About
The project ‘Deepening Economic Development for Peace and Stability in Plateau State, Nigeria’ is funded by the European Union Fund Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP) which has been established as a mechanism to support conflict prevention, crisis management and peace building. The project builds on its predecessor project ‘Economic Development for Peace and Stability in Plateau State, Nigeria’ running from August 2013 to March 2015 (Phase 1).
As in Phase 1, the project is closely linked to the ‘Pro-poor Growth and Promotion of Employment in Nigeria Programme’ (SEDIN) which is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). SEDIN has been operating in Plateau State since April 2011 and is promoting micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
Both projects are implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ) and are closely coordinated by GIZ. Both of the projects aim at increasing income and employment among MSMEs by (1) improving access to financial services for MSMEs, (2) supporting reforms on the business and investment climate, (3) fostering domestic and regional trade, (4) enhancing the competitiveness and value addition of domestic resources.
Furthermore, two Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), namely Apurimac and Search for Common Ground are implementing two other projects funded by the EU-IcSP in Plateau State with close coordination and cooperation among all three implementing organizations.
The time frame of the project is 24 months (April 2015 to March 2017), whereby the linkage with the SEDIN programme leads to mutual synergy and leverage effects of the implemented activities.
For more information on the EU Delegation in Nigeria, please visit the following website: http://www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/nigeria/index_en.htmMore information on IcSP can be found under the following link: http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/fpi/what-we-do/instrument_contributing_to_stability_and_peace_en.htm
For more information on SEDIN and GIZ, please visit http://www.sedin-nigeria.net/ and www.giz.de.
The project is funded through the ‘Instrument for Stability (IfS)’ fund by the European Union. Furthermore the project collaborates with two NGOs, Apurimac and Search for Common Ground, which are implementing the other two IfS-funded projects in Plateau State.
For more information on the EU Delegation in Nigeria click here (link: http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/nigeria/index_en.htm ), further information about IfS click here (link: http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/index_en.htm)
For more information on SEDIN and GIZ click here (link SEDIN: http://www.sedin-nigeria.net/) and (link GIZ: www.giz.de)
Objective
The overall objective of the project is to contribute to the reduction of conflicts in Plateau State through increased employment and income.
Funding
European Union
Implementation Period
April 2015 – March 2017
Implementation Area
Plateau State, Nigeria
Programme Outline and Approach
The second phase largely builds on the activities and results achieved during the first phase of the project.
The programme objective is pursued via four pillars:Pillar 1) The first pillar aims at increasing financial inclusion of the entrepreneurial low-income population in Plateau State through financial literacy activities. An increased level of financial literacy helps the MSMEs to make informed financial decisions and to access financial services.
Pillar 2) The second pillar is targeted at improving the quality of public legislation, regulation and development planning on the level of Local Government Areas (LGAs). This pillar focuses on strengthening the organisational capacities of economic stakeholders by improving the performance of Business Development Committees (BDCs) and the communication outreach of BDCs and selected Business Membership Organisations (BMOs).
Pillar 3) The third pillar aims at promoting economic diversification by supporting formal domestic and regional trade. The pillar concentrates on business development services provided to selected MSMEs with export potential. Support will be geared towards the acquisition of necessary market entry requirements, identification of new markets, and facilitation of business linkages.
Pillar 4) The fourth pillar focuses on increasing income and employment of actors in the potato value chain and the affordable housing sector. This pillar pursues an inclusive and holistic approach towards value chain development, integrating small-scale potato farmers and artisans into competitive and efficient value chains.
Activities
Several activities have been carried out for the second phase so far. Those include:
- Development of Financial Literacy Training material. GIZ conducted a need assessment to find out what training content the target group of Financial Literacy trainings (i.e. (potential) microfinance bank clients, MSMEs, economically active poor) requires. Based on those results, GIZ revised existing Financial Literacy modules and developed new modules to match the target group’s needs. Factsheets for 13 Financial Literacy modules, learning activities and a coaching have been developed that will be used for equipping 100 trainers from organisations like Apurimac, Search for Common Ground, Cowan, etc. and 100 multipliers who are members from Business Development Committees
- A second road show of the edutainment movie ‘E go better – The Microfinance Way’ had been conducted. The movie was showcased in 6 rural areas within Plateau State. Staff members of microfinance banks (MFB) and members of the cast were present during the road shows for a question and answering session on Financial Literacy.
- The Financial radio programme ‘Talk Moni’ – which was initially produced in phase 1 – has been updated. The programme is aired at three local radio stations in Plateau (Peace FM, Unity FM and Rhythm FM).
- Four MFBs were supported with promotional material and technical equipment for several activities and events during the World Savings Day, which is celebrated on October, the 31st. Additionally a joint event between the Central Bank of Nigeria and GIZ was organised in the Hwolshe Government Secondary School to increase awareness regarding the importance of saving and other financial literacy topics.
- The production of another edutainment movie is ongoing. This time the movie is about microinsurance and it is called ‘E go better 2 – The Microinsurance Way’
- Seven Business Development Committees have been set up in the first phase. Those are platforms where public and private can come together to discuss business relevant topics and policies and also security issues. BDC refresher trainings were conducted to re-strengthen the BDC that were formed during the first phase. Strong members of BDCs were identified that will roll out the BDC concept to the three local government areas (LGAs) in Plateau which have not yet had a BDC, namely Mikang, Kanam and Quan’Pan LGA. The roll out is guided by the BDC network for Plateau State.
- 200 MSMEs with export potential have been identified in Plateau State. They participated in two workshops on legal and procedural requirements for obtaining registration. The business registration is the first step for the formal registration under the ECOWAS Trade Liberation Scheme which allows the MSMEs to export their products into the ECOWAS region. So far, ten MSMEs were formally registered as Limited Liability Companies. This process was facilitated by a legal advisor.
- The Farmer Business School has been adapted to potato farmers. The Farmer Business School (FBS) approach aims to build the capacity of small-scale farmers holistically. Focus is given not only to agricultural skills and knowledge, but also in view of business skills of individual farmers and cooperatives. FBS has been developed initially and successfully implemented by GIZ in cooperation with local partners in the West African cocoa sector. The FBS has now been adapted to the potato sector, especially for potato farmer on the Plateau. The FBS will roll out to 5,000 farmers.
