1. FGN / EU MICRO PROJECT PROGRAMME IN SIX STATES MPP6

The above named project was funded by the European Union and covered six Southern States of Nigeria namely: Abia, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Delta, Ondo and Cross River States. The objective of the programme was to help improve the living standard of the poor settlements in the Southern parts of Nigeria. CPD successfully supervised and constructed the under listed projects for MPP6 in Akwa Ibom State between 2004 to 2008.

Market project in Ikot Udobia Etinan

Market project in Afia Nsit Urua Nko

Water project in Ikot Mkpo, Nsit Atai

Classroom block in Ikot Oso, Eket

Oil Palm Mill project in Ikot Ekang, Etinan

Oil Palm Mill Project in Ikot Abiyan, Nsit Atai

Health center project in Ikot Iyan, Ibesikpo Asutan

Classroom block project in Ekritam Akpanobong, Itu.

The MPP6 in her exit programme had recommended CPD as one of the leading NGO’s to handle the incoming MPP9 projects. CPD was among the ten (10) NGOs in Akwa Ibom State that was selected for the POSAD (Participatory Organization Self Assessment Development) seminar with the under listed objectives:

Conduct self assessment of our organization

Develop exit strategies and sustainable plan for MPP6 projects

Review strategic plan and the way forward

2. Malaria in Pregnancy Project

The Project is Exxonmobil and Jhpiego’s (An Affiliate of John Hopkins University Baltimore) effort towards the reduction of the burden of Malaria in pregnancy (MIP) in Akwa Ibom State through the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Initiative. In order to give ownership of the project to the people of Akwa Ibom State, Exxonmobil and Jhpiego decided that the Community Directed Intervention (CDI) will be implemented by a local Community based Non-governmental Organization (NGO). To this end, a number of NGOs were assessed and Community Partners for Development (CPD) was selected to work in-tandem with State Ministry of Health (SMOH). Jhpiego has been providing all necessary technical assistance to CPD and SMOH for the successful implementation of the project.

The project work plan for the first phase is two years.. In preparation for the take off of the project, Jhpiego in collaboration with CPD conducted a baseline survey including facility assessment and community survey on Malaria in Pregnancy. Furthermore trained 18 Core State Trainers on Malaria in Pregnancy (MIP), Prevention of Mother-to Child Transmission of HIV within the context of Malaria in Pregnancy (PMTCT), Health Management Information System (Monitoring and Evaluation) and Community Directed Intervention (CDI) approach to malaria control. The Core Trainers have further trained 25 providers at the LGA level while 202 frontline health workers representing 60% of the providers in the 26 selected health facilities in the focal 7 LGAs include; Eket, Esit Eket, Onna, Ibeno, Ikot Abasi, Mbo and Mkpat Enin have been trained, and additional plan to train the remaining 40% in the third month after the commencement of the intervention. Also, 28 Core Team members have been oriented and trained on Standards-based Management and Recognition (SBM-R), an approach to quality improvement of services in the low income settings. The training participants were selected from the Federal Ministry of Health Abuja, State Ministry of Health, participating health facilities and CPD.

Jhpiego working with CPD and SMOH have identified 91 health care facilities’ catchment communities comprising 459 kindred (Ekpuk), mobilsed and linked them to the health services. The health services sites have engaged the communities in creating awareness for MIP program, selection and training of 735 MIP Volunteers. The Volunteers will, under the supervision of the health service sites, be involved in the community delivery of MIP commodities. As part of the efforts to demonstrate ownership of the program by the communities, and institute its sustainability, the volunteers have conducted the community mapping to identify socio-economic resources that would support the program as well as community census that will be used to determine the quantity of commodities to be supplied to the communities. Jhpiego in collaboration with Roll Back Malaria Partnership Forum, Akwa Ibom State, CPD and SMOH have further trained 15 members of media professionals and 10 members of Roll Back Malaria Partners Forum on Evidence Based Health Reporting to mark 2008 World Malaria Day.

3. UNIFEM / OSIWA SEEDS INTEGRATION PROJECT.

Community Partners for Development (CPD), a Civil Society Organization (CSO) was selected by UNIFEM / OSIWA in 2007 to facilitate a Consultative Workshop on SEEDS Integration Project in Akwa Ibom State. This workshop was part of the activities in implementing the integrated empowerment programme for women with support from Open Society Initiative West Africa (OSIWA) for two focal States in Nigeria including Akwa Ibom and Enugu. Following the introduction of the National Economic Empowerment Development Strategy (NEEDS) by the Federal Government, State Governments have been encouraged by the National Planning Commission (NPC) to develop their counterpart State Economic Empowerment Development Strategies (SEEDS) and to provide a frame work for addressing gender equity and equality concerns as part of the overall economic reforms. For this commitment to be delivered, it requires sustained action by all particularly, mainstreaming gender into government policies and programmes.

The overall objectives of the project are:

· To empower women and women groups to engage in transforming SEEDS to Wealth Creation, and

· To eradicate feminized poverty.

As a fallout of the above project CPD partnered with a consultant sponsored by UNIFEM / OSIWA to produce a write up on “ Promotion of Women Economic Empowerment through SEEDS as a strategy for Poverty Reduction and Wealth Creation in Akwa Ibom State”. 

4. PRSHH REPORT: “MAKE WE TALK”

The essence of this programme is solely awareness creation about STIs and HIV/AIDs. This is divided into two component: prevention, constituting 90% and care and support 10%.

This programme has two major partners : Action Aid Nigeria (AAN), and Society for Family Health (SFH). AAN does not work directly in the field, it is therefore partnering with CPD to work with SFH in implementing the “MAKE WE TALK” programme for the Calabar region covering Akwa Ibom State and Cross River State. Two local government area of Akwa Ibom State namely: - Uyo and Ikot Ekpene are currently implementing the programme. In Uyo there are two sites: Offot and Ekpenyong, where the programme focuses on behavior change. Participants from these sites have formed themselves into CBOs taking on new names: Offot site is known as Dynamic Youth Association, while Ekpenyong site is known as Legend Youth Association. For transport workers in Uyo we have the Goodland Association, while Ikot Ekpene local Government transport workers are known as Life Concern Men Association. The FOSY/ MOSY group are known as Future Hope Youth Association.

CPD has thus succeeded in sensitizing a large number of youth in the project sites and a good number of them have turned out voluntarily for HIV/AIDs counselling and testing. CPD has supervised the CBOs to perform drama, carnival and road show to create awareness on behavior maintenance, mobilize gatekeepers/Influencers and train, supervise and support Peer Educators.

PRSHH Success Story.

Ø Reduction in indiscriminate sex.

Ø Use of condom for safe sex.

Ø Voluntary counselling and testing of HIV/AIDs test

6. REFUGEES AND INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS (IDP)

CPD was selected as the coordinating NGO, for all NGOs working on humanitarian services in Nigeria. With the support of UNHCR and NCFR a platform was formed called NPHUSIN (NGO Platform of Humanitarian Services in Nigeria) Our job includes the supervision and monitoring, assistance and aids refugees and the internally displaced persons – in particular accommodation in the host community, provision and distribution of food, other relief material and other welfare issues.

It was under the platform of NPHUSIN that CPD attended the UN annual consultations and Excom in Geneva between 26th September to 5th October 2007. Currently CPD has been nominated as the focal point for the West African Region Network of NGOs working on humanitarian services, Nigeria Chapter. The overall goals of this platform / network are to provide decision makers with valuable support services and strengthen disaster mitigation efforts. The platform will also monitor supervision of local integration and voluntary repatriation of refugees.

7. ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT

The project was aimed at improving the economic status of women in the Niger Delta region who have been identified as the poorest of the poor. The project was designed to open and boost the economic window of women and enhance their capacity through skills acquisition, grant and or soft loans for the purpose of farming or any economic venture as may be feasible in the locality.

1. CPD has designed modalities to sustain the Women Economic Empowerment project (WEP) in Onna. Currently a business centre is functioning with Computers, Photocopiers, Projector and a Generator.

2. Women have started producing for sale snacks made from cassava flour (courtesy of the training given to them by IITA and funded by UNIFEM/UNDP). As soon as the cassava planted is ready, the women will embark on producing their cassava flour from the stall and equipments donated by UNIFEM/IITA. In addition to this, the dress making and hair dressing section has taken off. CPD as her contribution for the projects sustainability has attached her staff for routine monitoring and supervision.

Plans are being made for the 44 women (drawn from 41 villages in Onna and the women development center in Abat, Onna). To register as a co-operative society. As part of experience sharing on economic empowerment of women, UNIFEM sponsored CPD to attend the Common Wealth Women Network workshop in Kampala in July 2007

In April 16th & 17th 2008, the UNDP/TICAD video project based in New York was sent to Nigeria to film the project at Onna.

Success Stories

The project is self sustained because from the onset the women claimed ownership of the project by accepting to monitor and ensure its success.

Some of the women now generate income through the sale of snacks produced from cassava flour, which method was learnt in the course of the project.

There is remarkable change in the lives of these women. For some the project has put meals back on their table and smiles on their faces.

For those who couldn’t be part of the trainings the WDC gives them opportunity to learn through the CD roms that was designed to cover all the topics taught.

The cassava processing mill and all other facilities will generate income which will eventually be used as micro credit for these women.

A Woman Development Officer staff was given full training on computer processing and use of photocopier. She now help others in the centre.

8. WOMEN POLITICAL EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM.

(a) CPD in collaboration with four (4) NGOs namely AWEG, KABEKERCHE, BETTER LIFE FOR RURAL WOMEN, House The Women Mandate Protection in the South South zone of Nigeria. The project was funded by the UNDP Joint Basket Fund. The overall objectives were:

• To identify effective strategies to protect the mandate of women and mentor female aspirants / politicians towards the 2007 elections and beyond.
• To encourage women in the South-South zone and Akwa Ibom State in particular, to increase their participation in the political process in order to increase their hold on the political space.
• To seek to broker relationship with Civil Society Organizations.
• To plan and articulate for voters education and women mobilization in the electoral process by way of sustainability
• To establish mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating activities and programmes on women participation beyond 2007 and towards 2011 elections.
• To review the Electoral Act or Laws of 18th June, 2008 which derives its power from Section 153 of the 1999 Constitution that highlights the elections processes to alleviate all manner of beliefs that instilled fear in the hearts of women preventing them from full participation of politic and electoral processes.

(b) FUNDED BY UNIFEM

CPD in partnership with AWEG carried out the Women Political Empowerment Programme in Akwa Ibom and Edo State. The main activities of the project include:

• To strengthen the capacity of women politicians to negotiate access to the electoral process.
• To develop strategies for increasing women’s participation in the electoral processes towards 2007 and beyond.
• To strengthen capacity of civil society organizations to advocate for inclusion of women and women’s rights and empowerment issues in electoral processes.
• To build strong societal support for increased women’s participation in politics and governance as a matter of social justice and inclusiveness.

At the end of the project the following results were obtained:

Enhanced technical and institutional capacities of women NGOs to address obstacles faced by women in political participation and support women’s empowerment in electoral processes

Increased support from political parties and political institutions for women’s participation in political and electoral processes

Strengthened partnerships between media and women politicians to advocate for women’s participation in politics and governance.