This research, conducted by teenage girls in Nigeria and Sierra Leone, highlights the critical challenges faced by adolescent girls, including child marriage, education barriers, gender-based violence, menstrual health issues, and economic exclusion. The study emphasizes the need for a decolonial research approach that recognizes girls as agents of change, rather than passive beneficiaries. By centering...
This groundbreaking report presents findings from a girl-led research initiative conducted in Nigeria (Abuja and Jigawa) and Sierra Leone (Freetown). Led by teenage girl researchers, the study highlights key challenges affecting girls, including education barriers, gender-based violence, menstrual health issues, child marriage, and economic exclusion. The report calls for a shift in narratives—positioning girls as...
This policy brief explores the funding landscape for gender and women’s rights in Nigeria, highlighting key trends, challenges, and advocacy points. It examines how donor funding is allocated, the effectiveness of grants for gender-focused initiatives, and the gaps that hinder sustainable progress. With only a fraction of humanitarian aid directly benefiting women’s rights, the report...
A COUNTRY WHERE WOMEN AND GIRLS ARE SAFE IS POSSIBLE: ACTIONAID NIGERIA CALLS FOR COLLABORATIVE ACTION TO TACKLE GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE IN NIGERIA As the world marks the 2024 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) under the theme “Towards 30 Years of the Beijing Declaration: Unite to End Violence Against Women,” ActionAid Nigeria is urging...
This document, produced by ActionAid Nigeria (AAN), critically examines the impact of fuel subsidy removal on the Nigerian economy and its people, particularly focusing on the implications for vulnerable populations. The policy explores alternatives to subsidy removal and provides recommendations for sustainable solutions to manage the economic and social challenges it presents. It is...
Nigeria has made strides in advancing gender equality through legal frameworks like the National Gender Policy and international agreements such as CEDAW. However, significant challenges persist, including gaps in policy implementation, entrenched patriarchal norms, and insufficient resources. Despite policies like the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP) of 2015, which aims to combat gender-based violence,...
Women in Nigeria have historically faced significant barriers to political participation, with cultural norms, economic challenges, and discriminatory practices leading to under-representation in leadership positions. Despite comprising nearly half of the population, women hold only a small fraction of elected seats at all levels of government. The Women’s Voice and Leadership-Nigeria (WVL-Nigeria) project, from 2020...
The Women’s Voice and Leadership-Nigeria (WVL-N) project has been pivotal in advancing women’s economic justice and empowerment, a key pillar for achieving gender equality and sustainable development. Collaborating with over 100 Local Women’s Rights Organizations (LWROs) across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones and the FCT, the project provided vulnerable women and girls with life-skills training, mentoring,...
In Nigeria, deeply rooted societal norms, harmful practices, and escalating conflicts continue to hinder the health, empowerment, and rights of women and girls. From the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS and maternal mortality in Kebbi to the persistent practice of Female Genital Mutilation in Enugu, urgent interventions are needed. The Women’s Voice & Leadership-Nigeria (WVL-Nigeria) project has...
Gender-Based Violence (GBV) remains a critical violation of human rights, disproportionately affecting women and girls. The Women’s Voice and Leadership (WVL) Nigeria project took bold strides in addressing GBV and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) across six states and the FCT. Partnering with local women’s rights and community-based organizations, the project deployed both...
