Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa)

🎄 Merry Christmas from all of us at the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa)! This season of joy and giving reminds us of the values that drive our mission—building communities rooted in hope, equity, and shared prosperity. As we celebrate this festive day, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to our partners, supporters, and everyone championing the cause of democracy and development. Your unwavering commitment inspires us to do more every day. May your Christmas be filled with love, peace, and the warmth of togetherness. Here's to spreading cheer and making meaningful connections this holiday season! 🌟 #MerryChristmas #CDDWestAfrica #Democracy #Development #Gratitude

🧠💡 How Well Do You Know Democracy in West Africa? As we wrap up 2024, test your knowledge with the CDD-West Africa Democracy Digest Quiz: End-of-Year Edition! 🎉 From pivotal elections to security dynamics and the resilience of our region, this quiz covers it all. It's your chance to reflect on the stories that shaped the year and celebrate the progress we've made together. Are you ready to take on the challenge? Tap the link to get started and see how much you really know! 🚀 https://lnkd.in/dqK6UC5M Let’s close out the year informed, inspired, and ready for 2025! #DemocracyQuiz #CDDWestAfrica #WestAfrica #DemocracyMatters #PoliticalTrends #2024Reflections #DemocracyDigest

🌟 The Final Democracy Digest of 2024 is Here! 🌟 As the year wraps up, our last edition of Democracy Digest reflects on the key moments that shaped West Africa in 2024 and sets the stage for an impactful 2025. From regional elections and shifting political dynamics to the countdown to ECOWAS @50, this edition captures the lessons learned and the hopes ahead. Don’t miss our spotlight on collaborative leadership, resilience in governance, and what the coming year means for democracy in the region. Dive in, and let’s step boldly into 2025 together! #DemocracyDigest #WestAfrica #Governance #Leadership #ECOWASat50 #CDDWestAfrica #PoliticalTrends #2024Reflections #2025Goals #GoodGovernance #RegionalDevelopment #TransformativeLeadership

New Blog Alert: Making the Fight Against Information Disorder Inclusive Information disorder—spanning false, misleading, and malicious content—poses a global challenge, but its impact on persons with disabilities, especially the Deaf community, is often overlooked. In her latest piece, Chioma Iruke explores the unique ways disinformation affects Deaf individuals in Nigeria, from communication gaps to myths perpetuated against them. With 35.1 million Nigerians living with disabilities, including 8.5 million with hearing impairments, Chioma highlights the urgent need for inclusive solutions. She examines the role of fact-checking, accessibility gaps in digital and grassroots initiatives, and the systemic challenges that hinder equitable information access for the Deaf community. Read how tailored, collaborative approaches can bridge these gaps and empower communities to tackle disinformation effectively. #InclusiveMedia #InformationDisorder #FactChecking #DisabilityInclusion #CDDWestAfrica #CDDAdvocates

🚨 Advancing Anti-Corruption in Nigeria: A Strategic Dialogue 🚨 On 10th December 2024, Human Rights Day, Agora Policy, in collaboration with CDD-West Africa and Center for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity CFTPI, hosted a high-level policy conversation supported by the MacArthur Foundation to address the state of anti-corruption policy and practice in Nigeria. The forum brought together key stakeholders to reflect on progress, tackle ongoing challenges, and propose actionable strategies to strengthen Nigeria’s anti-corruption framework. Discussions highlighted significant milestones, including asset recovery, legal reforms, and improved transparency, while acknowledging persistent issues such as public cynicism, weak accountability, and difficulties in prosecuting high-profile cases. There was a strong consensus on the need for context-specific strategies, enhanced collaboration, and urgent action to address systemic gaps. As Nigeria moves into 2025, the insights from this forum will be crucial in recalibrating efforts, reinforcing commitments, and ensuring continued progress in the fight against corruption. #AntiCorruption #Governance #Nigeria #Transparency #PublicPolicy #CDDWestAfrica #FiscalTransparency #Accountability #Collaboration #MacArthurFoundation #PolicyDialogue

Together for Change: Highlights from Our #NoExcuse 16 Days of Activism Campaign Over the past 16 days, CDD-West Africa has championed action against gender-based violence. Using powerful statistics, our campaign has been a call to end the violence and protect the rights of women and girls everywhere. This reel captures the heart of our efforts—advocating for justice, equality, and safety for all. 🌍💜 The fight to #EndGBV continues beyond these 16 days. Let’s keep raising awareness, pushing for legal reforms, and supporting survivors. Together, we can build a future free of violence. 📢 Join the conversation. Share, comment, and commit to being part of the solution. #16DaysOfActivism #EndGBV #TogetherForChange #CDDAdvocates #CDDWestAfrica Titilayo Olaniyan Chioma Iruke Raji Olatunji Ummi Jibreel Peter Yohanna

Marking the End of the 16 Days of Activism: A Call to Action Against GBV in Burkina Faso Gender-based violence (GBV) remains a pressing issue in Burkina Faso, intensified by ongoing security crises, displacement, and patriarchal norms. Women and girls, who make up 97% of GBV survivors, bear not only physical harm but also severe mental health impacts, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD. In 2022, 91% of reported GBV cases involved internally displaced persons, with cultural practices like child marriage and female genital mutilation worsening the plight of women and girls. Despite these challenges, limited funding, societal stigma, and weak legal protections hinder meaningful progress. As we conclude the #16DaysOfActivism, Dorothy Fakrogha, aPHRi's blog underscores the urgent need for legal reform, survivor-centered policies, and grassroots investment. Her insights highlight the critical role of integrating mental health support into GBV responses and empowering survivors to build a future free from abuse. Dive into her analysis and explore actionable solutions #EndGBV #MentalHealthMatters #EqualityForAll #CDDAdvocates #CDDWestAfrica

Day 16 of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence: #NoExcuse 🔴 Consent is non-negotiable. Laws must reflect that. Shockingly, over 60% of countries worldwide still lack rape laws grounded in the principle of consent. This critical gap in legal frameworks perpetuates violence, silences survivors, and undermines efforts to ensure justice. Consent-based laws are essential to protecting the rights and dignity of women and girls. Without them, systems fail to recognize and address the realities of sexual violence, leaving survivors without recourse and offenders unaccountable. As we conclude the 16 Days of Activism, let this statistic remind us of the urgent work still needed. Legal reform, survivor-centered policies, and cultural shifts are vital to ending gender-based violence and creating a world where every individual’s autonomy is respected. There’s #NoExcuse for outdated laws. Let’s advocate for justice, accountability, and equality. #16DaysOfActivism #EndGBV #ConsentMatters #JusticeForAll #CDDAdvocates #CDDWestAfrica

🌍 This Human Rights Day, let's remember: human rights are not just ideals—they are actionable pathways to a better world. Human rights serve as: ✨ A Preventative Force: Tackling injustices before they escalate. ✨ A Protective Shield: Safeguarding the vulnerable and marginalized. ✨ A Transformative Power: Building peaceful, just, and inclusive societies. As UN Secretary-General António Guterres aptly puts it: "Human rights are the foundation for peaceful, just, and inclusive societies." Let’s continue to champion these universal values, ensuring dignity, freedom, and equality for all. Together, we can create a world where no one is left behind. #HumanRightsDay #HumanRightsForAll #JusticeAndEquality #InclusionMatters #GlobalPeace #CDDWestAfrica #CDDAdvocates

🌍 2024 International Anti-Corruption Day: Strengthening Accountability for Sustainable Development The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa) is proud to mark International Anti-Corruption Day by reaffirming our commitment to promoting transparency and good governance in Nigeria and the region. With support from the MacArthur Foundation, we partner with six key Anti-Corruption Agencies in Nigeria—EFCC, ICPC, TUGAR, CCB, NFIU, and PCACC—to enhance their operational and technical capacities. Together, we’re tackling corruption and strengthening accountability where it matters most.   Our Objectives: - Strengthening the operational effectiveness of Anti-Corruption Agencies - Strengthening Inter-Agency Collaboration as an effective means of tackling corruption and promoting accountability - Strengthen the capacity of State level and national level of ACAs - Provide technical assistance to the Anti-Corruption Agencies Corruption undermines democracy, trust, and sustainable development. On this day, we call on governments, CSOs, private sectors, and citizens to join hands in building a transparent, accountable, and equitable society. Together, we can foster sustainable progress and deliver the dividends of democracy for all. #AntiCorruptionDay2024 #StrengtheningAccountability #GoodGovernance #Transparency #CDDWestAfrica #IntegrityInAction #MacArthurFoundation #CDDAdvocates