Nigeria: Poverty Eradication - Group Launches Country Strategy Plan
Senator Iroegbu
The Day via allAfrica.com
Jan 21, 2009
Abuja — ActionAid Nigeria has launched its 'Country Strategy Paper', which is the second phase of their campaign to address the crushing impact of poverty on the ordinary Nigerians.
The Four-Year Strategy Paper (2009-2013) titled 'Fighting Poverty in the Midst of Plenty II' restates the anti-poverty organisation's commitment to the fight against poverty and injustice in the country through Accountability, Learning and Planning System; with clear objectives relevant to their host communities.
According to the Chairman, Board of Trusties,ActionAid Nigeria, Professor Uvie Igun, the reason for the International Non Governmental Organisation (NGO)'s existence came from the agonising reality of Nigerians, where poverty held sway in the midst of plenty. "Nigeria is one of the most unjust societies in the planet earth today," Igun said.
"Meanwhile, the strategy demonstrates the approaches, methods and priorities both for our community-based programme work, as well as policy advocacy, campaigning and lobbying that will guide the actions of staff, partners and provide a clear framework for us to be accountable to the poor and excluded people, supporters, donors and other relevant stakeholders," he added.
"The development of the strategy builds on an analysis of our past programme performance, learning from the performance and poor peoples perspective and aspirations. The strategy was developed in consultation with ActionAid Nigeria staff, Board of Trustees, strategic partners, particularly poor and excluded people, civil society organisations and all other relevant stakeholders," Country Director, ActionAid, Nigeria, Dr. Otive Igbuzor, said.
"This strategy was developed on the basis of our community-based programme work, as well as policy advocacy and campaigning. An analysis of the context revealed that poverty still holds sway in the midst of plenty. Nigeria is the eighth largest oil producing country in the world; it harbours the largest population of poor people in Sub-Saharan Africa; and is ranked 158th on human development index", Igbuzor added.
Moreover, the strategy paper noted that material resources have been mismanaged by few privileged individuals and families who employ political power to loot and do business with the national resources.
Therefore, promoting just and accountable governance principles with democratic and transparent processes are necessary conditions that must be ensured for poverty eradication and development in Nigeria, it noted.
The objectives of the strategy are to work with government, their institutions and organisations to promote laws, policies and practices that address the rights of poor and excluded communities with accountable and democratic governance.
Others are to advocate for accountable, democratic and transparent governance with pro-poor policies and programmes; enhance access for women and girls to decision-making processes, resources and justice at all levels; and strengthen poor and excluded communities to influence policies and practices that affect their rights.
However, the overall strategy is to build on the successes of its predecessor, 'Fighting Poverty in the Midst of Plenty,' by deepening analysis and linkage of the group's community-based work to catalyse policy advocacy and campaign work at national level.
ActionAid International is an agency dedicated to poverty eradication across the world working in over fifty countries in Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas.