The Side-by-Side Movement for Gender Justice, Nigeria, is a faith-based initiative dedicated to advancing gender justice through advocacy, education, and action. The Strategy Plan (2025-2029) serves as a blueprint for addressing gender inequalities and empowering faith and traditional leaders to transform societal norms.

Side by Side’s vision is to see all people free from cultural and interpersonal systems of privilege and oppression, and from violence and repression rooted in gender inequality.  The mission of Side by Side Movement for Gender Justice,  Nigeria is to work with faith and traditional leaders to advance gender justice through advocacy, education and action to challenge and transform norms that perpetuate gender inequality.

The Side by Side Movement for Gender Justice, Nigeria was established in 2018. The movement is an interfaith initiative that recognizes the role of religious and traditional leaders in influencing societal norms. It aims to foster an inclusive society where gender justice is upheld. This strategy plan was developed through a participatory process including consultations, retreats, and validation sessions that shaped this plan.

Globally, shifts in governance, economic instability, and increasing gender-based violence (GBV) influence advocacy efforts. In Africa, issues such as political instability, economic disparities, and cultural norms hinder gender equality. In Nigeria, challenges such as electoral fraud, security threats, and socio-economic barriers continue to affect women’s rights. There is therefor the need for faith-based advocacy to address these systemic issues and push for gender justice reforms.

As an organisation poised to address these issues Side by Side Movement for Gender Justice, Nigeria has demonstrated some key strengths such as a strong grassroots network, strategic partnerships, and an established advocacy framework. But there are some weaknesses such as limited financial resources and low visibility. Meanwhile, there are opportunities of global support for gender justice and technological advancements that can amplify advocacy efforts. There are threats that need to be mitigated such as resistance from conservative groups, religious extremism, and political instability.

After a careful analysis of SBS mandate, vision, mission and context of operations, the Strategic objectives for the next five years are as follows:

1.      To strengthen Faith-Based Advocacy for Gender Justice.

2.      To eliminate harmful traditional and harmful practices.

3.      To promote Women’s Leadership and Economic Empowerment

4.      To strengthen legal and policy framework for gender equality

5.      To Reposition Side by Side Movement, Nigeria  as the Lead National Movement pursuing transformational change for Gender Justice in Nigeria

Strategic actions involve capacity-building workshops, advocacy campaigns, legal reforms, and policy engagement. The expected outcomes include increased gender justice awareness, reduced harmful practices, and enhanced women’s participation in leadership roles.

There are organisational implications for the implementation of the new strategy plan. The National Steering Committee, Secretariat, and regional chapters will be strengthened to execute the  strategy. Human resource development, information and communication technology (ICT) integration, financial management, and media engagement are emphasized as critical components for sustaining the movement’s impact.

The strategy has developed Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) framework to track progress and measure the impact of the strategy. Key performance indicators (KPIs) include the number of faith leaders trained, policy changes achieved, and reductions in gender-based violence. The risk management matrix identifies potential threats such as political instability, funding limitations, and resistance from conservative groups, alongside mitigation strategies to ensure sustained advocacy efforts.

The Side-by-Side Movement for Gender Justice, Nigeria, is poised to lead transformational change in gender justice through faith-driven advocacy. This strategy plan provides a structured approach to addressing gender inequalities by leveraging faith leadership, community engagement, and policy influence. By implementing this plan, the movement aims to foster an equitable and just society where every individual, regardless of gender, can thrive.