2. Program Overview/Summary
| Name ofOrganization: | Energetic Youth Heritage Initiative |
| Activity Start Date/End Date: | 4TH January to 10th February, 2022 |
| Name of Project Lead | |
| Geographic Coverage (Local Government and States) | Akko LGA, Balanga LGA, Billiri LGA, Gombe LGA, Kaltungo LGA and Shongom LGA of Gombe State. |
| Reporting Period | Monthly (January & February) |
3. Program Description/Introduction& Objective
3.1 Activity Description
By 2021, considerable effort has been made by communities against insurgent groups, bandit and communal clashed in the northeast States which Gombe is not exceptional – Northeast Nigeria and the border communities of Chad, Cameroun and Niger. This indicates progress in the fight against insurgent activities and violent extremism in the region and Nigeria in particular. This success is attributed largely to efforts by Nigerian security forces and the role played by community members in observing, countering and reporting suspicious behavior and activities that are linked to insurgency and youth restiveness.
However, it is also clear that more could have been achieved if communities were better positioned and empowered with capacity to understand insurgent tactics, identify early warning signs, network with relevant community, government and non-governmental agencies for rapid response to these insurgent activities .EYHI is particularly interested in community efforts to identify and respond to these pre-early warning signs, before any wrong-doing has taken place.
To assess and where possible increase community capacity to organize, network, identify and respond to early warning signs, EYHI seeks to support the identification, strengthening and, where necessary, establishment of Early Warning and Response Networks in 6 selected LGAs across in Gombe State to bridge the gaps identified while advancing the campaign to diminish activities of insurgent groups and youth restiveness in these target communities. This activity will be implemented with the following sub objectives in mind;
3.2 Goals and Objectives:
In order to implement this holistic approach, EYHI proposed a 12-month program with the overall goal of Improving Sub National Capacity to Manage Conflict: improving government and civil society capacity to manage conflict through work on prevention, mitigation and reconciliation with sectorial partners.
We are targeting three mutually reinforcing objectives with six expected results in each target communities
Objective1. Strengthen the capacity of CBOs and the Community Leader, Security agents National Human Rights Commission, Faith Leaders, Youth Leaders, Women Leaders in Advocacy, Peace Building and democratic engagement
Result1. Improved operational capacity of target youths, CBOs and stakeholders in Peace building and participation in Governance.
Result2. Increased citizen knowledge on conflict early warning and early response mechanisms and the work of key stakeholders to promote and implement them.
Objective2. Establish a platform between the Youth, Government, security agents (Formal and Non-formal), Faith Leaders, community leaders, NHRC, CBOs, and judicial actors for effective action on the causes of youth restiveness and violence and how to tackle it.
Result2.1. Increased collaboration between CBOs in Gombe state for more effective action on security, youth restiveness and human rights issues.
Result2.2. Increased collaboration between NHRC, CBOs, and judicial actors in target communities for more effective action on human rights issues
Objective3. Improve communication and understanding between affected communities, key stakeholders, and security actors on issues related to Security and justice in affected communities in Gombe State.
Result3.1. Improved capacity of security forces to understand and respect human rights principles.
Result3.2. Increased dialogue between affected communities, key stakeholders, and security actors on issues related to violence or conflict.
4.0 ACTIVITY IMPLEMENTATION PROGRESS
4.1 Advocacy Dialogue/Visit to Gate Keepers:
Background
Energetic Youth Heritage Initiative was selected by DAI Global State2State team to partner with them in implementing a peace building project called “Building the Resilience of Youth Restiveness in Responding to conflict and Restiveness” in 6 LGAs of Gombe State namely Akko, Balanga, Billiri, Gombe, Kaltungo and Shongom respectively.
The escalating conflicts in northeast Nigeria have continued to increase both in complexities and numbers. This violence which are mostly due to lack of good governance and citizens inability to access essential services of life have resulted in political instability, communal conflict , wanton destruction of lives and property, mass displacement of the civil population and destruction of key development infrastructure. Citizen’s displeasure is often ventilated through violent extremism, radicalization, and violent mass protests. Youth are the main actors are perpetrators of the conflict. The high rate of unemployment and drug addict has exposed youth readily available for recruitment into terrorism armed group or any social vices.
We believe it is becoming evident to key stakeholders – including within government and civil society – that the status quo is untenable and that there is an urgent need to reframe the relationship between the youth, government and society. While history will not be rewritten overnight, important actions can be taken now to provide an example for a culture shift in the future., we aim to bring key stakeholders together with security actors to promote meaningful dialogue and pursue collaborative solutions, as well as create a lasting and effective “Peace Architecture” to support human security and prevent insecurity at all level.
Activity report
EYHI conducted 6 advocacy visits from 24th of January to 10 February, 2022 to relevant stakeholders whom were identified in each of the 6 target Local Government Areas (Akko, Balanga, Billiri, Kaltungo, Gombe and Shongom). The advocacy was aimed at creating awareness, building relationship and to seek for support and collaboration in the attainment of the State2State project ‘’building the resilience of youth in responding to conflict and youth restiveness’’.
The advocacy was conducted in various gate keepers’ offices at the agreed timed by the EYHI team and the gate keepers. The visited offices includes: Commissioner of Police office, LGC Chairmen offices, Traditional leaders, Office of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Office of Jama’atu Nasril Islam, Women CAN office, FOMWAN office, People with Disabilities office, Ministry of internal security and ethical orientation, Vigilante group of Nigeria, Nigeria civil and security defense corps, Ministry of youth and sports, Legal Aid Council, National Human Rights commission, CBOs, and Youth council office.
The gate keepers welcomed the EYHI team and appreciated them for coming and gave floor for the team to spell out the purpose of the visit which the various team lead persons gave a brief background of the organization and shared the objectives of the visit. According to them, Energetic youth heritage initiative as a youth led non-governmental, nonpartisan, nonreligious organization aimed at providing a forum for all youth organizations and service providers to contribute to youth policy and monitor its implementation and to uphold democratic value as enshrine in the Nigerian constitution through ensuring participation of young people in national development and reconstruction towards contributing to the social, economic and political lives of our community and country at large.
However, one of the State2State staff in person of Mr. Philip Ikita was in attendance at some of the gate keepers’ offices and he shared more information about the state2state project mandate which is aimed at state transparency, accountability and effectiveness. After the campaigns, the gate keeper chairpersons appreciated EYHI team for selecting their organizations and communities to part take in the new development of (State2State project).
During the visit and campaign, most of the gate keepers wished that aside from the training on conflict mitigation and early warning sign/early response to sustain peace building, the youth should also be trained on life skills and economically empowered as another means of curtailing conflicts in the society. If the idle youths are positively engaged, they will not be available as tools of conflict but rather be self-reliant which will help in boosting the economy as well improve their living standard in the communities and state.
Christian Association of Nigeria and Jama’atu Nasril Islam Gombe branch also suggested that EYHI should include programs that will help in tackling drug abuse as it is one of the causes of conflict in the society.
One of the organizations like National Human Rights Commission said that this development will also help to enlighten the people about their rights and how to channel their problems appropriately with main emphasis on Gender and Social Inclusion mainstreaming matters. The coordinator of the organization further explained that there are desk officers in each of the 11 LGA in Gombe state. So he advised the team to always engage the desk officers as their representatives in some of the activities at the local level.
They gate keepers were pleased with the project as it is a national concern especially the north eastern part of the country. Hence, they gave the assurance of their full support and collaboration for the success of the project.
5. Success stories
- The advocacy visits were conducted in all the six LGAs successfully. The mentioned gate keepers welcomed the new development (State2State project) and gave EYHI an open arm. They gave EYHI team full assurance to support and also collaborate with them at any time.
- Ministry of Internal Security and Ethical Orientation Gombe assigned a desk officer to EYHI in order to support the organization with relevant information concerning the prone conflict area across the six LGAs in Gombe State.
- National Human Rights Commission said that this development will also help them to enlighten the youth community about their rights and how to channel reports of human rights violations appropriately.
- Lessons Learned
- EYHI learned that one of the gate keepers like National human rights commission have their desk officers in each of the 11 LGA in Gombe state. So there is a need for the desk officers to be carried along (involved) in the 6 LGAs as representatives of the NHRC.
- The team also learned that there is a need to also create awareness on youth empowerment based on the responses received from some of the gate keepers.
- EYHI team discovered that there was an issue of religious sentiment in Akko LGA. So this intervention really helped to create more awareness and to collaborate between the two faiths to prevent conflict.
- Lastly, the team learned that there is a high demand by the stakeholders about life skill training for the teaming youth in target communities which they this will go a long way by empowering the youth economically as well as curtailing conflicts and youth restiveness in the state
- Recommendation
- We will seek for more clearance on program time with the gate keepers before embarking on a visit.
- We recommend that empowerment programs should be included in our activities.
Implementation Status/Progress Narrative (report activities and outputs/deliverables achieved during the reporting period under each of the 3 objectives of the Project) which directly/indirectly contribute to:
1.2.1 Objective I: identify conflict prone communities, nature of the conflict, management styles of identified conflicts and the causes of the conflicts in 6 LGAs earmarked for this project through EYHI initial staff meeting and with Ministry of Internal Security and Ethical Orientation, Gombe State.
1.2.2 Objective II: EYHI conducted advocacy visit to key relevant stakeholders (Nigeria Police Force, National Human Rights, Legal Aids Council of Nigeria, Ja’amatuNasil Islam, Christian Association of Nigeria, FOMWAN, Ministry for Internal Security and Ethical Orientation, Ministry of Women Affairs, Ministry of Youth Development, Traditional Institutions, The Association of Persons Living with Disability in Gombe, Youth Leaders
Output/Deliverable I: Advocacy visits conducted targeted 12 stakeholders in each of the 6 Local Government Areas (Akko, Balanga, Billiri, Gombe, Kaltungo and Shongom LGA).
Output/Deliverable II: Stakeholders informed on the state2state mandate, project scope and its importance to their communities.
Result 1: Increased collaboration between multi-stakeholders in Gombe state for more effective action on security, youth restiveness and human rights issues.
Result2:Increased collaboration between NHRC, CBOs, and judicial actors in target communities for more effective action on human rights issues
1.2.3 Objective III: Improve communication and understanding between affected communities, key stakeholders, and security actors on issues related to Security and justice in affected communities in Gombe State.
Output/Deliverables: 1, Security agents and other relevant stakeholders informed and sensitized on conflict early warning and early response.
Result 1:Improved capacity of security forces to understand and respect human rights principles.
· 8.0 Implementation challenges and how they were managed:
There were challenges of delay in responding to advocacy letters by some stakeholders but we were able follow up on regular basis to ensure that the letter are revisited and approved for the advocacy.
Rescheduling of time by some of the gate keepers also affected our plans.
8.1 Summary of Local Capacity Development: all training activities done during the reporting period should be listed in the table below
| Activity update table (Jan-March 2022) | |||||||||
| Gender | Disaggregated By | ||||||||
| Activity Name | Activity Date | Activity Venue | M | F | Total | Age 15-29 = A 29& above =B | PWD | Youth | Adult |
| Advocacy Visit to Gate in 6 LGAs Keepers | 4th Jan. 22 – 10th Feb. 22 | 6 LGAs | 239 | 137 | 376 | A=107 B=269 | 27 | 107 | 269 |
9. ANNEXES:
9.1 List of attachments’ to the report e.gpictures, attendance, and action plans etc.)
| S/N | Attachment | ANNEXES |
| 1 | Attendance list | 1 |
| 2 | Pictures | 2 |
9.2 Summary of Quantitative Results to Date
Key:
M1. M2 etc = Month 1, 2, …..
A = Actual Month 2
Output Result Harvesting
Period: January 2022 & February 2022
State2State Activity
| S/N | Activities | Output | Outcome | Indicator | Comments |
| 1 | Advocacy Visit to Gatekeepers in Akko, BalangaBilliri, Gombe, Kaltungo and ShongomLGAs, Gombe State | 376 persons participated in the advocacy visit. [239 Males, 137 Females, 107 Youths & 269 Adults and 27 Persons with Disabilities (PWDs)]Gatekeepers were sensitized and aware of EYHI activities to be implemented in S2S projectCollaboration was agreedConflict prone communities identified | Increased awareness and collaboration of gate keepers Buy-in of stakeholders secured | Number of advocacy visits conducted | Target AchievedCitizen engagement ensured |
| Activities | Indicator | Indicator definition & unit of measurement | Data source | Baseline | Targets | Actuals | Comments | ||||
| 2 | Advocacy Visit to Gatekeepers in Akko, BalangaBilliri, Gombe, Kaltungo and Shongom LGAs, Gombe State | Number of advocacy visits conducted | Gatekeepers are the key actors in project implementation whose buy-in needs to be secured. The unit of measurement for this activity is number. | Concept notes, picture, signed attendance sheet, list of conflict prone communities. | 0 | 66 Gatekeepers | 376 | Target Achieved | |||
| 0 | 6 LGAs | 6 LGAs | Target Achieved | ||||||||
| 0 | 240 Participants | 305 participants | Target Achieved | ||||||||
Annex 2. Action pictures
Figure 1: EYHI Staff with HRH BalaaWaja (Emir of Balaga during Advocacy Visit in Gombe LGA, Gombe State
Figure 2: EYHI Staff with Coordinator, Nigeria Human Right Commission during Advocacy Visit in Gombe LGA, Gombe State
Figure 3: EYHI Staff with Commissioner of Ministry of Internal Security and Ethical Orientation and his cabinet members during Advocacy Visit in Gombe LGA, Gombe State
Figure 4: EYHI Staff with PWD leaders during Advocacy Visit in Gombe LGA, Gombe State
Figure 5: EYHI Staff with Chairperson of Balanga LGA and Muslim Ummah Leaders during Advocacy Visit in Balanga LGA,Gombe State
Figure 6: EYHI Staff with Commissioner of Police during Advocacy Visit in Gombe LGA, Gombe State
Figure 7: EYHI Staff with HRH Mai Kaltungo representatives, FOMWAN, PWDs and JNI Leaders during advocacy in KaltungoLGA, Gombe State
Sign:
| S/N | Position | Name | Date | Signature |
| 1 | Program Manager/Officer | Gideon Sani | 25thFebruary, 2022 | |
| 2 | Executive Director (Certification) | Michael DanZaria PhD | 25thFebruary, 2022 |