Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa

Monday, 19 November 2018

THE GENDER DIMENSIONS OF SOCIAL CONFLICT, ARMED VIOLENCE & PEACE-BUILDING

A two-day workshop was held between the 14th and 15th of November 2018 to dissect 'The gender dimensions of social conflict, armed violence peace-building (PB)' in Nigeria. There was comparison of best practices in Nigeria and Indonesia. Nigeria's collaborative lessons were drawn from three states: . There were panel discussion(s) on 'Gender, Conflict & Peace-Building'; 'Best Practices & Differences: Indonesia & Nigeria'; Research Results: Gendered Mechanisms of Conflict Management', etc.

The meeting was convened by Women's International League for Peace & Freedom (WILPF) Nigeria and Women's Right to Education Programme (WREP). The project partners are:

*Centre for Conflict, Development & Peace-Building (CCDP), Graduate Institute of International & Development Studies, Switzerland
*
*WILPF. Switzerland
*UN Women

This research dissemination workshop is part of a larger project, the R4D Project on Gender, Conflict & Peace-Building supported by:

*
*Swiss Agency for Development & Cooperation
*

Some of the research findings are as follows:

*Women in conflict zones are not homogeneous. Not all women are 'peacemakers'. Some actually fuel conflict while others are 'conflict merchants'.
*The ' is more useful in the field in Nigeria than the Early Warning & Early Response (EWER) Model.
*Trauma healing as part of the peace process needs to be stepped up. Trauma could impact mental health in victims. Specialists (psychotherapists, psychologists, psychoanalysts, nurses, medical doctors, social workers, etc) need to be deployed to conflict zones during the peace-building process. Besides, trauma could make a woman who is a peace-builder become a conflict merchant!
*Cultural systems, including traditional methods of conflict transformation, should be re-visited for effective social cohesion. Local 'institutions' like the '' in Eastern Nigeria that could aid peace-building need to be encouraged.
*Practitioners should keep an eye on the sustainability index of peace interventions.

Photo L-R: Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa & Mrs. Yemisi George @ the workshop

The Nigerian researchers are:

Enugu: Dr. Vincent Onodugo & Elizabeth Jeiyol
Delta: Bridget Osakwe &Mariam Kadiri
Plateau State (Jos): Mabel Ade & Amina Ahmed

Dr. Wening Udasmoro and Arifah Rahmawati then presented 'Grand Narratives on PB from Indonesia'. There were so many similarities between the Nigeria and Indonesia. The role of 'senior men' in the PB process is acknowledged in both countries. Youths dominate the narration on violence, but they could also be peace-builders. 'Masculinities' emanate not only from men. Females could also display such masculinities. In both countries there are child soldiers, Mediation is the most common Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) method used to resolve conflicts and music is deployed for peace. There is conflict in East Java (Indonesia) over natural resources similar to the situation in the Niger Delta (Nigeria). It is possible to build the capacity of citizens while undergoing research in both countries.

(Professor of International Relations, Graduate Institute, Geneva & Director Gender Centre) presented an illuminating paper titled: 'The feminist constructivist approach to the study of violent conflicts'. She quoted who said: 'We are not born women, we become women'. Gender is a societal construct. Masculinity is a continuum. Even females could be on the masculinity scale. We seem to be fixated on ''. Masculinity is mobile, not static. We need new patterns of explanation, for example: I (Input) ~ M (Mechanism) ~ O (Output). That is, Inputs combined with adequate Mechanisms lead to positive Outcomes that could support peace processes.

(Post-doctoral Researcher, Graduate Institute, Geneva & Coordinator, Gender Centre) extended Prof. Prugl's postulation further in her presentation: 'The intersectionally gendered mechanisms in conflict dynamics'. She said gender operates as a productive force in conflict dynamics. Gender informs, shapes and constrains outcomes. According to Christelle, the mechanisms employed are:

*Symbolism - Men represented as strong protectors, while women are seen as weak.
*Masculine authority - 'Intersectional component of age and strength'
*Institutions - These are also social constructs.
*Performance of gender - e.g. Skill sets of men

Then came the group discussion. There were six groups:

1) Art/Literature/Sport/Music
2)
3) Traditional Institutions
4) Religion & Spirituality
5) Media
6) Trauma healing

The main take-aways were that:

*Art, literature, sport and music are veritable avenues for engendering peace if strategically deployed.
*Neighbourhood Watch could have a more positive influence as regards peace than Vigilantes. The latter group is often corrupted by politically exposed persons who sometimes nudge them to do their bidding.
*Traditional institutions (Emirs, Obas, Obis, Chiefs, etc) are germane to peace processes.
*Religious leaders wield influence especially for terrorism and similar ideological warfare. They need to strike positive cords towards peace in their sermons.
*I presented the position for this group, where I said media practitioners need intensive training in conflict reporting so that they contribute to peace rather than conflict. The ownership of particular media houses could colour their presentation of 'facts' in this '. This could engender bad blood in the stakeholders in the conflict who feel 'shortchanged' by the report.
*Trauma healing needs to be given more attention.

On the whole, it was indeed an honour to meet the duo of Prof. Elisabeth Prugl and Dr. Christelle Rigual live in Abuja. Their presentation of their on-going research was well received and it was agreed at the meeting that their perspectives on '' be factored into future similar research in Nigeria and Indonesia. Kudos to the duo of (First black President of WILPF) and (Executive Director, WREP) for excellent coordination of the meeting. Though Joy was not physically present, due to unforeseen circumstances, her managerial skills during the planning made the workshop a huge success. Bravo!

Related Links

*On toxic masculinity by Terry Crews - 'You've been taught that pride is a manly thing, that pride is a good thing. Male pride causes wars, millions of people have died because of male pride, because one man would not back down' https://twitter.com/terrycrews
*Gendered subjectivities: The nexus between femininity in Zimbabwe https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2979/africonfpeacrevi.10.1.01?seq=1
*Transnational African Feminism africasacountry.com/2020/06/transnational-african-feminism/7177.../

*Why 'impostor syndrome' hits women and women of colour harder bbc.com/worklife/article/20200724-why-impostor-syndrome-hits-women-harder/

*Female child soldiers often go unseen newstrust.org #RedHandDay
*Decolonising emotional well-being and mental health in development: African feminist innovations tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13552074.2020.171
*Indian inventor creates 'lipstick gun' for women's safety against sexual harassment aljazeera.com
*Mandating men: Towards gender equality in Myanmar #masculinities #gender equality https://www.international-alert.org/publications/mandating-men-masculinities-peace-building-gender-equality-myanmar

*WPS Toolkit in Somalia https://lnkd.in/d9EBNfF womenpeacesecurity.nimbl.uk

*When schools closed, Americans turned to their usual back-up plan: Mothers https://m-gates/3pFUrI6
*QAROT: Global dataset on electoral gender quota adoption implementation and reform over time (1947-2015) ingentaconnect.com/contenttone/cun...
*American Psychological Association (APA) links masculinity ideology to homophobia & misogyny https://apple.news/...-powerful-women/
*Her husband died. Then his family shaved her head & made her strip beside his grave edition.cnn.com/2020/03/27/africa/as-equals-nigeria-widow-rites-intl/
*Decolonising emotional well-being & mental health in development: African fminist innovations https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/...
*Dalit women fight for land rights in Punjab: They have formed a Cooperative and now cultivate their own land https://bit.ly/3dP5IV4
*The 'Tiger Mother', America's top parent? https://.newyorker.com/magazine/2011/01/31/americas-top-parent?
*The truth about unwanted arousal ted.com/talks/emily_nagoski_truth_about_unwanted_arousal/
*Africa's most powerful women - Forbes https://www.forbesafrica.com/.../africas-50-most
*Gillette's campaign & toxic masculinity https://thriveglobal.com/stories/gillette-ad-campaign-best-a-man-can-get-we-believe-toxic-masculinity-progress/
*US: Equality trends to watch in 2019 https://www.forbes.com/sites/shelleyzalis/2019/01/04/6-equality-trends-to-watch-in-2019/
*7 books on Feminism https://www.bustle.com/p/7-new-feminist-nonfiction-books-for-2019-because-knowledge-is-power-15578205
*Diamond Gizzer, billionaire diamond trader, 65, dies in Paris during penis enlargement surgery https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/8575776/billionaire-diamond-trader-65-dies-during-penis-enlargement-surgery...
*Data can be sexist https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/data-can-be-sexist-melinda-gates/
*The woman most likely to get promoted according to science https://nypost.com/2018/08/31/this-is-the-woman-most-likely-to-get-promoted/
*Why research on gender 7 conflict matters https://www.crisisgroup.org/global/why-research-gender-and conflict-matters/
*Women and the Boko Haram insurgency https:///www.crisisgroup.org/africa/west-africa/nigeria-women-and-boko-haram-insurgency
*Protecting women's space in politics https://www.crisisgroup.org/global/protecting-womens-space-in-politics
*Invisible Women: Data bias in a world designed for men - Caroline Criado-Perez webfacebook.com/mbaeresq/posts/101575434.../
*International Women's Day (IWD) needs to return to its radical roots https://www.awid.org/news-and-analysis/international-womens-day-needs-return-its-radical-roots
*Unequal gender relations can drive conflict and violence: 'Engaging with men & masculinities in fragile/conflict-affected settings https://bit.ly/2umObK2
*Real men hate toxic masculinity https://www.newyorker.com/humour/daily-shouts/real-men-hate-toxic-masculinity
*What happens to a woman's body in her 40s https://www.huffpost.com/entry/perimenopause-symptoms-feelings...
*How neuro-science is exploding the myth of male & female brains https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24132190-100-how-neuroscience-is-exploding-the-myth-of-male-and-female-brains
*Eliminating gender disparities in business performance in Africa https://t.co/lSj98tOKEg
*The pitfalls of data gender gap https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-pitfalls-of-datas-gender-gap/
*A new condom emphasises consent by requiring 4 hands to open the package https://edition.cnn/2019/04/10/health/condom-consent-four-hands-trnd/
*From 'The Second Sex' to 'Gender Trouble' - Butler's hat tip to Simon de Beauvoir #Gender&Identity https://aeon.co/videos/from-the-second-sex-to-gender-trouble-butlers-hat-tip-to-de-beauvoir
*How a hackneyed romantic ideal is used to stigmatise polyarmoury https://aeon.co/ideas/how-a hackneyed-romantic-ideal-is-used-to-stigmatise-polyarmoury
*The war on women in Abuja https://newsdiaryonline.com/the-war-on-women-in-abuja-by-jibrin-ibrahim
*Women & too much sunscreen: Why avoiding the sun could damage your health https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24132210-100-too-much-sunscreen...
*#MeToo: Africa & the politics of transnational activism https://africasacountry.com/2018/07/metoo-africa-and-the-politics-of-transnational-activism
*CSOs, NGOs protest in Abuja over harassment of women https://t.co/u3UWFsZQlj
*Lightening the mental load that keeps women down https://thriveglobal.com/stories/lightening-the-mental-load-that-holds-women-back/
*About Menopause http://bit.ly/2Hm1tMF
*How women can re-invent themselves at any age https://thriveglobal.com/stories/how-to-reinvent-your-life-at-any-age/
*Nigeria's Chimamanda Adichie named 'Woman of the Decade' by ThisDay Newspaper allafrica.com/stories/202002050012.html
*7 most powerful African queens in history https://www.pulse.ng/bi/lifestyle/7-most-powerful-african-queens-in-history
*Utah Senators unanimously pass Bill to de-criminalise polygamy https://abcnews.go.com/us/utah-snators-unanimously-pass-bill-decriminalise-polygamy
*Texas Bill would allow death penalty for women who get abortions https://www.kptv.com/texas-bill-would-allow-death-penalty-for-women-who-get/
*Gender & Human security: African perspectives https://issafrica.org/research/monographs/gender-and-human-security-african-perspectives
*UNSCR 1325: The connection between gender & security https://www.usip.org/gender_peacebuilding/about_UNSCR_1325
*Women are happier without children or a spouse https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/may/25/women-happier-without-children-or-a-spouse...
*The role of women in countering violent extremism (CVE): The Nigerian experience with BH https://t.co/t9fAg113u8
*Sexual harassers at top of aid sector are 'too well-connected' to be held to account https://www.thirdsector.co.uk/sexual-harassers-top-aid-sector-are-well-connected-held-account/fundraising/article...
*The Palgrave Handbook of African Women's Studies - Olajumoke Yacob-Halso & Toyin Falola (eds) http://bit.ly/2EPLWsS
*The rise and fall of Elizabeth Holmes, Silicon Valley's startup queen https://www.economist.com/books-and-arts/2018/05/31/the-rise-and-fall-of-elizabeth-holmes-sillicon-valleys-startup-queen
*How to let go of someone you love https://www,goalcast.com/2018/03/29/letting-go-someone-love/
*Canada announces new funding model to support women's equality globally https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/canada-announces-new-funding-model-to-support-women-equality-globally
*Violation of rights: ECOWAS court grants 3 Nigerian women N18m compensation https://punchng.com/violation-of-rights-ecowas-court-grants-three-nigerian-women-n18m-compensation/
*Alabama passes Bill to chemically castrate child sex offenders https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/alabama-passes-bill-to-chemically-castrate-child-sex-offenders-a4160276.html
*High heels at work are necessary says Japan's Labour Minister https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/05/high-heels-at-work-ere-necessary...
*Returning from the land of Jihad: The fate of women associated with BH https://www.crisisgroup.org/africa/west-africa/nigeria/275-returning-land-jihad-fate-women-associated-boko-haram
*Meet Uganda's mother of 42 kids: Sold into marriage at 12 aljazeera.com
*Male birth control pill passes human safety tests https://www.technologynetworks.com/drug-discovery/news/male-birth-control-pill-passes-human-safety-tests...
*How to stop ruminating over very little things https://thriveglobal.com/stories/ruminating-anxiety-mindfulness-book-excerpt
*What being Malala's father has taught me about feminism https://time.com/5605625/malala-yousafzai-father/
*Reps to Buhari: Appoint more women into office https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/reps-to-buhari-appoint-more-women-to-office-2.html
*Nigerian women condemn Buhari's Ministerial list, write Senate https://dailypost.ng/2019/07/25/nigerian-women-condemn-buharis-ministerial-list-write-senate/
*More than 50,000 women killed by intimate partners in 2017 - Study https://www.brusselstimes.com/belgium/60214/more-than-50000-women-killed-by-intimate-partners-in-2017...
*2019 Gender Report (GEM) gem-report-2019.unesco.org/gender-report/
*Social stress linked to bone density loss in post-menopausal women https://www.newscientist.com/article/2209119-social-stress-linked-to-bone-density-loss-in-postmenopausal-women/
*The SDGs: A tool to make a difference for women in conflict https://www.wilpf.org/the-sustainable-development-goals-a-tool-to-make-a-difference...
*Table etiquette https://web.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1015233313744960...
*Till genetics do us part: Why the success of your marriage is encoded at birth https://aeon.co/videos/till-genetics-do-us-part-why-the-success-of-your-marriage-is-encoded-at-birth
*Jack & Jill and the feminine filter/masculine mantra https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/jack-jill-feminine-filter-masculine-mantra-graeme-bowman/
*Intersectionality & accountability: The missing component on men & masculinities work in the #MeToo era - MenEngage menengage.org/intersectionality-and-accountability-the-missing-components-on-men-and-masculinities-work-in-the-metoo-era
*Why women's equality is not the norm worldwide: Reflections on the IWD https://lnkd.in/ejGQZAB
*How to become a feminist dad https://www.wordsinthebucket.com/how-to-become-a-feminist-dad/
*Factors affecting anti-FGM programmes https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/6VGVJQ7
*Female labour force participation is more than economics https://www.brookings.edu/blog/education-plus-development/2018/07/26/female-labour-force-participation-is-about-more-than-economics/
*What feminists can do for boys htps//www.nytimes.com/2018/07/25/opinion/feminists-misogyny-patriarchy.html
*Gender equality in West Africa: The key role of social norms oecd-development-matters.org/2018/03/08/gender-equality-in-west-africa-the-key-role-of-social-norms/
*Sudan needs women at its negotiating table https://issafrica.org/iss-today/sudan-needs-women-at-its-negotiating-table
*Why equality can't wait https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/heres-why-equality-cant-wait-melinda-gates
*How neuroscience is exploding the myth of male and female brains newscientist.com/article/mg24132190-100-how-neuroscience-is-exploring-the-myth-of-male-and-female-brains
*Sperm sorting method could prevent girls being born newscientist.com/article/2213377-sperm-sorting-method...
*Rosa Parks honoured with a Barbie Doll on Women Equality Day https://t.co/30G1ckCxVn
*Inclusion of women: Why is the protection of minorities important? https://newnaratif.com/.../.../7a6785df340f162db6...
*The importance of women in peace processes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kaukup...
* 5 paceful protests that led to change https://www.globalcitizen.org/.../peace-protests-dallas-resp.../
*Africa's tallest building, designed mostly by women, opens in South Africa https://cnn,it/2oVQ9S4
*Female orgasm may have evolved from a trigger for ovulation newscientist.com/article/2218111-female-orgasm-may-have-evolved-from-a-trigger-for-ovulation/
*Police uncover another baby factory in Lagos, rescue pregnant girls https://punchng.com/police-uncover-another-baby-factory-in-lagos...
*Melinda Gates commits $1b to gender equality https://t.co/HZEFNi1SgO
*The most balanced gender cabinets in the world today ow.ly/55q050wAXbz
*There are more single working women than ever, & that's changing the US economy edition.cnn.com/2019/08/29/economy/single-women-economy/index.html
*Women & girls' causes received only 1.6% of all charitable donations in the US ow.ly/aSlr50wCuOJ
*Women make up only 14% of the total in the ranking of the wealthiest Americans in 2019 https://t.co/C6qwtRJlW3
*Jimmy & Rosalyn Carter just became the longest married Presidential couple edition.cnn.com/2019/10/18/politics/jimmy-rosalyn-carter-longest-married-presidential-couple-trnd/
*Mother's attention may shape baby's hormone system and temperament newscientist.com/article/2220192-mothers-attention-may-shape-babys-hormone-system-and-temperament/
*The hidden cost of doing it all for women harpersbazaar,com/culture/features/a29307038/fair-play-eve-rodsky/
*Patriarchy, Gender & Peace https://flic.kr/s/aHsmJeHh5k
*WHO calls for ban on virginity tests, including those used by the Police newscientist.com/article/2183482-who-calls-ban-virginity-tests-including-used-police/
*Women's writing began much earlier than supposed, finds academic https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/nov/07/womens-writing-began-much-earlier-than-supposed/
*6 things most successful women have in common inc.com/christiana-desmarais/6-things-most-successful-women-have-in-common.html/
*Kids are master manipulators, so use game theory against them wired.com/2016/06/how-to-make-kids-behave/
*What women think about #gender parity #harassment #jobmarket #feminism http:ow.ly/X19g30YbPT
*The Vagina Bible: Beating bad science on women's sexual health newscientist.com/article/mg24332440-300-the-vagina-bible...
*How to tell the difference between persuasion & manipulation aeon.co/ideas/how-to-tell-difference-between-persuasion-manipulation/
*20 reasons Japanese women stay slim and don't look old medical-news.org/10-reasons-japanese-women-stay-slim-dont-look-old/2321/20/
*What is gaslighting? 12 signs you could be experiencing it goalcast.com/2018/04/30/what-is-gaslighting-and-could-you-be-experiencing-it/
*Global Gender Gap Report 2020 https://www.weforum.org/reports/gender-gap-2020-report-100-years-pay-equity/
*'Marriage Story explores the pain and confusion of divorce https://cnn.it/35JtwAS
*The world's oldest couple - ages 106 & 105, celebrate their 80th wedding anniversary edition.cnn.com/2019/12/16/anniversary-trnd/
*Why relationships change after baby thriveglobal.com/stories/why-relationships-change-after-baby/
*Obama says women are 'indisputably better' at leading - BBC edition.cnn.com/2019/12/16/politics/barack-obama-women-are-better-than-men/
*From cashier, Sanna Marin (34yrs old) to world's youngest Prime Minister: Finland's new leader breaks the mould edition.cnn.com/2019/12/22/europe/finnish-prime-minister-sanna-marin-profile-intl/
*NASA astronaut, Christina Koch, sets record for the longest spaceflight by a woman. Christina says 'Do what scares you!' edition.cnn.com/2019/12/28/us/christina-koch-longest-spaceflight-record-woman-scn-trnd/
*Slovakia's first female President is an environmental activist globalcitizen.org/en/content/first-female-president-slovakia-caputova/
*Cameroonian girls on Nigeria's border married off to escape BH https://www.voanews.com/episode/cameroonian-girls-nigeria-border-married-escape-boko-haram-4131891/
*Gender equality matters in COVID-19 response unwomen.org/en/news/in-focus-gender-equality-covid-19-response/
*Toxic masculinity is going to get all of us 'killed' https://gen.medium.com/toxic-masculinity-going-to-get-us-killed/

*WPS Agenda @ 20: Setbacks, Progress & Way Forward https;//www.justsecurity.org/73120/the-women-peace-and-security-agenda-at-20.../

*Small wins can make a big impact on gender equality https://t.co/nBomydxq4o?amp=1 hbr.org

*Covid lockdown: A generation of teenage girls & women subjected to domestic violence (DV) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OIjm-g1N9Y...

*No girl is too young to fight for her rights https://go.one.org/33gaVx9

Sunday, 11 November 2018

NACS: NATIONAL ANTI-CORRUPTION STRATEGY & CSOs

The National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) was the subject matter for discourse under the auspices of in on the 30th of October, 2018. The meeting of the representative of the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), with is a follow-up to the inauguration of a 17 member Monitoring & Evaluation Committee in September. The NACS was launched on July 5, 2017. Over a year after the launch of the NACS, how far have the contents been implemented for the 4-year plan (2017-2021)?

The fact that CSOs should be the drivers of the 5 pillars of NACS was emphasised. The 5 pillars are:

1) Prevention
2) Public Engagement
3) Ethical Re-orientation
4) Enforcement
5) Sanctions/Recovery & Management of crime proceeds

Some of the CSOs present were , Open Society Foundation, Trust Africa, Integrity Organisation, etc. Lilian Ekeanyanwu, Head, Technical Unit on Governance & Anti-Corruption Reforms, TUGAR, Nigeria, remarked that too much emphasis is laid on prosecution to the neglect of prevention. With the launch of the , the focus shifted from apprehending the thief to prevention of theft. Prevention is always better/cheaper than prosecution. Some other strides in the area of prevention are: , Public enlightenment, Risk assessment, deployment of NACS to states and LGAs with the attending challenges.

In my intervention, I said that that the NACS document needs to be further democratised through translation into and the major . Besides, the link to the NACS document should be widely circulated. More NGOs/CBOs need to come on board for the successful implementation of the strategy. I also talked about the importance of technology in the anti-corruption war - the less person-person contact, the more transparent the process.

, reiterated the fact that the objective of the NACS is to instill in the citizens the fact that honesty pays. In this regard, we should note the Corporate Governance Rating System (CGRS) for more efficiency in the OGS. Many companies have surrendered themselves to the CGRS because such a rating precedes the company's listing on the Corporate Governance Table (CGT). Directors now have to write exams to show that they understand why they are on the Board! Building integrity seems easier to sell in the private sector than in the public sector. There is also the alignment of incentives for Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

The following are some of the resolutions at the meeting:

*The NACS is a citizen-oriented document that should be constantly fine-tuned and interrogated.
*The average citizen believes that unemployment is a more serious problem than anti-corruption. More advocacy is necessary to explain why corruption could indeed be the cause of unemployment!
*CSOs working on anti-corruption should collaborate. They should stop working in silos.
*Citizenship engagement should be prioritised.
*There are global norms for anti-corruption: deployment of technology/OGP/OpenBudget, etc
*There should be total integration of CSOs into the NACS. CSOs should be represented in the steering committee.
*Presidential Initiative for Continuous Auditing (PICA) should continue to be vigilant.
*Wanted: CSOs engagement plan from MDAs.
*Translate the NACS into pidgin and major Nigerian languages.
*There should be collaboration on the NACS with MDAs through the structures of NOA.
*The right base-line data for the NACS needs to be established and adopted. A good starting point could be the '' by TOGAR.

This meeting was a healthy interaction between CSOs and government on the NACS. More of such collaborative engagements for the citizens' benefit are welcome...

Related Links

*National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) - Federal Ministry of Justice justice.gov.ng/index.php/national-anti-corruption-strategy-nacs
*An evaluation of the Nigerian National Anti-Corruption Strategy https://www.idpublications.org/.../Full-Paper-an-evaluation-of-the-nigeria...
*FG sets up 17-member anti-corruption strategy monitoring, evaluation... https://www.vanguardngr.com/...fg-sets-up-17-man-anti-corruption-strategy-monitoring...
*Why corruption thrives in Nigeria by NEITI https://guardian.ng/news/why-corruption-thrives-in-nigeria-by-neiti/
*Weak ethical framework fuels corruption in Nigeria - Report https://www.thisdaylive.com
*Role of business integrity in national transformation https://www.businessdayonline.com/.../role-business-integrity-national-transformation
*Nigerian civil society and the fight against corruption https://punchng.com/nigeria-civil-society-fight-against-corruption/
*Corruption & Governance ad.doubleclick.net/ddm/trackclk/N3643.158707.LINKEDIN/...
*Explainer: How Transparency International (TI) assessed Nigeria's corruption level premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/374623-explainer-how-transparency-international-assesssed-nigerias-corruption-index/

*The cost & benefit of battling corruption for young people https://www.youthcoleb.org/post/the-cost-benefit-battling-corruption-young-people/

*How N500b Ecological Fund was siphoned and diverted in 15 years - Documentary premiered 25th January, 2021 you.tube.com/watch?v=dywwwq...

Sunday, 4 November 2018

EMAM: ELECTION VIOLENCE MONITORING, ANALYSIS & MITIGATION PROJECT

On the 30th of October, 2018, the Network for Peace (WANEP) in collaboration with the Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union (AU) and the launched Election Violence Monitoring, Analysis & Mitigation Project (EMAM). The project is a four-month long situational monitoring, analysis and mitigation of violence during the forthcoming general elections in scheduled for February 2019 which was launched in . EMAM is designed to support local and national response architecture that link Early Warning (EW) with informed response to prevent or mitigate identified threats capable of affecting the peaceful conduct of the .

Validating indicators would be developed to inform specific monitoring and reporting of violent election threats by community monitors before, during and after elections. The representative of said that WANEP has supported the operationalising of the ECOWAS EW mechanism. WANEP's National EWS (NEWS) managers across the region are part of the ECOWAS Field Monitoring teams that populate the with real time data on a daily and weekly basis.

The Executive Director of WANEP, , noted that WANEP was collaborating with ECOWAS because the responsibility of ensuring that elections in Africa are free, fair and credible cannot be shouldered by ECOWAS, the AU and the member states alone. CSOs in these countries are critical stakeholders also. I agree with this assertion. That is why in the last few weeks many of my posts on this Blog have been about how to ensure non-violence in the forth-coming elections. If we get the elections right, then the legitimacy of the winner is assured in the eyes of the electorate! The EMAM project is in furtherance of the WANEP/ECOWAS/AU partnership for peace and security in West Africa in line with the MoU. I intend to keep watching that space for further developments...

'Let a thousand flowers bloom'. We cannot have enough of this and similar initiatives aimed at preventing violence in Nigeria's elections...

P.S.
This Blog Post is adapted from the ECOWAS write-up: www.ecowas.int/wanep-ecowas-and-inec-launch-emam-project

Saturday, 13 October 2018

10 MYTHS ABOUT VIOLENCE IN NIGERIA

Photo L-R: & , Founder NigeriaWatch/Global Fellow, Peace Research Institute, Oslo (PRIO)

On the 12th of October, 2018, hosted of the findings of research titled: '10 myths about violence in Nigeria'. The public presentation of the findings was in Abuja and I was the discussant at the event. Marc-Antoine is the Founder of Nigeria Watch; Senior Researcher, Institute de recherche pour de developpment (IRD), Paris & Global Fellow, Peace Research Institute in Oslo (PRIO). Marc-Antoine is the coordinator of the research project, housed by Research in Africa (IFRA), Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan (UI). There are at least 11 other contributors to the project, who are mostly postgraduate students of UI.

The methodology used entails a database which indexes/codes fatal incidents on a daily basis since June 1, 2006. The uniqueness of the study lies in the fact that it is the first attempt at an objective assessment of the many myths about violence in Nigeria from a scientific point of view. It is a collective effort, starting with a organised by . Further details about the methodology can be retrieved from http://www.nigeriawatch.org/

The findings are as follows:

1) Nigeria is more and more dangerous.
*No. Fatal violence has declined since 2015.

2) .
*No. Recession often leads to social apathy while development can trigger social tensions.

3) Oil production is a major cause of fatal violence.
*Not necessarily. Oil distribution (downstream sector) is more fatal than the production (upstream).

4) Nigeria is most dangerous for foreigners.
*No. More Nigerians are killed than foreigners. More Africa foreigners are killed than whites or those from Western nations. The killed foreign blacks are not noticed because they blend into the population.

5) Lagos is the most criminal city in Nigeria.
*No.The research is based on the figure - 10 million inhabitants (2006 census). The are more volatile than Lagos. the north-east is volatile, no thanks to insurgency.

6) Abuja is safe.
*No. There are many more than in any other city in Nigeria!

7) There are more crime incidents at Christmas.
*No. There are no cycles in fatal crime incidents.

8) .
*No. There is no discernible effect of Sharia Law on fatal crime incidents.

9) Religious violence is a major issue.
*No. Most incidents of violence labelled 'religious' are indeed not religious. They are usually violence as a result of politics, economic issues, farmer-herder clashes, communal clashes, etc.

10) Ritual killings are on the rise during elections.
*No. This perception may be due to the fact that the electorate do not trust politicians and therefore label them ritualists without scientific evidence.

The following is my critique of some of the findings of the research:

1) The sources of data should be expanded beyond newspapers. A lot of in-depth research is going on in many reputable NGOs like CDD, , , , , etc.

2) The ownership of each of the Media Houses whose data are used for the research could taint the authenticity of the figures sourced since he who pays the piper dictates the tune. It may be useful to use 'averages' for each fatal incident of violence.

3) I do not agree hook line and sinker with the 'fact' that Nigeria is 'less' dangerous. It depends on which type of fatal casualties we are considering - farmer-herder crises, road accidents, insurgency, etc.

4) I still believe Abuja is relatively safe in-spite of the fact that there are more fatal accidents in the city. At least because of perimeter fencing and the fact that the seat of the Federal Government is in Abuja citizens can sleep with both eyes closed in the city, unlike in other states. As regards fatal road accidents, make sure your kids and wards go to before entrusting cars to them. Be careful which you patronise, etc.

5) Sometimes, there could be more crime at Christmas time if individual criminally minded individuals wish to 'catch up with the Jonses'.

6) The findings could be translated into and some to take the discourse on this long held myths to the grassroots.

The research findings point to the fact that we should not swallow everything we are told hook line and sinker without subjecting same to scientific investigation. Kudos to the research team for reminding us about the importance of critical thinking backed by scientific analysis.

See for example: www.nigeriawatch.org/media/html/NW10Myths.pdf

28th December, 2018

*10 conflicts to watch in 2019 https://www.crisisgroup.org/global/10-conflicts-watch-2019

Sunday, 7 October 2018

PREVENTING ELECTION VIOLENCE IN NIGERIA

The Peace & Security Network (PSN), a network of over 550 members across the geo-political zones in Nigeria, held a meeting (in collaboration with the ) under its 'Confab Series' on the 27th of September, 2018 in Abuja. I am a valuable member of PSN. The high point of the meeting was the presentation of a research report by the FFP on ''. of FFP presented the report.

The following are some of the highlights:

*Election Violence (EV) does not occur in a vacuum. It always has a political, economic and social context.
*A three-pronged approach was adopted for the research:
-Collation of historical data
-Quantitative analysis
-Qualitative analysis
*There are 3 main contextual issues in 100 years of political and election violence in Nigeria:
-
-
-Cycles of economic distress & rising rates of inequality
*Hot spots (2009-2015). The findings are:
-Hot spots tend to change from one election cycle to the other.
-Local level contests, especially are more violent than national level elections.
-Types of violence over a 6 year period: Orchestrated vs Spontaneous violence. /Location of insecurity actors/ were utilised.

There are 3 types of organisations in Nigeria during EV:

*Communicators e.g. 'Get your PVC'.
*EV Prevention e.g. 's Non-Violence in Elections Advocacy Group (NViEAG). See for example: dayokusa.blogspot.com/2018/07/non-violence-in-elections-advocacy.html
*Conveners e.g.Conveners have viable platforms that could bring actors together. Conveners have trusted 'safe spaces' e.g. PSN, , , , etc. See for example: dayokusa.blogspot.com/2018/06/nepad-strategies-for-non-violence-in-elections...

The following were the recommendations for PEV:

1) Start earlier and stick around longer. EW and ER matter!
2) Make better use of reliable data.
3) More focus should be on Gubernatorial and Local level elections than on Presidential elections.
4) More attention should be paid to Conveners.

Chris Kwaja then gave a Risk Assessment of EV, looking at the peace and security landscape towards the 2019 elections. The focus was on Adamawa, Ekiti, Kano, Kaduna, Lagos & the FCT. The following are the findings:

1) The narrative of insecurity is changing with the intensity of the Farmer-Herder crisis, the Niger Delta, insurgency, etc.
2) Disappointment associated with state-citizen relationship.
3) Increase in the level of civic consciousness vis-a-vis . The Electoral body should constantly demonstrate capacity to conduct credible elections.
4) Intra-Party conflict now deeper than Inter-Party conflict!
5) Diminished north-south divide.
6) Growing significance of social media. To what end - positive or negative?
7) Growing prominence of . Many of the grievances at the local level transform to the national level! are far from independent.

The following are the recommendations:

1) Re-think creating Election Offenses Commission (EOS).
2) There should be early recruitment and training of INEC ad hoc staff.
3) Improve election security administration. There should be an inter-agency consultative forum on election issues convened by INEC.
4) Internal Party Democracy is important in Political Parties.
5) is not equivalent to . However, human rights should not be curtailed under the guise of eliminating hate speech

With this and similar discourse on methods of PEV towards the 2019 elections, we hope for peace...

Related Links

*The quest for credible thecable.ng

FOOD SECURITY & NIGERIA'S CHANGING CLIMATE

On the 4th of October 2018, in collaboration with the held a dialogue that examined the 'Depoliticisation of the conflict/relations between farmers and herders' while 'Re-thinking the economic models' that could improve relations. It was made abundantly clear at the outset that the dialogue was to seek solutions to the challenge at hand. Therefore 'emotional outbursts' were unwelcome. It was who set the pace with the ground rules.

Then came the fascinating '', which is a free audience response system that allows the use of mobile phones or tablets to vote on any question specified. This improves the meeting between a presenter and an audience. Amara Nwankpa, Director, Public Policy Initiative, Yar'Adua Foundation conducted the survey with questions like: 'What is the major cause of tension between farmers and herders?'. The overwhelming response to this question (by the audience) was 'conflict'. Another question: Private Ranches or Government Ranches? The majority voted for Private Ranches since herding is a private business! Here is the link for the use of the MM - https://www.scoop.it/t/into-the-driver.../mentimeter-a-free-audience-response-system www.menti.com (code for the event: 91 17 21).

The answers from the audience, as projected on the screen, set the pace for the rest of the meeting. Prof. Oshita Oshita, Technical Committee on Farmer-Herder Conflict presented a paper on the work of his committee, where various options like private ranches and government-owned ranches were discussed. Dr. Chris Kwaja, Senior Lecturer/Researcher, Centre for Peace & Security Studies, Modibbo Adamawa University of Technology, Yola prefers the term: Farmer-Herder 'relations' to 'conflict'. The discussants - Olubukola Ademola-Adelehin (Senior Programme & Policy Analyst, SFCG/EVC), Dr. Saleh Momale (Pastoral Resolve - PARE) and Edward Ujege (President General, ) were on the same page as regards solution to the problem viz; government should put in place measures for assuaging the devastating effects of climate change while ensuring that healthy farmer-herder relations are sustained.

I, Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa, in my capacity as a Conflict Transformation Expert and Member, Forum on Farmer-Herder Relations (FFARN) of Search for Common Ground (SFCG) commented that modalities for mitigating the Farmer-Herder crisis, which has claimed so many lives should be made a major campaign issue for anyone who wishes to become President of Nigeria come 2019. I also said we need to interrogate who exactly the 'new herders' are, who now kill and maim with careless abandon. Are they really the same ones who have lived in peace with sedentary farmers for decades? See for example - dayokusa.blogspot.com/2017/11/forum-on-farmer-herder-relations-in.html

Another commentator was , President, Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers' Association of Nigeria (KACRAN) who alluded to the fact that herders are willing to settle down if they are in settlements where they can feed their cattle and water is also readily available. Oliver Hout (EU Delegation to Nigeria & ECOWAS) did a comparative analysis of how the farmer-herder crisis was solved elsewhere. He said the EU was ready to support Nigeria in the quest for an amicable solution to the problem, but the Federal Government of Nigeria should also do her bit.

The consensus at the parley was that the Farmer-Herder issue is a conflict over diminishing natural resources - land and water which has been infiltrated and complicated by politics, ethnicity, religion, etc. These 'external factors have rendered the conflict intractable with negative consequences for the sanctity of human life while 'conflict merchants', who do not want the conflict to end are smiling to the bank! We need to go back to the good old days when farmers and herders lived together harmoniously. The quest for this desired state of tranquility continues with the promise by the organisers for follow up meetings...

Related Links

*Billions of extra trees may give us 20 years to tackle climate change https://www.newscientist.com/article/2208704-billions-of-extra-trees-may-give-us-20-years-to-tackle-climate-change/
*Gender lens essential to addressing linked climate change and security https://t.co/j8XcLV5DN?amp=1

*Climate-conscious venture capitalists are back: Can they both make money and protect the planet? theeconomist.com https://t.co/mDWQd7EN4z?amp=1

*Climate change could make rare Tsunami events more common bit.ly/3mrlep3

*Heightened alert of famine in 4 countries (Nigeria, Burkina Fasso, Sudan, Yemen), UN Food Agencies warn wfp.org

*We are nowhere near keeping warming below 1.5 degrees centigrade despite climate plans newscientist.com

*How the financial sector can implement climate action in Africa internationalpolicydigest.org

*Beyond profit: Review of host community provisions in Nigeria's PIB 2020 https;//lnkd.in/ev6f86e

*Australia's oldest man, Alfred Date (8 Nov 1905 - 2 May 2016) knitted tiny sweaters for injuredpenguins https://lnkd.in/diSQXeq

*Climate, conflict & demography in Africa https://bit.ly/climateinafrica

*The EU & climate security: Towards ecological diplomacy carnegieeurope.eu

*The climate is breaking down: Arc Bjarke Ingels re-designs the planet to cut greenhouse emissions, clean up pollution & adapt to climate change time.com

*There's more dust in the universe than astronomers expected @NASAWebb go.nasa.gov/2KOwVcj

*Swedish teenage climate activist, Thunberg, turns 18 reut.rs/3b5SAHC

*Solving the challenge of food security key to pace-building in the Sahel https://copese.org/book/solving-the-challenge-food-security.../

*Fast forward the race to zero-emission tracking pscp.tv

*Japan promises to be climate neutral by 2050 economist.com https://t.co/JY7kuYmycN/amp=1

*Supplier engagement for climate action: Columbia Sportswear Case Study https://apparelimpact.org/columbia-sportswear-case-study/

*Why 'biodegradable' isn't what you think https://bit.ly/3cWJ7I5

*Funding a more sustainable environment/world https://lnkd.in/dagpAHa

*The fragile earth: Writing from The New Yorker on - Book by Remick, David, Finder & Henry https://bit.ly/3jzuDKg

*Tropical rain-forests may begin pumping out carbon dioxide by 2050 newscientist.com

*African cities must prepare for climate migration issafrica.org

*Implanting beef cattle embryos into dairy cows makes them more lucrative newscientist.com

*How should the media talk about climate change? newyorker.com

*Games to address climate change challenges https://lnkd.in/g7xw4YG

*Why 'Monocultures' (in agriculture) are not as bad as you think newscientist.com

*Nonoclay: The liquid turning desert to farmland https://www.bbc.com/future/bespoke/follow-the-food/the-spray-that-turns-deserts-into-farmland.html
*Between 'Blade Runner' & Utopia: Where we're headed 50 years after the first Earth Day edition.cnn.com/2020/04/21/opinions/earth-day-pollution-fossil-fuels-sutter/index.html
*Earth Day: Women's empowerment is key to reducing climate change earthday.org/womens-empowerment-key-to-reducing-climate-change/
*7 pillars of agribusiness development in Africa unido.org/resources/publications/creating-shared-prosperity/agribusiness-and-rural-entrepreneurship/agribusiness-africa.../

*Australia: Study finds 14 million metric tons of microplastics on the seafloor edition.ccn.com

*How did we get here? A history of climate negotiations libsyn.com

*'Zombie fires' & other strange events are happening in the Arctic bit.ly/3nmw94U #ClimateChange #WeirdWeather

*Climate Change doesn't have to stoke conflict foreignaffairs.com

*Hydroponics: Are indoor vertical farms the future of agriculture? ted.com/talks/stuart_oda_are_indoor_vertical_farms_future_agriculture/

*From Farmcrowdy to ThriveAgric, here are 6 agriculture investment platforms for you - Farmcrowdy/ThriveAgric/EZ Farming/FarmKart/FarmFunded/ChubiAgro technext.ng/2020/03/04/from-farmcrowdy-to-thrive-agric-here-are-6-agric-investment-platforms/
*Climate change has already made parts of the world too hot for humans newscientist,com/article/2242855-climate-change-makes-heat-too-hot-for-humans/

*Melting Antarctic ice will raise sea level by 2.5m - even if Paris climate goals are met - Study https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/sept/23/melting-antarctic-ice-will-raise-sea-level.../

*Afforestation & Reforestation https://carbonremoval.economist.com/afforestation-reforestation/
*Killer heat and humidity combination not experienced before is becoming more common edition.cnn.com/2020/05/08/weather/killer-heat-climate-change-study/
*Billions of people could live in areas too hot for humans by 2070 edition.cnn.com/2020/05/05/world/global-warming-climate-niche-temperaturs-intl-hnk/index.html
*Newly discovered species found deep in the ocean contains micro-plastic newscientist.com/article/mg24532750-200-newly...

*Asian rivers are turning black. And our colourful closets are to blame cnn.com
*Feeding 398million people in Africa's largest economy by 2050 pwc.com/ng/en/publications/feeding-africas-large-population-by-2050/

*Making conservation profitable for small scale farmers wrld.log/pOdj50Beik9 #ClimateActionWBG
*Covid-19 & food in Africa: Food is power africasacountry.com/2020/04/food-is-power/
*The Central Sahel: Scene of new climate wars? https://bit.ly/africab154
*Heat-trapping gases broke records in 2018 - Climate report www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/aug/12/climate-crisis-heat-trapping-gases-broke-records-2018-report
*Canary Island engulfed by Saharan sandstorm bbc.com/news/world-europe-51608779.../
*Cities are using wall of moss to tackle air pollution from traffic newscientist.com/article/2213755-cities-are-using-walls-of-moss-to-tackle-air-pollution-from-traffic/
*Adding mew winglets to its planes will enable Virgin Australia reduce CO2 emissions by 515 tonnes per aircraft per year. That's equivalent to planting 7,725 trees virg.in/w9g
*The UN and climate related security risk https://t.co/xfdC6hfaF6
*First all-ages Global Climate Strike in Abuja https://act.350.org/event/globalclimatestrike/18043/
*Why ignoring Africa's climate change problem could have devastating effects https://time.com/5669059/africa-climate-justice/
*The past, present & future of climate change: Replacing the fossil-fuel technology which is reshaping the climate remains a massive task https://t.co/90qqBDWzIB
*Turkish scientist gets 15-month sentence for publishing environmental study https://www.sciencemap.org/news/2019/09/turkish-scientist-gets-15-month-sentence-publishing-environmental-study
*Trendy, long-burning stoves pose a great threat to their owners newscientist.com/article/2119595-wood-burners-london-air-pollution.../
*Global warming is changing the sex ratio of many animals, including humans newscientist.com/article/mg24532700-800-why-climate-change-is-creating-more-female-sea-turtles-and-crocodiles/
*Natural disasters and human rights https://rightforeducatin.org/2020/02/natural-disasters-and-human-rights
*Why carrying your own fork and spoon helps solve the plastic crisis https://www.natonalgeographic.com/environment/2019/06/carrying-your-own-fork-and-spoon.../
*A floating device created to clean up plastic from the ocean is finally doing its job dition.cnn.com/2019/10/02/tech/ocean-cleanup-catching-plastic-scn-trnd/
*Nigeria must lead in climate change https://t.co/OZQ2IUnVtQ
*Climate crisis: 11,000 scientists warn of untold suffering https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/nov/05/climate-crisis-11000-scientists-warn-of-untold-suffering/
*Gaming in the US emits as much carbon dioxide as all of Sri Lanka newscientist.com/article/2223136-gaming
*The North Pole is moving, and if it flips, life on earth is in trouble newscientist.com/article/mg24232360-700-the-north-pole-is-moving.../
*Italy to become 1st country to make learning about climate change compulsory for students in schools edition.cnn.com/2019/11/06/europe.cnn.com/2019/11/06/europe/italy-climate-change-school-intl-scli-scn/
*Aviation Chief criticises Greta Thunberg & 'flight shaming movement' newscientist.com/article/2227664-aviation-chief-crticises-greta-thunberg.../
*The implications of climate change for conflict dynamics https://lnkd.in/dcHFqJC
*6 must-reads on climate change knopfdoubleday.com/2020/01/07/must-reads-on-climate-change/
*Water wars: Early warning tool uses climate data to predict conflict hot spots theguardian.com
*Oceans are warming at the same rate as if 5 Hiroshima bombs were dropped in every second! edition.cnn.com/2020/01/13/world/climate-change-ocean-heat.intl/
*We have 10 years to save Earth's biodiversity, UN warns edition.cnn.com/2020/01/14/world/un-biodiversity-draft-plan-intl-hnk-scli-scl/
*Planting a trillion trees can really help us fight climate change newscientist.com/article/mg24532640-800-planting-trillion-trees-fight-climate-change/
*6 must-reads on climate change knopfdoubleday.com/2020/01/07/must-reads-on-climate-change/
*: World's largest waterfallis running out of water and might disappear indiatimes.com/trending/environment/worlds-largest-victoria-falls-running-out-of-water-devastating-drought.../
*Microsoft says it will cut emissions to be carbon negative by year 2030 newscientist.com/article/2230504-microsoft-to-cut-emissions-to-be-carbon-negative-by-year-2030/
*Net zero goals are galvanising action on climate change at last newscientist.com/article/mg24532682-900-net-zero-goals-are-galvanising-action-on-climate-change-at-last/
*The ozone layer is healing and re-directing wind flows around the globe newscientist.com/article/2238542-the-ozone-layer-healing-redirecting-wind-flows-around-globe/
*My generation is fighting to keep Africa green https://africasacountry.com/2020/03/my-generation.../
*Warming oceans are causing marine life to shift towards the poles newscientist.com/article/2238538-warming-oceans-causing.../
*Between 'Blade Runner'& Utopia: Where we are headed 50 years after the 1st Earth Day edition.cnn.com/2020/04/21/opinions/earth-day-pollution-fossil-fuels-sutter/index.html
*Earth Day: Women's empowerment is key to reducing climate change earthday.org/womens-empowerment-key-to-reducing-climate-change/
*Can higher carbon dioxide levels boost plant life enough to dent global warming? newscientist.com/article/mg24632820-700-can-higher-carbon-dioxide-levels-boost-plant-life/
*Algae now growing on melting Antarctic snow due to climate change newscientist.com/article/2243918-algae-now-growing-on-melting-antarctic-snow-due-to-climate-change/
*How CoV shows us we can beat global warming newscientist.com/article.mg24632842-700-climate-chief-how-cov-shows-us-we-can-beat-global-warming/

*We need action, not hope, on fighting climate change - Greta Thunberg https://lnkd.in/gdrCVBj

*We can 'change' climate change https://lnkd.in/dUWzY46

*Covid-19 & climate change make international cooperation more important than ever bit.ly/2YHXqA

*What happens if you cut down all the city's trees? t.ted.com/jRot5m

*Prince William: We need an 'Earth-shot' to save our planet from irreversible climate change http://t.ted.com/wpYHpM5

*The end of the oil era: How will the energy transition transform geopolitics? bbc.co.uk

*Exploring sustainable development in hot and arid climates https://www.timeshighereducation.com/hub/qatar-university/p/exploring-sustainable-development-in-hot-arid-climates/

*Carbon Mineralisation: Accelerating reactions that permanently store removed CO2 as rocks https://carbonremoval.economist.com/carbon-mineralisation/

*Food crimes: Why the WFP does not deserve the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize https;//africasacountry.com/2020/10/food-crimes.../

*The world is woefully unprepared for climate-driven natural disasters worldpoliticsreview.com

*'My plan for Climate Change' - https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/my-plan-climate-change/

*'Sleeping giant': Arctic methane deposits starting to release - Scientists https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/october/27/sleeping-giant...//2020/10...

*AI reveals that there are 1.8 billion trees in the Sahara Desert weforum.org/agenda/2020/10/ai-billion-trees-sahara-desert-technology.../

*Agribusiness trends & opportunities in Nigeria: Demographics during food demand https://www.howwemadeitinafrica.com/agribusiness-trends-opportunities/

*Climate change is the defining crisis of our time which particularly impacts refugees and IDPs unhcr.org

*How the US can lead the world on climate change innovation https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/heres-how-to...bill-gates/

*Planting trees can be the tool to fight climate change, if we do it right bit.ly/39MspVK

*Global heating is compounding threats for people already living with conflict and insecurity bit.ly/39OffL

*Plants are soaking up far less extra CO2 than we thought they would newscientist.com

*Universities essential to climate action universityworldnews.com

*Mitigating the impact of extreme climate change events universityworldnews.com

*Ancient humans might have hibernated to survive brutal glacial winters newscientist.com

*US: 2020 state of the student: Covid-19& food insecurity https://www.chegg.org/coid-19-food-insecurity-2020/

*Hindsight 2020: 20 stories that shaped food & agriculture worldbank.org wrld.bg/LCsE50CJsio

*World Bank Group announcements to support countries to take climate action https://wrld.bg/qgFo50CIVIE #ClimateActionWBG

*'When the flood came, it destroyed everything I had' https://lnkd.in/dGFEXg5 #oil #climate #environment #humanrights #oil&gas

*Record heat breaks Middle East as temperatures top 125 degrees Fahrenheit washingtonpost.com

*Manual for Climate Change Adaptation - Nigeria Erosion & Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) guardian.com

*Advancing research in climate change: World Bank grants $60m to help Africa worldbank.org

*Wanted: A sound global environmental policy econ.st/3mnOVa4

*Climate change: Recognising the impact on West Africa https://cddelibrary.org/.../climcte-change-impact-on-west-africa/

*4 ways the US can re-assert leadership on climate change https://www.gatesnotes.com/energy/4-ways-us-reassert-leadership-climate-change/

*Biden orders US to re-join Paris Climate Accord - WHO https://www.voanews.com/usa/us-politics/biden-orders-us-back-to-paris-accord/

*Biodiversity report urges nations to consider nature as economic asset newscientist.com

*Make peace with nature: Restoring the ocean's ability to nurture humanity & regulate the climate is a defining challenge - UN Chief @ Ocean Decade launch news.un.org

*IOM & UNHCR call on states to strengthen the protection and assistance for people displaced on the front-lines of climate emergency bit.ly/3oGBVOA

*The 6-sector solution to climate change unep.org

*Blueprint for a climate breakthrough https://fortune.com/packages/blueprint-for-climate-change/

*How to avoid a climate disaster by Bill Gates gatesnot.es/377JOBa

*Aircraft controls are a climate menace. Can we rid the sky of them? newscientist.com

*Covid-19 paused climate emissions - but they are rising again bbc.co.uk

*Climate action un.org

*Ocean benefits increasingly undermined by human activity new.un.org

*How can businesses survive climate change? youtube.com

*Victory against Shell: Judge forces polluter to cut its CO2 emissions actionaid.org

Saturday, 6 October 2018

INEC's ROLE IN ENHANCING WOMEN'S PARTICIPATION IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS

Between the 26th and 27th of September, 2018, the coalition of women politicians, scholars and activists was born at the conference convened by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on its role in enhancing women's participation in the electoral process. The conference was supported by the . Some papers were presented:

*INEC's role in women's participation in the electoral process.
*Theoretical and practical perspectives of women's role in the electoral process.
*Enhancing opportunities for women and PWDs in Political Parties.
*The role of civil society and the media in enhancing women's participation in politics.
*Emerging trends in women's participation in politics.
*Comparative analysis of women's participation with other countries.
*Strengthening synergy among politicians, scholars and activists on enhancing women's participation in the electoral process: A programme of action.
*Prospects and challenges of young female entrants and PWDs in the electoral process.

Some of the participants are:

* - Chairman, Senate Committee on INEC
* - Chair, House Committee on Electoral & Political Party Affairs
* - UN Women Country Representative for Nigeria & ECOWAS
* -
* - Country Director,
* - Director, International Programmes & Professor of Psychology, UI
* - Independent Consultant/Conflict Transformation Expert, Abuja
* - National Commissioner, INEC
* - Attorney-General & Commissioner for Justice, Edo State
* - Snr.
* - National Commissioner, INEC
* - President, Women In Politics Forum (WIPF)
* - Senior Research Fellow, Nigeria Defense College (NDC), Abuja
* -
* - Senior Fellow, Centre for Democracy & Development (CDD)
* - Executive Director,
* - National Commissioner, INEC
* - Department of Political Science, UI
* - National Chairman, Young Democratic Party (YDP)
* - YIAGA
* - REC, INEC, Zamfara State
* - Professor of French & Applied Linguistics/Former Presidential Candidate, KOWA Party
* - President, JONAPWD
* - Young female politician

Some of the observations & recommendations are:

1) A coalition of politicians, scholars and activists with the aim of enhancing women's participation in politics should be formed.
2) More policy makers should be invited to subsequent meetings.
3) The 4 Ps that keep women down are: Politics, Patriarchy, Power & Poverty.
4) There should be gender-sensitive election reporting. Female politicians should be adequately reported in both the traditional and social media. Note the 'Code of Conduct for the Media in Elections' - Sec 1: Equitable access to the media; Sec 21.5: No hate speech & adherence to professionalism.
5) There should be safe spaces for women in politics, some form of quota system because the playing field is not level and is skewed against women.
6) Vulnerable sub-populations like women, PWDs, the aged, etc should be included in the electoral process. Impairment is not equivalent to disability. Disability is a societal construct. See UN Convention (Art 29) on the rights of PWDs. Only 2% of PWDs have formal education.
7) Young women in politics should be encouraged. The role mentoring plays is key.
8) More male champions are needed: 'He for She'.
9) Gender stereotypes should be eliminated from curricula.
10) INEC's Gender Desk should continually monitor the civic space for women's participaton in politics.

The proposed action plan entails the definite steps to be taken to actualise the above aims of the new coalition...

Related Links

*Credible elections: INEC's proposed reforms & attendant challenges https://tribuneonlineng.com/credible-elections-inecs-proposed-reforms-challenges/

*INEC spends N444.5b on 3 national elections with 35% turn-out https://www.thisdaylive.com/.../inec-spends-n444b-3-elections.../

*'Consider underage married girls (below 18 years) as voters', NASS tells INEC https://punchng.com/consider-underage-married-girls-as-voters-nass-tells-inec/

*Leveraging technology for the efficiency of Nigeria's electoral system opinion.premiumtimesng.com/2021/01/11/leveraging-technology-nigerias-electoral-system/

*Elections & instability in Africa https://issafrica.org/iss-today/elections-and-nstability-africa/

*INEC & creation of new polling booths by Jibrin Ibrahim newsdiaryonline.com

*Wanted: Credible election system for Nigeria thenationng.net

*20 proposals to resolve electoral conflicts & strengthen democracy by Ken Cloke https://lnkd.in/dj-DQJM

*Personal data & the influence industry in Nigeria's elections: Data-driven campaigning by formal& informal actors https://cutt.ly/ilZlbTD https://cddwestafrica.org/personal-data-data-driven-campaigns/

*Judgments & jurisprudence: Presiding over Presidential petitions in Africa cddwestafrica.org

*Insecurity & Covid-19: Threats to electoral democracy in Africa cddwestafrica.org

*Preventing bloody ballots nextierspd.com

*The salience of de-politicising EMBs in electoral democracies yiaga.org