MODERN 

SLAVERY

EUROPEAN UNION AGENT FOR CITIZEN-DRIVEN TRANSFORMATION (EU-ACT) PROGRAMME

(2021-2022)

About the Programme: The European Union and the British Council are carrying out a programme called the European Union Agent for Citizen Driven Transformation Programme. The programme seeks to strengthen the capacity of CSOs to be better drivers of change. In other to achieve this, the European Union in the states of its engagement mapped out Civil Society Organizations or Civil Society Networks or Community Based Organizations whose thematic focus are in the area of EU’s engagements. The strategy of operation is to engage these organizations and networks in capacity building trainings, individual coaching sessions, bolster collaboration among local Civil Society Organizations through peer learning sessions and ultimately passing out small grants and thereby assessing the level to which the capacities CSOs have being developed. This project since September 2021 and went in phases.

AFRILAW is participating as one of civil society organizations to be strengthened. The programme’s set of activities is being delivered in selected states around Nigeria. The programme is delivered in stages. 

PROJECT ACTIVITIES PARTICIPATED BY AFRILAW:

A: EU ACT Capacity Building Trainings: 

After the ground-breaking meeting for CSOs, EU-ACT commenced a series of cross cutting capacity building trainings for all CSOs that it has partnered with in Enugu. Below are a continuation of the trainings held in the year of review:

• Gender and Social Inclusion training: In January 2022 a Gender and Social Inclusion training was held for selected CSOs. The training discussed how CSOs would effectively mainstream gender and Social Inclusion into their programs and day to day running. 
• Social Research Training: EU-Act also trained selected CSOs on Social Research. Prof Zango Isimaila Mohammed of the Bayero University Kano was consulted to facilitate this training and build the capacity of the selected CSOs on Social Research specifically as it pertains to development programming. The training covered data collection; data analysis; research reporting etc. and was held from Wed. 9th- Saturday 12th of February 2022 at Hotel Sunshine Enugu Nigeria.
• Human Resource training: On the 20th-22nd April 2022, the Human Resource training for CSOs in Enugu was held. The training emphasized the importance of people management in development programming. It discussed conflict management, personnel training and development, HR strategy; performance management etc. The trainer also led participants to develop actions plans on each learning module.
• Media and Communication training: Also in May 2022, AFRILAW also participated in the Media and Communication training organized by the EU-ACT. The training which held at the Skyview hall of Hotel Sunshine Enugu. The training was aimed at building the capacity of CSOs on presenting themselves and what they do better in the public space. CSOs were also taught how to engage the media better and how to take advantage of the

AFRILAW staff with their facilitator the EU-ACT media and communications training

Group picture of EU-ACT Media and CSOs training

• Peer learning training: Finally, the EU-Act organized a peer learning training to train CSOs on the need for, and the way to engage peer learning for their own development. In this training the different ways to engage peer learning in the not for profit sector were explored and practiced. All CSOs that were engaging with the EU-ACT were grouped for peer learning. 

B: CONSORTIUM PROPOSAL:  

In order to facilitate peer learning and to achieve the objectives of the program CSOs were encouraged to join consortiums and prepared a proposal for a small grant. AFRILAW joined the GHARF consortium, a consortium comprising of the following CSOs:

• Global Health Awareness Research Foundation (GHARF) (Lead)
• African Law Foundation (AFRILAW)
• Institute of Growth and Development (IGD)
• Idikacho Women in Governance Enugu East (IWIG)
• Empowerment for Boys Network Association (EBONA)
• Consumer Advocacy and Empowerment Foundation (CADEF)

The Consortium wrote a proposal on “COMBATING YOUTH AND WOMEN IRREGULAR MIGRATION IN ENUGU STATE (CY-WIM)”. The proposal was submitted on the 11th of January 2022. After a few internal assessments and clarifications the proposal was approved. The Consortium have consistently met on the implementation process of each member as well as an action plan for the proposed project. After much deliberations, the program activities are slated to commence in September, 2022.

Consortium members at a review session

C: CROSS STATE REGIONAL REFLECTION FOR ACT-CSOS:

EU-ACT organized a cross state reflection for ACT-CSOs on 30th- 31st May 2022 at Abuja, with the aim of bringing the CSOs with which they engaged together to discuss the process of learning so far and the extent that each CSO is internalizing the processes and structures that are being passed down in their individual organizations. 

D: PEER LEARNING:

EU-ACT Peer Learning Group Picture

EU-ACT grouped CSOs they engaged into smaller groups for peer learning with the aim of sharing learning and needed experiences among CSOs. The strategy was to group mature, developing and emerging CSOs and to create an environment for learning and development in other to foster sustainable growth and development of CSOs to be better drivers of change.  AFRILAW like other CSOs was also grouped and participated in the peer learning session on communications and media held on the 21st of June 2022.  

E: EU-ACT GRANTS ONBOARDING MEETING:

After the audits and corrections on the proposal, the EU-ACT called an onboarding meeting for the grant consortiums in Enugu, Rivers and Bornu State. This meeting had the following targets:

• To increase the understanding of CSO, Consortium members on the different activities and engagements under the EU-ACT program.
• To sensitize CSOs on the expectation of the EU-ACT on the grant. 
• To train CSO Consortium members on the various reporting templates, standards and requirements under the ACT program. 

The hybrid program was held August 1^st – 2^nd, 2022 at Abuja and AFRILAW as part of the GHARF consortium participated fully.

F: EU-ACT GHARF CONSORTIUM ACTIVITIES: 

After the Onboarding meeting, the consortium came together to prepare for implementation of the “COMBATING YOUTH AND WOMEN IRREGULAR MIGRATION IN ENUGU- CY-WIM” Project. The project commenced in September 2022, with the selection of focal persons and contact with the community and also progressed in phases highlighted below:

• COMMUNITY ENTRY/ADVOCACY VISITS: The consortium selected 6 communities in the three (3) senatorial zones, one rural, and one urban community from each of the senatorial zone. For Enugu-East, Ugwuomu community in Enugu-East LGA, and Neke in Isiuzo LGA, were chosen. For Enugu-South, Umuaga in Udi LGA, and Ndeabor in Aninri LGA. And Enugu-North, Ejuona-Obukpa in Nsukka LGA, and Umuogbo-agu in Igbo-eze LGA. The above listed communities were visited and their various community heads intimated on the project and the required support needed from the community heads with regards the community and also the community members. Community heads signed consent forms indicating acceptance for the consortium to carry out activities within their communities.

Advocacy visit Neke Community

Advocacy visit Neke Community

Advocacy visit Ugwuomu Community

Advocacy visit Umuaga Community

Advocacy visit Ejuona-Obukpa Community

• COMMUNITY DIALOGUE: After the community entry in the selected communities, dates were picked for the larger community to come in and have a chat with the consortium members on the issues surrounding irregular migration and its prevalence within the community. The essence of this chat was to corroborate the information obtained from the community heads about their community and issues surrounding irregular migration during the advocacy visit. This took place in all the selected communities.

Picture of the Community Dialogue at Umuaga in Udi LGA

Picture of the Community Dialogue at Umuaga in Udi LGA

• COMMUNITY SENSITIZATION: One Hundred (100) community members were invited and sensitized on irregular migration, the red flags and the best route to migrate. The consortium member travelled to all six (6) selected communities for the sensitization.

Community Sensitization pictures from Neke 

Community Sensitization pictures from Neke 

Community Sensitization Pictures from Ndeabor Community

Community Sensitization Pictures from Ndeabor Community

Community Sensitization Pictures from Ndeabor Community

Community Sensitization Pictures from Ndeabor Community

Community Sensitization Pictures from Ndeabor Community

EU-ACT Consortium group photograph at Ejuona-Obukpa Community Sensitization

A participant making his contribution to the presentation at Ejuona-Obukpa Community

John Iweha facilitating the presentation at Ejuona-Obukpa Community

One of the youth leaders providing clarification in Ejuona Obukpa dialect

• SCHOOL SENSITIZATION: The Consortium also embarked on a sensitization of tertiary and post-primary schools on irregular migration and its red flags. One (1) Post-primary school and one (1) tertiary institution in each senatorial zone in Enugu was visited. In Enugu-North, University Secondary School for post-primary school and University of Nigeria Nsukka for tertiary institutions. In Enugu-East, Coal City University tertiary institute, and St Joseph, College Emene for post-primary school. Enugu-south, Obioma High School, post-primary school and Federal Cooperative College, for tertiary institute. Due to security issues encountered during the project implementation timeline, the sensitization program prepared for University of Nigeria Nsukka, was done in the Enugu campus of the school.

School Sensitization picture

School Sensitization Picture

School Sensitization Picture

• SELECTION OF TRAINERS AND TRAINEES: After the sensitization program, the consortium embarked on a selection of trainers and trainees. This is in furtherance of the objectives of the project to empower one hundred and fifty (150) community members with relevant entrepreneurial skill by 2022. The consortium went to all its target communities to select indigent community members to train on relevant entrepreneurial skills for a period of three (3) months. After a rigorous process the one hundred and fifty (150) beneficiaries and eighteen (18) trainers were selected.

Selection of Trainer in Ndeabor Community

Selection of Trainer in Ndeabor Community

Selection of trainer in Ugwuomu Community

Selection of trainer of Ugwuomu Community

Group Picture at the selection of trainer of Ugwuomu Community

Selection of Trainers from Umuogbo-agu Community

Selection of Trainers from Umuogbo-agu Community

Selection of Trainers from Umuogbo-agu Community

• QUANTITATIVE STUDY USING A QUESTIONNAIRE TO PRETEST 30 CSOS AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE OF IRREGULAR MIGRATION

30 CSOs were selected by the consortium and questionnaires developed and distributed to them. The essence of this was pretest the awareness and knowledge of the 30 selected CSOs on irregular migration matters.

• QUALITATIVE STUDY USING FGD GUIDE TO SOLICIT IN-DEPTH KNOWLEDGE AND AWARENESS OF 30 CSOS ON IRREGULAR MIGRATION

In order to corroborate the evidence gathered in the quantitative study, the qualitative study also was carried out. All 30 CSOs were gathered to Dannic Hotels Enugu in December 2022 for a focus group discussion.  

Both quantitative and qualitative data was collected from them to find out their thematic areas and the extent of their involvement with issues relating to irregular migration. 

• TWO-DAY CAPACITY BUILDING WORKSHOP FOR 30 CSOS TO RESPOND TO, COUNSEL, AND MITIGATE IRREGULAR MIGRATION: The objectives of this meeting and engagement with CSOs was to strengthen the capacity of 30 Civil Society Organizations to respond to cases of irregular migration by the end of 2022. The 30 selected CSOs were at Dannic Hotels, Enugu, to present to them the findings of the data collection; discuss the red flags of irregular migration and get their buy-in to incorporate migration issues into their work plan. 

Group photograph with representative of CSOs at the workshop

2022 PROJECT ACTIVITY IMPLEMENTED BY AFRILAW

• 3 DAYS NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND BASELINE INFORMATION ON TYPE OF SKILLS NEEDED AND BEHAVIOURAL CHANGE TRAINING WORKSHOP: The workshop held at Ofuobi African Center, Independence Layout, Enugu on November 16^th -18^th, 2022. The event was to be the first point of contact between the trainers and their trainees, it was to provide a link to build rapporteur and agree on best approaches to work together for the three (3) months of the vocational skills training. It would also provide the final avenue to assess the skill needs of the selected vocational skill beneficiaries and this was necessary having sensitized both the trainers and trainees on irregular migration, and the need to equip the trainees with relevant vocational skills that would make them less susceptible to irregular migration.

group photograph with some of the beneficiaries at the needs assessment workshop

DAY 1 of the Needs Assessment

Day 1 Mr. Okechukwu Chukwuemeka making a presentation on Youth Empowerment and Entrepreneurship

Day 1 Participants asking questions and getting clarification

Day 2: Trainers’ presentation continued

Day 3: Final representation on skills

Day 3: Trainers making presentation of the deliberative session

Key Project Results & Achievements:

• Change in behavior of 1200 youth and women towards irregular migration and 150 beneficiaries empowered with entrepreneurial skills.
• Increased partnership and collaboration among civil society organizations, Government, MDAs and Private Sector towards addressing irregular migration.
• Increased number of CSOs (CBOs, FBOs, Academia) sensitized and are committed to mainstreaming migration issues into their strategic plans.