger-delta which was largely attributed to incidence of growing insecurity in the country.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. Build capacity of out of school youths in non -violent techniques of conflict resolution
2. Build the capacity of traditional leaders to put an end to structural violence against women.
3. Produce abridged versions of training materials on peacebuilding for women in local dialects of project location
4. Review the training manual “Introduction to Conflict management and peacebuilding for the Military”.
5. Increased collaboration between government and CSOs on conflict management and peacebuilding.
6. More programmes should be designed to promote and protecting the rights of children in the society
7. IMPACT should explore alternative funding sources to donor funds.

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2011

The year has almost come to an end and a reflection on the year’s activities seems necessary to determine the extent of our successes and shortfalls. Some Domestic /Administrative objectives which are internal to the organization to improve its operations and effectiveness were mapped out in the Strategic Action Plan. Some of them were achieved while some were not. Throughout the year 2011, IMPACT head office worked alongside with the Niger Delta office to ensure smooth running of the organization.

The Objectives were:

• Establish an Abuja office: To cover Impact’s interest in the Northern axis of Nigeria.
• Hire three additional project officers: One each for Lagos, Asaba, and Abuja office.
• Install a more robust IT platform: To generally improve inter and intra office communication.
• Improve website (more interactive): To improve visibility and patronage on the internet.
• Increase number of donor partners / deepen existing relationships, and enhance effectiveness and impact.
• Commence publication of newsletter to more effectively disseminate information and achievements.
• Create and retain organizational image by wearing  IMPACT uniform once a week

ACHIEVEMENTS:

• IMPACT was not able to establish an Abuja office but succeeded in  retaining its presence in Lagos state through a liaison office being hosted by West African Network for Peacebuilding-Nigeria (WANEP-Nigeria) at No. 33 Oba Babington Ashaye Close, Ojodu Berger.
• IMPACT employed a new Programmes Director (PD)
• New office equipments were acquired and facilities upgraded.
• The official website was enhanced.
• IMPACT’s funding base expanded.
• IMPACT published the fourth edition of her newsletter –TOUCHING LIVES.
• IMPACT recovered over six million naira donor funds from Intercontinental Bank Plc Gbagada branch, Lagos state with EFCC’s intervention.
• IMPACT facilitated a workshop “Refresher Training in Gender Active Non Violence for Trainers” organised by African Women Non- violence Initiatives for Social Change (AWANICh) in Lagos, Nigeria.

CHALLENGES:

• Dwindling chances of accessing donor funds as a result of global cut in funding.
• Reduced media visibility
• Lack of project vehicle which makes conveyance of workshop materials to the venues cumbersome.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

• Engage alternative funding sources to donor funds
• Apportion money from annual budget to finance media visibility.
• Source for funds to procure project vehicles

The meeting aims at bringing these stakeholders together to rub minds on issues that hinder peace within communities in Delta State and to identify the way forward to support the peace processes initiated by the Federal Government.  Thematic papers will be presented at the meeting highlighting the positive roles men and women can play within communities towards promoting peace, security and development. There will be an experience sharing session where key officers will share experiences on the complexity of the conflict in Delta State and what measures have been put in place to monitor and prevent future occurrences. Also, the meeting will serve as another medium to enumerate best approaches to managing conflict within the state. Participants will further be intimated on the need to enhance the skills of different target groups to effectively participate in decision making, peace processes, conflict prevention and local governance at community level.

At the end of the meeting, a work plan will be drawn up based on the issues discussed and the way forward, taking contributions from the participants. The work plan will highlight strategies to promote wide spread replication of the project. A committee will be set up to execute the work plan in order to ensure the collaboration of government agencies for the sustainability of the project. The media will be partnered with to publicize the outcome of the consultative meeting. Speeches made at the programme will be made available to print media houses that attend the event for publication.

The project is funded by the European Union and targets 2 communities in Delta state- Isoko and Ukwani communities. Conflict analysis and community mapping have been completed in both communities.

Conceptualized and built on the rich experiences and passion of its founder  Ms. Naomi Akpan Ita and members of its board of trustees, IMPACT have not wavered in its mission of bringing about positive change and sustainable development especially to its targets population – children, young persons and women.

Happy birthday IMPACT. Keep on touching lives! Keep on making a difference!!

IMPACT training workshop on “Enhancing Internal Security Operations in Niger Delta through Capacity Building in Conflict Management/ Peace Building for the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), commenced on Monday November 28th, 2011. The training holds at Gibsco Hotel, Elekhin Road, via Liberation Stadium, Rumuasi,  Port-Harcourt Rivers state.

The aims of this training include:

• Sustainable and longer lasting peace in conflicting communities following the intervention of Civil Security Officers with basic skills in conflict management.

• Reduction of human rights infringements during internal peace operations following the adoption of non-violent conflict management styles.

• Improved relationship with civilians due to understanding and application of result oriented conflict handling styles.

• Ownership and sustainability of the project through mainstreaming Conflict Management and Peacebuilding into the training curriculum of the NSCDC training institutions.

Details of the training workshop would be posted shortly.