North West Zonal Institutional Capacity Building Workshop Towards 2007 Elections in Nigeria

North West Zonal Institutional Capacity Building Workshop Towards 2007 Elections in Nigeria.

As part of the Institute for Democracy in South Africa (IDASA Nigeria) assigned responsibility by the United Kingdom, Department for International Development (DFID) Roadmap to 2007 Elections Program in Nigeria – development of appropriate strategies for providing effective institutional support for the civil society organizations in Nigeria. Three (3) capacity development workshops were conducted in the North West Geo-political Zone for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).

Group photograph of participant at Kaduna 2 day capacity development for C.S.O from Kaduna and Katsina State .

The logistics organization was provided by a consortium of three organizations led by Peace Initiative Network (PIN) others are Inter-faith Mediation Center (MCDF) Kaduna and Network for Empowerment and Development Initiatives (NEDIN) Kano. As designated hosts, the logistics organizers were charged with the responsibility of providing all logistics for participants in terms of accommodation, workshop venue, welfare and transportation.

The exercise was conducted as follows;

	Kano, 6^th & 7^th February 2006 for CSOs from Kano and Jigawa States
	Kaduna, 6^th & 7^th March 2006 for CSOs from Kaduna and Katsina States.
	Sokoto, 3^rd & 4^th April 2006 for CSOs from Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States.

Objectives of the Zonal Workshops

The fundamental objectives of the training workshops include the following;

	To access the strengths, weaknesses and needs of civil society organizations in relation to electoral involvement and the network to which they belong.
	Access the areas in which they could improve upon in order to enhance their performance and delivery in 2007 elections
	Assist the organizations to engage in strategic planning and increase their capacity to participate effectively in 2007 general elections.

Cross section of participants at 2 day capacity development workshop at Sokoto

Participants

Participants at the three workshops were drawn from CSOs groups, security agencies, National Orientation Agencies (NOA), Media and State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC). The states covered include; Kano, Jigawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara.

Group photograph of participants at Kano 2 day capacity development workshop for C.S.O from Kano and Jigawa State.

Debate to Action (DTA)

Overview

Peace Initiative Network (PIN) is a Debate to Action - DTA participant for 2006/2007. Debate to Action is a program of the World Bank Institute and British Council strategic partnership project for training of trainers (TOT) program aimed at youth leaders in youth organization and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Nigeria with knowledge of poverty reduction through Millennium Development Goals and the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS) in Nigeria.

The youth organization arm of the program was launched in Nigeria in September 2004. Peace Initiative Network is a participant in the current year 2006/2007 – coordinated by Patience Asekomeh - Program Officer, Peace Initiative Network.

The objectives of the program are to:

Strengthen the development knowledge base and information networks of youth leaders and youth organizations

Enhance the capacity of young people to become active and effective in helping to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS) through their work at the local and state level

Increase youth awareness of what is already being done within their communities to help achieve the MDGs and NEEDS objectives, and how they can contribute to the process.

Improve participants’ own livelihood skills through enhancing their project management, critical thinking, communication, and training skills.

                                                                     Peace Initiative Network
                                                  Plot 1315 Hausawa Quarters. P.O.Box 14937 Kano. Nigeria
                                                      Tel: +234 (0) 64 31 60 26. Mobile: +234 805 321 2191

info@peaceinitiativenetwork.org