Through this project, we wish to strengthen the platform already established and consolidate on our experiences to bring lasting impact to oganisations. The platform already established includes a network of CBOs and CSOs that are part of the SDGs network in Nigeria. Despite paucity of funds, the organizations continue to push on impacting the most vulnerable in their communities of work. In helping to build their capacity, ACHA has voluntarily started to train them and link some of them into the VOICE initiative. Five of them have indicated interest in applying for the VOICE grant.

Through this project, more will be invited and their capacity strengthened to facilitate the launch of the Nothing About Us, Without Us! Awards in Nigeria, an inclusive innovation award in July or August of 2021 and 2022. ACHA will be setting up a consortium with the identified organisations from within the Voice rightsholder groups in Nigeria who are already implementing amazing inclusive innovations to their empowerment or influencing practice; Organise and facilitate a participatory 5-day inclusive innovation Bootcamp for the 10 organisations to reflect, refine, and ideate the next steps for their initiative. We will also organise the award ceremony, preferably as a component of a larger event or celebration where different civil society members and stakeholders gather. The winners would be supported and mentored for inclusion in the innovation journey, including their participation in the Innovation Festival in the Netherlands; ACHA will also amplify and promote the NOW-Us! Awards to influence national dialogs. Celebrating inclusion’s key objective is to bring rightsholder voices together and, through an Award, highlight unsung efforts to take us one step closer to a responsive and inclusive society.

Amplifying Voices, Strengthening Networks: The Impact of the NOW-Us! Awards in Nigeria

Inclusion is more than just a concept—it is a movement that requires action, advocacy, and strategic collaboration. The NOW-Us! Awards, implemented by the Africa Caribbean Heritage Alliance (ACHA), celebrated and empowered changemakers working to amplify the voices of marginalized communities in Nigeria. Through training, mentorship, and networking opportunities, the initiative strengthened grassroots organizations, equipping them with the tools to sustain and expand their impact.

With support from Motherhen Development Foundation (MDF), Gender Mobile Initiative (GMI), and COSROPIN, the project provided awardees with essential skills in proposal writing, resource mobilization, communication strategies, financial management, and human resource development. Beyond skills-building, it facilitated linkages with key networks and decision-makers, ensuring that awardees had the platform to influence change at local and national levels.

Developing Capacities for Sustainable Impact

One of the key achievements of the project was enhancing the institutional capacity of grassroots organizations, enabling them to better advocate for their communities. This included:

• Training 46 awardees in proposal writing and grant identification, equipping them with tools to secure funding beyond the project timeline.
• Developing monitoring and evaluation frameworks, ensuring that awardees could track and measure their impact effectively.
• Conducting a mentorship program that supported awardees in documenting their inclusion journeys and developing long-term strategies.

These efforts helped organizations transition from short-term project implementation to long-term sustainability, ensuring that their work continues even after the close of the initiative.

Driving Change at the Grassroots Level

The project successfully translated knowledge into action, with awardees using their training to implement impactful initiatives:

• Gender Mobile Initiative (GMI) onboarded 50 female student leaders across different campuses, training them in bystander intervention and sexual harassment prevention. Over 500 students signed up for the Gender Mobile App, a tool designed to help students report cases of harassment safely.
• COSROPIN organized five Elderly Hangout events, creating safe spaces where older persons could engage in discussions about their rights and dignity while accessing support services.
• Motherhen Development Foundation (MDF) launched an advocacy campaign on gender-based violence across four communities in Gombe and Borno states, reaching underserved populations and ensuring that local voices were heard in the fight against GBV.

By providing technical support, networking opportunities, and advocacy tools, the project ensured that each awardee could scale their initiatives and drive systemic change in their respective fields.

Lessons Learned and Future Opportunities

While the project achieved significant milestones, it also faced challenges related to Nigeria’s economic instability and security concerns. Inflation impacted budgeting, requiring creative financial planning, and political transitions delayed some planned activities, such as the National Dialogue on Inclusion.

Key lessons include:

• Sustainability requires continuous mentorship. Awardees benefited greatly from structured training, but long-term impact depends on ongoing guidance and support.
• Partnerships amplify impact. Engaging multiple stakeholders, from grassroots groups to policymakers, strengthens advocacy efforts and ensures broader systemic change.
• Innovative dissemination strategies are crucial. Using social media, digital tools, and storytelling increased the reach and effectiveness of advocacy campaigns.

Looking ahead, ACHA and its partners will focus on engaging social media influencers, conducting policy dialogues, and developing a documentary to further amplify the voices of rightsholders.