European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EUSDGN) Project

 

SOS Children’s Villages in Nigeria is the lead consortium partner that implemented the 30-months ‘Towards Peaceful and Non-Violent Elections in Nigeria’ project. The project is part of component six (6)C of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) Phase II Programme.

It is implemented in six states across the 6 geopolitical zones in Nigeria; the States are Benue (North-Central), Borno (North-East), Imo (South-East), Kaduna (North-West), Oyo (South-West) and Rivers (South-South). Other members of the consortium are Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA).

The objective of the project is to foster a functioning pluralistic, inclusive, participatory and representative democracy in Federal Republic of Nigeria through promotion of peaceful and non-violent electoral process.

Specific Objective 1 (SO1): To build the capacity of Political Parties, Electoral Management Body (EMB), State House of Assembly, Police and other Security Agencies and non-state actors on the electoral context and peace in 6 states (representing the 6 geopolitical zones). CISLAC implements this result area.

Specific objective 2 (SO2): To change public attitudes and build greater tolerance in society using the media on the peaceful and non-violent electoral process in 6 states (representing the 6 geopolitical zones). CAPPA is implementing this result area.

Specific objective 3 (SO3): To transform cultural and societal norms, values and behaviours to reduce violence, support dialogue and negotiation, and address the fundamental causes of electoral and other conflict in 6 states (representing the 6 geopolitical zones). SOS CVN implements this result area.

Reached across the project locations

Community gatekeepers supported to strengthen existing conflict management mechanisms in their communities

Peace and Civic Education Clubs in Secondary Schools

Project Achievements

  • 18 political parties across each of the project locations received support through capacity building sessions (6), advocacy engagements (59) and political party summits/seminars (10) on the importance of promoting the inclusion and participation of youths and women in party activities and leadership as well as issues bothering around strengthening internal democracy to ensure peaceful conduct of elections in their respective States.

 

  • 132 forums were conducted with Election Management Bodies (INEC, SIECs, Security agencies, relevant state agencies) and key non-state actors to improve election management and ensure peace and non-violence before, during, and after the conduct of elections in the project states. In addition, CSOs across the states were supported to set up 6 situation rooms on Electoral Conflict Tracking, Reporting, and Mitigation. 120 conflict trackers were trained and deployed to track and report these conflicts to the situation rooms for early response, thereby ensuring safe communities for children and youths to thrive before, during, and after the conduct of elections.

 

  • Over 120 journalists were trained on peace journalism. The training drew lessons from the application of the 2022 Electoral Act by journalists to ensure that they are abreast of their mandate and social obligation to promote peace, a non-violent electoral process, and accountable, inclusive, and participatory governance in the State and Nigeria at large. It provided the needed platform to strengthen the resolve of journalists to uphold professional ethics such as fact checking, while advocating for inclusive and participatory governance practices that benefit all members of society including children, youths, women, and PWDs. Discussion forums (15) with Heads of Media organizations contributed to 16 media organizations reviewing existing organizational standard operation procedures to mainstream inclusive, participatory and non-violent reportage while improving their coverage, monitoring and reportage of elections based on best practices. This contributed to their deliberate act of carrying out independent fact checking on information and claims before reporting.

 

  • Over 18 million people were reached across the project locations through information, awareness raising materials, radio discussions and virtual webinars. Contents generated and disseminated through virtual webinars, social media platforms, radio engagements and electronic fliers, were used in shaping the thoughts of stakeholders on the significance of peaceful and non-violent electoral process and the importance of citizens participation, and inclusion in governance process for sustained democracy. Similarly, by leveraging the use of digital assets such electronic fliers (e-fliers) these target audience were sensitized on the basic provisions of the 2022 Electoral Act and their civic responsibilities before, during and beyond the conduct of elections.

 

  • Over 1,200 community gatekeepers (traditional, religious, women and youth leaders as well as leaders of vigilante groups, CBOs, amongst others) were supported to strengthen existing conflict management mechanisms in their communities.  They were guided through practical knowledge on how to set-up/strengthen Early Warning and Early Response (EWER) mechanism to manage conflicts at their roots.

 

  • Over 1,000 youths (438 Female) and 692 women and other marginalised groups were supported with practical peacebuilding and conflict management as well as citizens journalism skills. As peer educators (69 – youths; 60 - women), they facilitated step-down training to other members of their communities while mobilizing their peers to carry-out their civic responsibilities by observing the conduct of elections, mediating in conflict situations within their communities, setting-up peace and civic education clubs in secondary schools, facilitating voter education and awareness sessions and supporting members of their communities to register and collect their Permanent Voters Card (PVC).

 

  • The management of 24 secondary schools set-up Peace and Civic Education Clubs as a demonstration of their commitment to mainstream school-based peace and civic education programmes in their extra-curricular activities. The capacity of 773 students and teachers were built in peacebuilding and conflict management skills to scale the knowledge to other students, their families, and community members across the project locations.