ANNUAL REPORT OF HOPE INTERACTIVE 2018-2019

SUMMARY/CONTENT

• Executive Director’s message
• Project sites
• Description of organization
• Activities
• Strategies used
• Projects Realized in the Scope of Programmes, 2018/19
• Outcomes/Impact
• LIVIA International Peace Award
• Financial Statement/ Performance/Assets
• Challenges and Lessons Learned
• Acknowledging our Institutional/technical/implementation partners

Executive Director’s Message

It is an honor to present to you Hope Interactive’s 2018-2019 annual report which puts our selfless work on the spotlight; accomplished through a team of dedicated, resilient and buoyant staff who against all odds travelled through difficult terrains and insecure roads to implement activities. Hope Interactive (HI) works in Yobe state, northeastern Nigeria, a region plagued by sectarian violence of Boko-haram, farmer-herder conflicts, electoral violence, gender-based violence, abductions/kidnappings, marginalization and ethnic divide. Socio-economic activities, traditional values, communal cohesion and trust have deteriorated over the years. HI works in communities carefully guided by “Do No Harm” principle; conflict and cultural sensitivities to conduct research and implement projects in seven local government areas in Yobe state (Geidam, Damaturu, Yunusari, Fune, Nguru, Gashua and Gujba). April 2018-April 2019 fiscal year was clustered with programs and projects ranging from peace building, countering violent extremism (CVE), Water sanitation and hygiene (WASH), health, orphans and vulnerable children programming (OVC), Youth empowerment and other community development projects.

HI was nominated for an international peace award in 2019; following an assessment by experts from across the Globe, HI was invited to Denmark by Livia Foundation to receive an International Peace Award alongside four other organizations from other parts of the world. This award was dedicated to the youth peace platform members in Yobe, Borno and Plateau states and staff of HI. Hope Interactive has worked with traditional leaders, religious leaders, gate keepers, duty bearers, government agencies at the local, state and federal levels to conduct research, dialogues, advocacies, mediations, symposiums/colloquiums, policy events, validation and consultative workshops, outreaches, street walks/sensitization, campaigns, youth networking, call-in radio programs, TV talk shows, mentoring, capacity building on life skills; through which we have reached out to over 50,000 citizens ranging from young people (male and female), men and women.

In 2018-2019 before the general election, the political arena was greatly polarized; a time that HI initiated robustly the “Ballots not Bullets Campaign” and “Ballots not Silence Campaign” in Damaturu, Potiskum and Nguru, which brought tranquility to polarized communities. HI has been able to accomplished this much because of the generous support of our donors and implementing partners (especially the WAP-team, Conciliation Resources). We remain resolutely committed to end thirst and hunger, to conquer poverty and disease, to banish illiteracy and massive human misery, build peace and ultimately provide humanity with the right to life with dignity.

Thank you.

Mshelia Birma

(Executive Director, Northeastern Nigeria)

DESCRIPTION OF THE ORGANIZATION

1.1     About Hope Interactive (HI)

Founded in 2001, Hope Interactive is a Non-Governmental Organization established basically to combat abject poverty by promoting an environment for sustainable human development. It is popularly known with the acronym (HI) and primarily focuses in various life changing programmes for poor neighborhoods wherever there is a need.

1.2       Our Work

We work to end extreme poverty and enable resilient, democratic societies to realize their potential through promoting quality of life of young men, women and other vulnerable groups at the community level.

1.3       Partnerships

Partnership is paramount in achieving progress to human and infrastructure development. Hope Interactive over the years have successfully implemented many programme with I/NGOs and agencies such as CR, SIDA, HD/BIT/ETH Zurich, NED, ACOMIN/CRS, BC, NERI, DFID.

1.4       Our Vision

Our vision amongst others is to promote a healthy, fair and sustainable future for all the people of Nigeria by alleviating poverty and improving the quality of life through capacity building in various spheres of human development.

1.5       Mission Statement

Hope Interactive is committed to the promotion of innovative approach to positive human development, and behavior pattern through interaction and exchange of values and ideas.

1.6       Objectives

• To raise the profile of faith based organizations, community based organization, and local NGO’s to be efficient in grass root education, networking capabilities and building reliable partnership.
• To conduct research and advocacy on the political, economic, social and cultural issues that relate to human development.
• To provide a forum where by community leaders, citizens, politicians and other groups from any part of the world to work together by exchanging ideas, training and interdisciplinary experts meetings on specific themes.
• To provide for the exchange of learning experience and idea in development between the public, private and local sectors, through workshops and seminars

1.7       Our Activities 

• Women and youth empowerment
• Management capacity building
• Countering violence and extremism
• Peacebuilding and mediation
• Integrated youth vocational skill development
• Agricultural and rural development
• Training and capacity building in conflict management
• Educational development
• Conservation of environment
• Designing and improving local health services delivery system

1.8       Strategies used

• Advocacy
• Media
• Capacity building
• BCC/IEC
• Community Mobilization
• Economic Empowerment
• Collaboration and Partnership
• Facility and Community Systems Strengthening
• Impact Assessment
• Research and Publications

This creates an avenue to work at grassroots with local communities with a view to help them identify their own needs. The idea also encourages local ownership of projects, mobilize the populace for implementation of projects, raise profiles of community based organizations, and other local NGO’s.

• Our contacts

2.1 North-east Zonal Coordinator [MSHELIA W. BIRMA]

Yobe Office: No. 3, Malari bye-pass, behind ECWA Good news church, Damaturu, Yobe State, Nigeria

Phone no.: +234-8060875584          Email:msheliawayutabirma34@gmail.com

2.2 North West Zonal Coordinator [DANLADI AMA BARKA]

Kaduna Office: No.5, Hanwa new extension, off Zaria-Kaduna express road, Zaria, Kaduna State Nigeria

Phone no. : +234-8036126611                 Email: amayankur@yahoo.com

3.0      Projects Realized in the Scope of Programmes, 2018/19

3.1    NED/CR: Ra’ayin Mata: The voice of women in Northeast Nigeria (January 2019)

Whilst everyone’s life in northeast Nigeria has been affected by the widespread violence for the past ten years, people’s experiences have varied across all aspects of an individual’s social identity (ethnicity, religion, socio-economic status, age, (dis)ability, sexual orientation or gender). However, experiences of the conflict have particularly differed along gendered lines.

The marginalization of women therefore, makes them vulnerable to being drawn into the violence as it can be viewed as an opportunity to advance their freedoms and reduce their family’s hardship. Many women have legitimate grievances, and without access to productive and peaceful forums to raise and resolve their concerns, violent pathways can seem like an attractive, if not the only, means to demand change.  Furthermore, the growing mistrust and suspicion of women as potential sources of insecurity only serves to further ostracize them making them even more vulnerable to being mobilized to undertake violence.

Project Objectives

• Traditional and state power holders (usually elite male) are more receptive to incorporating the concerns and needs of women in the design and implementation of their intervention strategies increasing the prospect of more effective and appropriate security responses at the community, LGA and state level.
• Women in vulnerable communities are empowered with the confidence, skills and opportunities to articulate their experiences, concerns and needs; and use these as a basis to engage with community leaders, religious leaders and security actors for change.

3.2    Peace Research Partnership (PRP): Through our eyes: People’s perspectives on building peace in northeast Nigeria (January 2019)

The purpose of this grant is to build on Year one research output (Through our eyes: People’s perspectives on building peace in northeast Nigeria) and to provide policymakers with insights as to how responses to an armed insurgency can be made more inclusive of local stakeholders and responsive to their priorities, approaches and needs. The project did this through gathering local perspectives from target communities and stakeholders in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states on local, national and international responses to the Boko Haram insurgency and by identifying possible mechanisms that increase the prospects for a non-securitised resolution to the insurgency, whether it be dialogue, mediation, amnesty programmes or community reintegration. The project also Identified under what circumstances local people in a context affected by “violent extremism” would be willing to engage in community-based justice, reintegration and reconciliation processes involving people associated with non-state armed groups – whether state allied community militias or Boko Haram, a proscribed terrorist organisation. PRP was successfully implemented followed by a validation workshop.

3.2   Building the capacity of youth to prevent and respond positively to violence: Peace by the people: Formation of YPP (April 2018)

Peace by the People: strengthening the capacity of youth to prevent and respond to violent conflict in northeast Nigeria.

OBJECTIVES

• Creation of a youth network committed to pursuing non-violent alternatives
• Family, community leaders, local government, security officials and young people have the space to engage constructively on the challenges they face.
• Civil society has the capacity and resources to i) accompany youth and the community ii) engage proactively with duty bearers.

In Yobe State, youth are identified as the premise for lasting peace and subsequent sustainability of tranquility in our society. This is because they are the ones who will transform their communities into a more secure and productive neighborhood. To these courses, Hope Interactive with support from Conciliation Resources is implementing a project “peace by the people” to strengthen the capacity of youth to prevent and respond to violent conflict in four communities of Yobe state. The Local government areas and communities that the project is being implemented are:

• Damaturu: Nayinawa and Pompomari.
• Potiskum: Dogon-Nini and Hausawa-Asibiti.

In concrete terms, the project activity entails the creation of a youth network that will be committed to pursuing non-violent alternative by the formation of a Youth Peace Platform (YPP) in each of the four communities.

3.4     MCN Programme/British Council Nigeria: Managing conflict in northeast Nigeria: Formation of a youth network (Youth Peace Platform) in Potiskum, Yobe state Nigeria (April 2019).

PROJECT AIM

The aim of the project is to engage youth actors to be positive agents for change in various communities capable of using Dialogue and Mediation skills to address emerging conflicts, build relationships across conflict divides and advocate to local and state duty bearers to adopt policies more considerate of the needs and concerns of the local population.

Objectives

• The project will empower about 100 youths in Fune (50) and Potiskum (50) particularly youths at risk of being drawn into violence so that they can play a central role in implementing and shaping solutions, to the different levels of conflicts faced in the community.
• Provide opportunities and socio-economic development for youths who are isolated or marginalized from societies, to avoid the likelihood of been influenced by a negative external force (militant groups, extremist, religious leaders, drugs).
• Empower the youths through training, mentoring and accompaniment which will help youths develop the capacity and confidence to analyze conflict, articulate their needs, facilitate dialogue, and engage local duty bears for a response that is more sensitive to community needs.
• Build on the gains made in peace building in Yobe state through stabilizing and supporting youths to become productive members of the society using a multipronged approach. So that this generation of youths will have the capacity to usher in sustainable/durable peace in their communities.

The Local government areas and communities that the project is being implemented are: Potiskum and Fune.

3.5  CR/HD/ BIT/ETH Zurich: Smart Peace Project: Improving relationships between communities and persons associated with Boko-haram and militias, and among militia groups in, Yobe state, Northeastern Nigeria.

The ongoing Boko Haram insurgency in North-East Nigeria has fueled and exacerbated deep inter- and intra-community tensions. In a region already beset by extreme poverty and insecurity, national and local responses to the conflict including the issue of re-integrating former combatants and those associated with Boko Haram has generated widespread mistrust and fear amongst the various stakeholders.

AIM

This project aims to build the capacity of people and communities affected by, or at risk of violent conflict to better support and manage change peacefully.

OBJECTIVES

• To improve relationships between communities and ex-combatants / militias and those associated with armed groups, and among militia groups.
• To improve collaboration and communication between different levels of government, and between government, militias and communities.

The Local Government areas and communities that this project is being implemented are:

• Fune: Dogon Kuka and Daura
• Geidam: Anguwar Kwari and Kasuwan Shanu
• Damaturu: Ajari and Pompomari
• Potiskum: Sabon Tasha (Afghanistan)
• Gujba: Kasachia and Railway

About the implementing organizations: Hope Interactive (HI) and Conciliation Resources (CR):

Hope Interactive (HI) is a Non-Governmental Organization registered with the Cooperate Affairs Commission (CAC) in Nigeria since 2004 with the sole aim of promoting a healthy, fair and sustainable future for all the people of Nigeria by eradicating poverty and improving the quality of life through capacity building in various spheres of human development.

Conciliation Resources (CR) is an independent registered UK Charity Peace Building Organization working with people in conflict to prevent violence and promote peace by empowering and building the capacity of marginalized groups, including youth, women and providing advice, support and practical resources to help communities resolve differences and working together to end conflicts.

3.6   Google digital skills for Africa workshop for 2000 youths in Yobe state (HI/Mind the gap project April 9-14^th, 2018).

This training was geared towards enhancing IT skills of youths in Yobe State. It targeted and trained about 2000 youths across Gaidam, Nguru, Gashua, Potiskum and Damaturu LGAs. The outcome of the training was that Youths are developing their communities through creating digitalized innovative solutions and are building an online presence for themselves and also use online tools to showcase their products and services thereby increasing profitability.

3.7    Building Community resilience to violent extremism in Kusur and Damakarwa wards of Geidam Local government area, Yobe state, Northeast Nigeria (NERI/Hope interactive project, 7th May to 30th June 2018).

This activity therefore seeks to sensitize 250 influential persons from some selected communities in Kusur/Damakarwa Ward of Geidam Local Government on the overtures of ISIS-WA with a view to making them understand the mission of the terror group and its attendant consequences on the communities. The communities are Kusur; Damakarwa; Gubok; Ajiwango and Alikalemeri. These communities were specifically targeted because they are located within the area where ISIS-WA is trying to exert influence and in addition, some are strategically located on the pathways of the terror group. The sensitization campaign was done through a well-structured strategic communication aimed at dissuading communities’ sympathy to ISIS-WA. Traditional and religious leaders led this discussion for community buy-in. These counter messages were disseminated during community-square meetings, interpersonal communications and focused group discussions with different social groups within the communities. IEC materials such as fliers and posters with illustrations logically depicting VEOs’ philosophies were used in the campaign to reinforce the message. However, at the end of the activities, a bag of rice was given to each of direct beneficiaries to address communities’ concerns and entry strategy.

Activity Objective(s)

• To sensitize 250 persons from five communities in Kusur/Damakarwa ward of Geidam LGA against influence of VEOs
• To promote communities’ resilience against VEO in five Communities of Kusur/Damakarwa Ward in Geidam LGA
• Disrupt Entry Points in Vulnerable Communities

With support from USAID/OTI, NERI gave Fixed Obligatory Grant to Hope Interactive (HI), a local non-governmental organization (NGO) with office in Yobe State to implement this activity. Hope Interactive (HI) is a broad based Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) that has been in existence since 2001; has implemented youth focused activities on peace building and alternatives to conflict in Yobe state and has implemented one of the learning activities (YOB060) Town hall meeting in Fune LGA and has currently rounded up YOB065 (formation of youth peace platforms in Geidam). Hope Interactive have displayed swiftness, ability to engage with various stakeholders in the state and creativity in activity implementation. HI has also implemented activities with Global Philanthropy Alliance (GPA) on Youth empowerment in sustainable Agriculture, Community sensitization on early warning monitoring, reporting and response in Pompomari ward, Damaturu. Through a FOG Grant, NERI paid for the cost of travels, hiring of facilitators and provide meeting venue, M&IE, transport allowance for participants and HI project staff and a bag of rice for each of the 250 target beneficiaries

This campaign promoted communities’ awareness on the imminent dangers of sympathizing or harboring VEOs as well as developed communities’ resilience to the influence of ISIS-WA, thereby slowing the spread of their territorial control.

3.8   Non-violent elections: Charting ways to curb electoral violence (Peace by the People project, Potiskum and Damaturu LGAs March to August  2018).

This activity focused on shaping the minds of youths and others to vote and use their vote as a tool to foster peace and social development. Output/outcome of the activity were:  Party Chairmen, EXCOs and stakeholders were enlightened on the dangers of electoral violence, which led to resolve by appending a “never again” signature on a chart. Family, community leaders, local government, security officials and young people have the space to engage constructively on the challenges they face during election.

3.9     Women Mediators across Commonwealth: Yobe Women for Peace (October 2018)

3.10   Formation of Youth Peace Platforms in Kasuwan Shanu and uguwar Kwari, Geidam LGA (NERI/HI Project January 2018-April 2018).

The project supported youths to respond to conflict in a constructive manner and created a youth network. The output/outcome of the project was that, Youths now have a platform to voice their opinions out and respond positively to conflict/violence and engage with the relevant stakeholders on emerging issues in the community

4.0    Outcomes/Impact

• Improved access to effective service delivery at local council’s level to increase job opportunities and entrepreneurial capacity for youths and women.
• Strengthened capacity of local governments and increasing transparency of local government operations, which is a key to the identification of an effective functional institution for economic growth.
• Community members are sensitized and have acquired skills on how to resist violent extremism to avoid recruitment
• Availability of an avenue for long-term policy solutions through research, joint venture and diplomatic resource initiative for peace, security and reconciliation between communities.
• Emotional and social healing; Youth now have maturity, social poise and courage to confront conflict in their communities; Youths are productive members of the society; Unity among youth groups in conflict through dialogue, Youths having a sense of responsibility and communalism; youths make resolution to stay away from substance abuse & embrace responsible citizenship; Reconciliation and dialogue between girls in conflict with their parents; CSOs now have the capacity to analyze conflict and carry out effective advocacy; promote public safety, support community as first responders.
• Establishments of Youth Peace Platforms (YPPs) in Damaturu LGA, Potiskum LGA and Geidam LGA of Yobe State.
• Formation of a network; Women for Peace (WFP) to support mothers to mentor young girls and empowering at risk girls and the community at large in Yobe State.
• Youths are developing their communities through creating digitalized innovative solutions and are building an online presence for themselves and also use online tools to showcase their products and services thereby increasing profitability.

5.0  LIVIA PEACE AWARD

For acting bravely and wisely in the painful and violent conflicts of Nigeria. For building peace and justice through courageous and nonviolent conflict transformation. For building broad-based coalitions across different communities affected by violence. Hope interactive was honored with this award for bringing the contending parties together for contact, dialogue, and mediation and taking great risks of bridging the gap, acknowledging the well thought and creative measures used by Hope Interactive to raise awareness of the possibilities of constructive conflict resolution and peacebuilding. All thanks to LIVIA Foundation.

This award is dedicated to all Hope Interactive (HI) staff, the YPP’s in Yobe, Borno, and Plateau states Nigeria and our partners Conciliation Resources (CR). Long live LIVIA foundation, long live Conciliation Resources and long live Hope Interactive. Together we stand for peace.

6.0 Financial Statement/ Performance

The year 2018 started with the recovery of the global economic recession that began towards the end of 2017. One of the organizational wide responses to the seeking of funds was the revision of 2018- 2019 plans and budgets in anticipation of reduction in both sponsorship and partnership income performance. While this affected the income performance, to this was that most donor-funded projects reduced drastically. Below is a table showing a summation of income and expenses incurred.

6.1 Income and Expenditure in the Year 2018/19

8.0       Challenges and Lessons Learned

One of the key challenges that we faced in the year 2018/19 projects implementation is the impact of the global economic crisis on the Nigerian economy which resulted in not only slow take-off of projects but a drastic reduction in the number of projects implemented. Partners’ capacity for project implementation and reporting remains a challenge. Some partners did not commence project implementation as agreed to in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) due to limited funds and late disbursement of funds. This resulted in several uncompleted activities and the eventual scaling down of plans and budgets. In some cases, startup of new donor-funded project was delayed by the donors and also resulted in late start of activities and scaling down of planned activities.

Another aspect that became a serious challenge to our organization inability to implement project activity is the issue of insecurity. The current violence taking place in the States located in the Northern part of Nigeria revolves around sectarian crises which has affected the political and socio-economic needs of some communities. The crises have cost thousands of lives and huge

displacement from homes which translate to tougher economic challenges and impeded development. Amidst this security challenge our organization still strived to create opportunities for a series of interactions between conflicting groups in the community to promote mutual understanding, trust, empathy, and resilient social ties to achieve its set objective.

Hope interactive has also learned during its work on CVE that education does not make one immune to violence and extremism, but it gives you an edge to make a choice; threading the path of peace is a difficult decision to make and education is a catalyst to such decision making.

Finally, some of the lesson learned within the period of programme implementation are; being accountable to project communities by sharing and validating research findings with project communities, promotes transparency and provide information for advocacy and change in services delivery. Strengthening synergy and deepening accountability across themes and functions in the organization will go a long way at promoting an integrated right based approach since rights are interconnected and cannot be dichotomized.

Board of Directors                                Senior Management team (SMT)

Danladi A. Barka                                                        Mshelia Birma

Dr. Philip Wayuta                                                       Danladi A. Barka

Mshelia Birma                                                             Ishaku Demba

Joy John Oyema                                                          Andrew Wayuta

Kudirat Kashim                                                          Adamu Sikwati

Ibrahim Birma

8.01         Acknowledging our Institutional/technical/implementation partners

We wish to acknowledge our partners for providing us with an all-round support, without which such projects wouldn’t have been successful.

• Conciliation Resources (CR);our strategic partner
• The Federal foreign office, Republic of Germany
• Northeast regional initiative (NERI)/Creative associates International
• USAID/Office of transition initiatives (OTI)
• National endowment for democracy (NED)
• British Council (BC)
• Catholic Relief services (CRS)
• Department for international development (DFID)
• Accountability and Advocacy project in Malaria Intervention (ACOMIN)
• SIDA