CDD Receives Grant To Improve Understanding Of Conflict, Promote Peace In Nigeria
The funding could not have come at a better time, said CDD Director Idayat Hassan, considering the various security challenges rocking the country.
The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) has been awarded a grant by the United Kingdom government towards strengthening the delivery of peace and security in Nigeria.
Announcing the grant on Sunday, the CDD said the funding would support its peace-making efforts in the country as well as its fight against misinformation, which has been identified as one of the drivers of conflict.
The centre acknowledged in its press release shared with HumAngle that Nigeria faces “an unprecedented array of overlapping security crises ranging from banditry to the spread of extremist jihadist movements [and] no corner of the country is spared by this surge in conflicts.”
CDD Director Idayat Hassan remarked that the grant, provided by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), could not have come at a better time.
“Insecurity in Nigeria is currently at a scale that threatens the very fabric of our nationhood. With conflict manifesting in various forms in virtually all regions of the country, Nigeria has for decades, not been as vulnerable as it currently is,” she said.
“Our SDPS [Strengthening the Delivery of Peace and Security] project will not only enhance the public’s understanding of the drivers of these conflicts, but will also counter emotion-driven narratives with evidence-based analysis that will equip stakeholders with the timely understanding of issues needed to positively influence policy and entrench lasting peace in the country.”
The centre noted that, as part of the project, it will be partnering with prominent media organisations to produce evidence-driven investigative reports and radio programmes related to insecurity. It also aims to improve the understanding of conflict situations by policymakers and relevant institutions.
“In addition to countering sensationalist narratives in the media and public discourse, the key objectives of the project will be geared towards strengthening the nexus between knowledge creation, public awareness, and policy decision-making in addressing insecurity and conflict in Nigeria,” the CDD said.
The non-profit organisation, founded in 1997, has focused on conducting research, building capacity, organising training, and driving advocacy on democratic governance, human security, people-centred development, and human rights across West Africa.
It was ranked the 11th best think-tank in Sub-Saharan Africa in the 2020 Global Go-To Think Tank Index Report published by the University of Pennsylvania.
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