Renewed Women’s Voice And Leadership Nigeria Project

The Women’s Voice and Leadership (WVL) Program was first launched in 2017 as a flagship initiative of Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy (FIAP). Its goal has been to respond to the needs of local women’s rights organizations (WROs), marginalized groups, and feminist networks advancing gender equality and the rights of women and girls in all their diversity around the world.

The Renewed Women’s Voice and Leadership (RWVL) Program continues to close the global funding gap for women’s organizations, particularly those working at the intersections of multiple forms of discrimination, or in conflict- and crisis-affected contexts, where funding is even more limited.

The renewed program maintains its strong framework while expanding support to WROs, marginalized groups, and Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs, including women in conflict and crisis contexts). It is also intentional about reaching structurally excluded groups, such as women and girls with disabilities, sex workers, and women in hard-to-reach communities. With the growing strength of anti-rights movements globally and increasing crises, RWVL also integrates collective care and well-being, recognizing the stress, trauma, and burn-out experienced by women’s rights activists on the frontlines.

How RWVL Works

The RWVL Program supports local and regional women’s rights actors through four main components:

1. Multi-year core funding– including administrative support to sustain ongoing and new programs of WROs and marginalized groups (such as service provision, awareness raising, advocacy, feminist research, and policy dialogue).
2. Fast, responsive funding– for short projects and urgent interventions in response to unforeseen challenges or opportunities.
3. Organizational capacity strengthening– building technical, financial, and leadership skills identified by WROs and marginalized groups themselves.
4. Movement strengthening– amplifying the collective power of women’s rights platforms, networks, and alliances at local, national, regional, and global levels.

RWVL in Nigeria

In Nigeria, the RWVL Project builds on the success of the first WVL initiative, and is designed to empower women and girls, strengthen protection of their rights, and advance gender equality nationwide.

With funding from Global Affairs Canada and leadership from ActionAid Nigeria, the project will run from April 2025 to March 2030, reaching over 375,000 direct participants (including 260,000 women and girls, and 18,750 persons with disabilities) and more than 2.2 million indirect beneficiaries.

The project will target 188 women’s rights organizations across eight states: Bauchi, Enugu, Lagos, Cross River, Kebbi, and Kwara (from the first WVL project, where progress will now be scaled up), as well as two conflict-affected states, Benue and Imo, to reach women and girls most affected by crises.

RWVL Nigeria directly addresses the barriers faced by women’s rights organizations,including lack of funding, limited organizational capacity, isolation from networks, and challenges engaging with policymakers. By providing resources, mentorship, and platforms for collaboration, RWVL ensures these organizations are equipped to advocate effectively, influence policy, and drive systemic change in Nigeria.

From global to local, Nigeria’s RWVL Project is part of a worldwide network of 20 renewed projects, connecting struggles and solutions across Africa, Europe, Latin America, Asia, and beyond.

You can follow our social media handles ActionAid Nigeria to see updates on how the project is being implemented in the states mentioned.

To take action and be part of this movement, visit: All Nigeria Women Matter Campaign Hub