The Women’s Rights and Health Project (WRAHP) recently conducted a three-day inception and annual planning meeting for Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) in Lagos State aimed at strengthening grassroots advocacy for women’s rights, leadership and social justice.
The programme, supported by ActionAid Nigeria through Global Affairs Canada’s Renewed Women’s Voice and Leadership Nigeria (RWVL-N) Project, brought together representatives of five community-based organisations from across Lagos State at the Ireti Resource Centre, Ikotun.
Speaking at the opening of the meeting, organisers said the initiative was designed to enhance collaboration among partner organisations, improve programme delivery and align strategies for advancing the rights of women and girls at the community level.
A total of 18 participants, including Executive Directors, Finance Officers and Programme Officers from the participating organisations, are taking part in the training and planning sessions.
The three-day programme focuses on onboarding and capacity-building activities, including an overview of the RWVL-N Project, presentation of organisational assessment findings, feminist leadership, human rights-based approaches, community engagement strategies, project management, and effective reporting and documentation systems.
Facilitators at the meeting stressed the need for women-led organisations to build resilient and values-driven institutions capable of sustaining long-term impact in underserved and marginalised communities.
According to the organisers, the sessions are expected to equip participants with practical tools for implementing community-based interventions while strengthening accountability, transparency and sustainability in programme execution.
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The Renewed Women’s Voice and Leadership Nigeria Project is a successor to the Women Voice and Leadership Project implemented between 2019 and 2024. The initiative seeks to deepen support for women-led and women-focused organisations working to promote gender equality, inclusive leadership and the protection of women’s rights across Nigeria.
Executive Director of WRAHP, Bose Ironsi, said empowering community-based organisations remains critical to advancing the rights of women and girls and ensuring that grassroots voices are represented in decision-making processes.
She noted that strengthening local organisations would enhance their capacity to drive transformative change, advocate for social justice and promote inclusive development within their communities.
Founded as a non-governmental organisation dedicated to advancing women’s rights and improving health outcomes, WRAHP has continued to champion advocacy, capacity building and community engagement initiatives aimed at promoting gender equality and social justice across Nigeria.
Stakeholders at the meeting expressed optimism that the training would further strengthen partnerships among participating organisations and enhance their ability to deliver impactful interventions that improve the lives of women and girls in Lagos State and beyond.