SSDO, WaterAid Nigeria Organizes Enugu State WASH Sector Coordination Meeting
The success of any project is hinged on the ability of the stakeholders to liaise effectively to deliver cross-cutting solutions that will ultimately improve the lives of beneficiaries.
Understanding the importance of partnership to the growth of the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector in Enugu state, South Saharan Social Development Organization, in partnership with WaterAid Nigeria, organized a WASH sector coordination stakeholder engagement in collaboration with the Society for Water and Sanitation (NEWSAN) Enugu State chapter, and the Enugu State Small Town Water Agency (ENSTOWA) –Ministry of Water Resources.
The meeting’s objective was to remove sectional barriers in WASH-related interventions across the state and to promote multi-sectorial, structured, operationalized, measured, and evaluated WASH services in the state. Stakeholders present include the Commissioner for Water Resources, Dr. Felix Nnamani, Special Adviser to the Governor on Donor Relations, Hon. Dubem Onyia, Permanent Secretary – Ministry of Water Resources, Dr. Ada Nwoye, civil society organizations, government agencies, and media agencies.
Going forward, the group hopes to integrate the various organizational work plans into the government’s plan, identify schools lacking sanitation facilities, and provide the infrastructure. Ultimately improving access to water and sanitation facilities in the state.
Studies show that 60.3% of Enugu State’s population are farmers. However, traditional farming practices face imminent threats from land degradation, erosion, flooding, and the adverse impacts of climate change. Land degradation, stemming from soil erosion and deforestation, has decreased soil fertility and reduced agricultural productivity.
Understanding this challenge, South Saharan Social Development Organization in partnership with the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, NCF, and the Nigeria Climate Justice Alliance implemented the Agroecology for Climate Resilience and Food Security (AGROCRAF) project. The project aims to enhance farmers’ resilience and sustainability in Enugu state’s rural communities.
The team organized a workshop over a four-day period from January 10th to 13th, 2024, in two communities: Eke in Udi Local Government Area (LGA) and Amagu Oduma in Aninri LGA, Enugu State. Ninety farmers from both communities participated in the training and were provided with improved seedlings to help improve their yields.
The training was facilitated by Dr. Agah Celestine from the Ministry of Agriculture, and It covered topics such as soil conservation, sustainable water management, reduction in the use of agrochemicals and composting, pest control, multiple cropping, rotation, and intercropping. Understanding the need to scale, the training went beyond agricultural techniques, guiding farmers through establishing cooperatives and securing grants and loans.
The Enugu State Multi-Year Budget for 2022-2024 allocates funds for Agricultural and Climate initiatives within the State Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Environment, and the State Forestry Commission’s 2022 budget.
These provisions cover diverse activities, with a specific focus on Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation. This includes planting teak tree seedlings in forest reserves, planting economic trees to combat climate change, and upgrading the Akwuke water scheme.
Understanding this South Saharan Social Development Organization in partnership with ActionAid Nigeria under the Strategic Partnership Agreement II organized a climate advocacy forum bringing together key climate stakeholders from relevant government ministries, development partners, and private partners. The forum’s aim was to evaluate climate-related projects allocated in the Enugu State 2022 budget and assess their implementation and overall effectiveness.
The forum was an opportunity for stakeholders to assess the state’s dedication to climate change using specific parameters. Participants also identified challenges the state had to fix as well as proffered action plans that included partnership with climate change decision-makers.
The findings from this assessment will be utilized in the creation of scorecards, with the overarching goal of improving the quality of the state’s budget planning process and pro-activeness to climate change matters.
We understand that poverty lies at the heart of unreported cases of Gender-based violence (GBV). Most women are often afraid they will lose their economic support if they report. Statistics show domestic violence has increased in the wake of the COVID19 pandemic. Women have a huge role to play in nation-building. Gender inequality, unpaid care, and a largely unskilled women’s group are some issues to name a few that hold them back.
Women’s empowerment is one of the practical solutions to reducing the cases of violence against women. South Saharan Social Development Organization through its Jacob’s Well program is providing micro-credit to female-owned small businesses. This will help women achieve financial independence and reduce poverty.
In 2023, 42 beneficiaries across five registered cooperatives got loans to grow their businesses. They were trained in financial literacy, risk management, savings culture, business, and cooperative management using the GIZ Nigeria & ECOWAS resource manual to help sustain and grow the venture.
A sum of 9.5 million naira was disbursed to these women with no collateral required leveraging the social trust within the cooperative mechanism to ensure compliance across the board. We are happy to report that the various businesses are thriving and the beneficiaries are doing tremendously well.
This piece delves into the poignant narrative of a community grappling with the multifaceted impact of poverty on its women. It unfolds the pressing need for empowerment, as the women yearned for opportunities that would break the shackles of financial deprivation and dismantle the barriers restricting their potential. In the face of these challenges, the community found an unexpected ally in South Saharan Social Development Organization, SSDO, an organization that became a beacon of hope, introducing the transformative Sister Guardian Initiative and Economic Empowerment. This is a tale of dreams taking flight, a community transcending adversity, and the remarkable journey toward empowerment that has forever altered the landscape of the community.
In the heart of Umuode community, Nkanu East where the echoes of hardship reverberated through every humble dwelling, the story of resilience and triumph unfolded. For the women of this close-knit community, poverty cast a long shadow, and the societal roots of gender-based discrimination deepened their struggle. As the oppressive forces of economic hardship and unequal opportunities took their toll, a collective call for change emerged from the hearts of the women in Umuode.
In the not-so-distant past, the Chizaram Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative Umuode, nestled in the Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, grappled with the harsh realities of poverty. Mrs. Ani Faithful, a member of the cooperative, vividly recounts the challenging times when meager livelihoods were sustained through small businesses, mere tables, and kiosks acting as the stage for their economic pursuits.
“Many of us struggled to raise funds to grow our businesses. We knew what we wanted and where we saw ourselves but the limiting factor was money. Rather than stay idle, I started by selling provisions in a small kiosk, hoping to raise enough money to go into rice farming.”
Adding to their struggles was a deeply ingrained societal bias that denied women access to land, exacerbating the cycle of poverty and inequality.
“In our community, women are not given land to farm like the men. This was a huge challenge to my goal of becoming a rice farmer. And this worsened an already dire situation.”
Women’s Empowerment, The Way Forward
Recognizing the dire need for change, the call for women’s empowerment resonated profoundly within the cooperative. The oppressive grip of poverty, coupled with gender-based discrimination, spurred a collective desire for transformation. It was against this backdrop that SSDO, a beacon of hope for marginalized communities, stepped in with the Sister Guardian Initiative and Economic Empowerment through Jacob’s Well project.
In 2020, SSDO, through its Jacob’s Well Officer, Stella Ani, and Gender Protective Lead, Blessing Uchendu, introduced the initiatives to Chizaram Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative Umuode. The initiative aimed to address both the immediate economic challenges faced by the women and the underlying societal issues perpetuating gender inequality.
Women working on their rice plantation
Advocacy for Women’s Rights
Stella Ani and Blessing Uchendu became catalysts for change, utilizing advocacy as a powerful tool to dismantle barriers. They engaged with key stakeholders, including the Igwe and his Cabinet, the President General, and other influential figures, and sought to challenge the status quo. They advocated passionately for women’s right to land and their rightful place in decision-making bodies, igniting a spark of change in the community’s consciousness.
“We understand that for any community to fully thrive, there’s must be a deliberate effort to liberate and empower the women to not just be backbenchers but active contributors to the economy. This was our focus with our initiatives,” Blessing shared.
Now the community is more inclusive and a more adequate representation of what a thriving society should be — one with ample opportunities for women.
Stella Ani paying a supervisory visit to the rice plantation
Dream Becomes Reality
Having addressed flaws in ideologies, norms, and beliefs, it was time to empower the women with capital to achieve their goals of becoming rice farmers. SSDO further supported the cooperative with over 2 million naira to help the female farmers purchase equipment, cultivate, and grow rice. SSDO’s involvement also helped the cooperative secure a partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development, IFAD. This helped them secure farm inputs and cassava processing plant that has drastically improved their productivity and yield.
Woman standing next to the processing plant provided by IFAD.
Here are some of the wins of the Sister Guardian and Jacob’s Well endeavors in the community: :
Land Allocation:
The community responded to the call for equality by allocating 15 acres of land to the women, unlocking a realm of possibilities for farming and economic ventures.
Inclusion in Leadership:
The once marginalized women now hold esteemed positions, with three members of the Sister Guardian Initiative serving in the Igwe’s Cabinet and two contributing actively to the Town Union.
Respect and Recognition:
The societal shift is palpable, with women no longer relegated to the shadows; they bask in newfound respect and recognition, transforming not only their individual lives but also the community’s perception of gender roles.
Business Evolution:
Breaking free from the constraints of table and kiosk businesses, the women have evolved into successful rice farmers, marking a tangible shift from subsistence to sustainable entrepreneurship.
Business Literacy:
The initiative instilled essential business literacy skills, equipping the women with the knowledge to manage and grow their enterprises. Business record-keeping has become second nature, empowering them to make informed decisions for sustained growth.
Familial Harmony:
As the women prosper, the positive ripple effect extends to familial harmony, creating an environment conducive to personal and collective growth.
Female Farmers of Chizaram Multipurpose Cooperative during harvesting season
The Power of Social Development Initiative
The journey from adversity to achievement in Chizaram Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative and for women at large in Umuode showcases the transformative impact of strategic social development initiatives. South Saharan’s unwavering commitment to women’s empowerment has not only broken the shackles of poverty and gender-based discrimination but has also sown the seeds of lasting change within the fabric of the community. As the women stand tall, proud, and empowered, their success story resonates as a beacon of hope for other marginalized communities yearning for transformation.
