Structure and Thematics
Thematic 1
PROMOTING ECONOMIC, SOCIO - CULTURAL & POLITICAL RIGHTS OF WOMEN IN NIGERIA:
This remains one of the major reasons why despite being oil rich, 70% of Nigeria’s population is still leaving under the poverty level of $1USD per day. 68% of these numbers are women. Redressing this imbalance remains a major trust of all our organizational programs and activities. Promoting economic, socio cultural and political rights in Nigeria would remain a core and a cross cutting thematic area. It is linked to our legislative/executive advocacy program.
With a founding mandate to demystify access to micro credit especially for the active poor and lower middle class, COD has to date provided over Five Million Naira in Micro loans to 213 micro business owners in Lagos slums from September 2006. Ultimately our goal to mobilize over Forty Million Naira (N40 Million) about Two Hundred and Seventy Thousand United States Dollars (270, 000 USD) to be one of the licensed micro finance institutions in Nigeria is yet to be achieved.
Despite this challenge, under this program the organization provides group life insurance and pension services for its loan beneficiaries. For all of them, we have remained their first exposure to these services.
Thematic 2
SUSTAINABLE LIVELYHOOD PROGRAM THROUGH AGRICULTURE AND ACCESS TO MICROFINANCE
Centa for Organizational Development believes firmly that denial of women rights in most cultures of the world including Nigeria, has its roots in the economic over dependence of most women. This also leads to violence against women. As a result of this realism, COD from conception is completely committed to providing women in Nigeria with the skills, knowledge, trainings and contacts needed to access credits at all levels.
Specifically, women in Nigeria face a lot of barriers in accessing micro credit. Statistics show that less than .1% of all credits in Nigeria went to women in the period before 2006. It is worse for women in Agriculture. To redress this, COD Works in collaboration with financial institutions, the private sector and relevant government agencies to provide access to un collaterised credits to women traders/ entrepreneurs. This program seeks to demystify the wrong perceptions of women been able to access credit on their own rights as credible individuals. To date COD has over 250 registered members in Five micro credit units in Lagos Sub burb.
This project has in the last two years grown to include targeted interventions in Agriculture and agri based businesses in Nigeria for more women to benefit from government programs and projects at the grassroots.
Thematic 3
ICT DEVELOPMENT & DEPLOYMENT FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS
Since its inception Centa for Organizational Development has maintained a fully functional Information, Communication and Technology Center where ICT trainings are developed and deployed for women and girls in our local Community – Oshodi – Isolo Local Government Area of Lagos State. The center has to date trained about 30 women and girls in basic computer appreciation including the use of Microsoft Office package, Graphics and internet. The Center was in 2008 supported by Anita Borg Institute of Technology for Women and Girls in United States of America.
Promoting Gender Equity, Health,Socio_Economic & Political rights of Women
Thematic 4
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
COD provides links and mentors at local, state, national and international levels.
Thematic 5
CAPACITY BUILDING /SENSITIZATION/AWARENESS CREATION AND TRIANINGS ON GENDER, HUMAN RIGHTS, BUSINESS MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT
Centa for Organizational Development has developed capacity to deploy effectively trainings in gender mainstreaming, gender budgeting and gender analysis. We have in the last two years trained staff of Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation on Mainstreaming gender in their programs and activities. Between December 2007 and February 2008, we participated in Federal Ministry of Women Affairs research on Mainstreaming Gender – Impact on Sect oral Plans and Policies in Eboyin State, Nigeria.
We are active members of Nigerian Gender Budget Network and have effectively trained civil society organizations on gender Budgeting. Working in collaboration with Justice, Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) ijebu Ode, Centa for Organizational Development has since 2007 engaged the budget process of Lagos State especially Agriculture, Education and Health Budget.
Our secretariat has facilities for the provision of basic human rights and business management trainings targeting the poor and lower middle class. Some of our trainings include “Steps in establishing sustainable small business in Nigeria, Financial Planning for the poor, Insurance and pension Workshops to mention but a few. We have developed training modules in the Principles and practice of micro Finance operations in Nigeria, How to prepare bankable business plan proposals, and growing your businesses. Others include, basic accounting, computer appreciation and use of Internet as a tool for human development.
On March 09 2010, with funding support from the global fund for women, we published and presented our report titled Independent Assessment of Nigeria’s Implementation of Beijing Platform for Action (BPFA) + 15. We also collaborated with Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to present at UNCSW 54 a documentary tiled “Lagos State is working” Showcasing best Practices from Lagos State.
Thematic 6
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES, EXCHANGE PROGRAMS/ WORKSHOPS & SEMINARS
Subject to the availability of funds and sponsorship support, COD participates and organizes monthly /quarterly/ annual international conferences, workshops and seminars on international, regional, and national human rights instruments and obligations.
We have in the participated in several United Nations Conferences including the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW 50 – 54). We were part of the Nigerian NGO CEDAW coalition that submitted and defended Nigerian NGO CEDAW report on Nigeria’s 6th country report on domestication of CEDAW to the United Nations CEDAW committee from June 30th to July 10th 2008 in New York.
Thematic 7
NETWORKING, MENTORING, PUBLIC/ PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION