Accord for Community Development has completed comprehensive baseline studies across Imo, Rivers, and Delta States under its Affirmative Action and Economic Advocacy for Women and Youth initiative. This research phase evaluates institutional frameworks, grassroots readiness, and systemic barriers to gender equity, civic participation, and economic inclusion within target communities.
Scope of the Baseline Study
To ensure an evidence-based approach to policy advocacy and capacity building, the study engaged five core stakeholder categories across the three Niger Delta states:
Community-Based Social Service Institutions: Assessing the availability, accessibility, and gender-responsiveness of local social welfare, vocational, and healthcare services.
Community Leadership: Evaluating traditional governance structures, council decision-making processes, and the implementation of gender justice and 35% affirmative action principles at the local level.
Security Institutions: Examining local security networks, law enforcement engagement, and community-level protection mechanisms for women and vulnerable groups.
Women-Focused Organizations: Mapping the operational capacities, advocacy reach, and economic support systems of civil society and cooperative groups representing women.
Youth-Focused Organizations: Investigating youth civic engagement, leadership inclusion, and economic empowerment avenues to address youth marginalization and unemployment.
Methodology & Field Engagement
The baseline assessment employed a participatory qualitative and quantitative research methodology, utilizing Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), and community surveys. Field teams conducted direct consultations with traditional rulers, women leaders, youth executives, security personnel, and local service providers.
These field interactions gathered critical data on:
Institutional mechanisms for enforcing social inclusion and preventing gender-based violence.
Socio-economic challenges facing female micro-entrepreneurs, including credit access and property rights.
Youth mobilization capacities and opportunities for constructive civic engagement.
Key Strategic Pillars Moving Forward
The findings from Imo, Rivers, and Delta States will directly inform Accord’s upcoming program interventions:
Policy Advocacy for 35% Affirmative Action: Translating research insights into actionable policy briefs to advocate for increased female representation within traditional governance and community committees.
Institutional Capacity Building: Strengthening local women and youth groups through structured leadership training, formalization support, and financial literacy initiatives.
Economic Empowerment & Business Linkages: Enhancing livelihoods through targeted micro-enterprise support, vocational skills development, and revolving fund access.
Community-Led Security & Justice Networks: Facilitating multi-stakeholder dialogues between security actors, social service institutions, and community leaders to enhance protection mechanisms for women and youth.
Next Steps
With the baseline data consolidated, Accord will commence dissemination workshops and dialogue sessions with key institutional stakeholders across Imo, Rivers, and Delta States. These findings serve as the foundation for establishing sustainable, community-driven structures that advance affirmative action, economic self-reliance, and social justice.
