The Women’s Voice and Leadership Nigeria (WVL-N) project, implemented by ActionAid Nigeria and funded by Global Affairs Canada, spans 16 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Kwara State over five years (2019-2024). It has made significant strides in empowering women and addressing gender-based issues. The project has reached 469,130 direct beneficiaries (291,493 women and 91,398 girls) and 994,963 indirect beneficiaries, leveraging TV and radio programs to amplify its impact. Various funding opportunities have supported the project, including 15 multi-year bi-yearly grants, a Strategic Opportunity Fund, a COVID-19 Response Fund, and a National Research and Documentation grant. Key areas of intervention include addressing gender-based violence, women’s economic empowerment, political participation, and sexual reproductive health rights. The project also influenced several policies, such as the Violence against Persons Prohibition Law and the Kwara State Action Plan on Child Trafficking, and established 13 state and community-level platforms and structures.
The Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) initiative under the Women’s Voice and Leadership Nigeria (WVL-N) project was established to empower women economically by providing access to loans and savings. This initiative formed 40 VSLA groups, enrolling 960 women across 32 communities in 14 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Kwara State. The VSLA model operates by encouraging members to save money collectively and access small loans from these pooled savings, fostering financial inclusion and economic self-reliance.
The project facilitated the formation and training of these groups, enabling women to manage their finances more effectively and invest in income-generating activities. By the end of the project, the women had collectively saved ₦35,756,000 and shared out ₦39,331,600. This access to financial resources has allowed women to start and expand businesses, improve their households’ financial stability, and enhance their economic independence, contributing significantly to the overall empowerment of women in the community.
Download the WVL Kwara State Fact Sheet for detailed insights on the impact of the Women’s Voice and Leadership project in Kwara State