Overview
The BUILD +4 project, supported by the Ford Foundation, is a transformative dual-focus initiative aimed at strengthening both Centre LSD’s institutional capacity and Nigeria’s natural resource governance, particularly as it affects women and marginalized groups.
Operating at the intersection of organizational development and advocacy for gender equity in the extractive sector, this project equips Centre LSD to lead effectively, influence policy, and dismantle systemic barriers that enable gender-based violence (GBV) and social exclusion in Nigeria’s mining industry.
Dual-Focus Framework
1. Institutional Strengthening
The project enhances Centre LSD’s capacity in key areas:
- Governance: Board development, succession planning, and internal accountability.
- Fundraising & Donor Relations: Establishing a structured resource mobilization system.
- Human Resource Management: Policy evolution, recruitment, compensation, and engagement frameworks.
- Monitoring, Evaluation, & Learning (MEL): Building a robust evaluation system to support reflective learning.
- Technology & Communication: Upgrading digital infrastructure and implementing a gender-sensitive communication strategy.
- Program Design: Sharpening Centre LSD’s focus to align programming with mission outcomes.
2. Programmatic Intervention
The project targets gender-based violence (GBV) in the extractive sector, focusing on:
- Research, documentation, and policy advocacy.
- Capacity building of institutions and communities.
- Stakeholder engagement to promote inclusive resource governance.
Project Objectives
- To contribute to the elimination of gender-based violence in Nigeria’s extractive industry.
- To strengthen the systems and structures of Centre LSD for long-term resilience and strategic leadership.
- To promote inclusive policy reform, especially of the Minerals and Mining Act (2007) and its regulations, through a gender and intersectional lens.
- To empower host communities, particularly women, to participate in and benefit from mining governance via Community Development Agreements (CDAs).
Key Interventions & Strategy
- Groundbreaking Research: In partnership with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Centre LSD conducted Nigeria’s first national study on GBV in the extractive sector. This landmark research provided quality data on the forms and prevalence of violence, enabling evidence-based engagement with mining stakeholders.
- Stakeholder Advocacy: Using the research data, Centre LSD engaged government institutions and mining companies on issues such as sexual violence, wage inequality, and the underrepresentation of women. This led to a marked increase in female leadership roles in mining companies across Ekiti, Ebonyi, and Taraba States.
- Legal & Policy Reform: The Centre initiated a review of the Minerals and Mining Act (2007) and Regulations (2011), advocating for more inclusive provisions to ensure women and marginalized communities benefit from Nigeria’s resource wealth.
- CDA Model Development: To ensure sustainable community benefit, Centre LSD developed a pilot model for long-term implementation of CDAs, starting with a focal community and with plans to scale nationwide.
Results & Impact
🎯 Programmatic Outcomes
- Improved Legal and Institutional Frameworks: Ongoing policy reforms aligned with gender justice in the mining sector.
- Stronger GBV Policy Focus: Greater government and private sector responsiveness to gender-based violence in extractive communities.
- Livelihood Enhancement: Better economic opportunities for women and marginalized groups in mining communities.
- Wider Gender Awareness: Increased understanding of the differential impacts of extractive activities on women and girls.
🧩 Institutional Outcomes
- Operational Efficiency: Stronger systems and governance structures now support Centre LSD’s growth and adaptability.
- Learning Culture: MEL systems have been enhanced, encouraging reflection, learning, and strategic iteration.
- Staff Capacity: Internal capacity in GESI mainstreaming, policy advocacy, and resource mobilization has significantly improved.
- Visibility and Influence: With upgraded tech and communications tools, Centre LSD is now more visible and more persuasive in national and regional advocacy spaces.
A Vision for Impact
Centre LSD’s BUILD +4 project represents more than organizational growth; it’s a blueprint for rights-based natural resource governance. By investing in both internal capacity and external advocacy, the Centre is building a resilient platform that empowers citizens, influences national policy, and gives women and marginalized groups a real voice in extractive governance.
As the project continues through 2025, Centre LSD is poised to become one of Africa’s leading advocates for equitable, transparent, and inclusive natural resource management, anchored in deep research, community engagement, and transformative leadership.
