SDG Watch Africa

SDG Watch Africa is a non-governmental organization (NGO) with a mission of raising awareness for the implementation of the sustainable development goals in Nigeria and Africa at large, while ensuring youth Inclusion. 

 Our NGO focuses on equipping young Africans with the knowledge and skills necessary to actively contribute to sustainable development, raising awareness through campaigns, training programs, and mentorship initiatives.

SDG Watch Africa Youth Network: Our youth Network SDG Watch Africa Youth Network comprises of young Africans aged (18 to 35 years), united by a collective vision of propelling Africa towards the attainment of the United Nations' Agenda 2030, assuming a proactive stance, and championing the cause of successful Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) implementation across the continent. 

Through a multifaceted approach to capacity-building, this network facilitates training programs, workshops, and mentorship initiatives aimed at honing leadership capabilities among its members. These initiatives are designed to instill essential leadership qualities such as vision, communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills, empowering young Nigerians to effectively address the complex challenges facing their communities and contribute meaningfully to the broader SDG agenda.

Mission: SDG Watch Africa is committed to spearheading the effective implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Africa through a comprehensive approach combining advocacy, policy reform, and youth empowerment, we strive to bridge the implementation gap and foster a generation dedicated to sustainable development.

Vision: We envision a Nigeria and Africa where the Sustainable Development Goals are successfully implemented, leading to prosperous and sustainable communities. Thus, we are cultivating a generation of young leaders equipped with the passion, skills, and determination to drive positive change and advance the SDG agenda, ultimately leading Africa towards a future of sustainable development and prosperity.

 Objectives

 Bridge Implementation Gap:

Facilitate collaboration between government stakeholders and youths. Engage both parties to ensure effective SDG implementation. Foster cooperation towards SDG attainment.   

Foster SDG-Committed Generation: Instill responsibility and advocacy among the youth. Promote active participation in the SDG agenda. Conduct awareness campaigns and educational initiatives.

Cultivate African Leaders:
Equip young people with leadership skills and mindset. Provide training, workshops, and mentorship initiatives. Prepare youth for leadership roles in communities and beyond.          

Instill Leadership Qualities: Develop essential leadership qualities among members. Hone vision, communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills. Enable effective addressing of community challenges.

Provide Practical Leadership Development:
Offer hands-on experience through community projects. Foster a sense of ownership and responsibility. Prepare youth for visionary leadership roles.

 Promote Youth and Public Engagement: Raise awareness and create platforms for dialogue. Encourage active involvement of young Nigerians and Africans. Foster public engagement in advancing the SDGs. 

Empower African Communities:   

Advocate for SDG implementation and youth empowerment. Serve the less privileged and vulnerable communities. Address social inequalities and contribute to sustainable development.

As the Team Lead I assume a central role in orchestrating our endeavors, offering guidance and direction crucial to our collective success.

 As a female leader, I try to foster an inclusive and empowering work environment. I coordinate the team's activities, ensuring cohesion and synergy among members while nurturing individual growth and development. With a keen focus on communication and collaboration, I bridge gaps between stakeholders, facilitating meaningful partnerships and alliances.

 My leadership is instrumental in steering our strategic initiatives, ensuring they remain aligned with our organizational vision and values. I adeptly navigate challenges, leveraging my problem-solving skills to propel our projects forward. Through my leadership skills I try my best to empower my team to make meaningful contributions to sustainable development and youth engagement in Nigeria.

Ways We will effectively support the LEAP Project, given other priorities within our organization: 

1. Time Management: We will prioritize tasks effectively, allocating dedicated time slots each week specifically for LEAP Project-related activities. By proactively managing our schedules, we will ensure that sufficient time is allocated to meet project deadlines and deliverables without compromising on other organizational commitments.

2. Delegation and Empowerment: As the Team Lead I would delegate tasks to team members based on their strengths and expertise, fostering a sense of accountability and ownership among my team members.

3. Clear Communication: Open and transparent communication channels will be maintained throughout the project, enabling everyone to stay informed about project progress, challenges, and adjustments in priorities. With Regular check-ins, progress updates, and feedback sessions to ensure that everyone is aligned and working towards common goals.

4. Flexibility and Adaptability: Recognizing that priorities may shift or unforeseen challenges may arise, our entire team will remain flexible and adaptable in our approach. Always prepared to reallocate resources, adjust timelines, or pivot strategies as needed to address emerging needs or capitalize on opportunities, while still ensuring complete progress on the LEAP Project.

Our project is centered on doorstep pickup service of donated new or fairly used school/learning materials for less privileged children.

 Our project seeks to address the perpetual lack of access to educational/learning resources amongst less privileged children in rural nursery and primary schools and in IDP Camps (internally displaced persons) located in FCT Abuja. 

It is a sad reality that many children today in rural communities still go to school on a daily basis without the most essential or basic school supplies such as notebooks, pencils, school bags, school shoes, textbooks etc. And even the schools themselves in turn lack most basic educational resources needed to give children a quality education. This lack of access hinders the children’s ability to engage effectively in learning activities and hampers their academic progress. 

Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps also often lack the necessary resources to provide quality education. Due to the fact that most schools established in the IDP camp are organized by the IDPs themselves, so they lack most basic supplies needed for a quality education.

A major cause of this problem is financial constraints as the majority of parents in rural communities and IDP camps struggle to make ends meet, often living below the poverty line. As a result, they are unable to afford school materials for their children. Despite their best efforts, they simply do not have the financial means to provide their children with the necessary resources to support their education.

Another reason why this problem has persisted is due to limited awareness and advocacy. There is often limited awareness and advocacy surrounding the importance of educational equality and the challenges faced by less privileged children in accessing quality education. As a result, there is a lack of concerted efforts to address these issues at both the community and policy levels, perpetuating the cycle of educational inequality.

  This project is done in partnership with the Universal Basic Education Board F.C.T Abuja. 

 During an interview conducted by our team in a local nursery and primary school a teacher shared that it is very common for students to come to school on a daily basis without basic writing materials, from notebooks to pencils and other essentials. When asked how such situations are typically addressed, he explained that they often resort to tearing out sheets of paper for the students to use as makeshift writing surfaces for the day. While there are occasionally a few pencils available for student use, the scarcity of these basic learning materials remains a stark reality. This insufficiency extends beyond writing materials to encompass essential school attire like shoes or sandals, school bags, and lunchboxes. 

The situation of the underprivileged is a glaring contrast to the rest of the society where affluent families often have school supplies for their children in surplus and spilling out of their basements, both new and fairly used. 

Recognizing the urgency of this issue, our NGO concluded that adhering to conventional approaches, such as the sporadic donation of learning items to these schools, would not suffice. Rather than waiting indefinitely for government intervention, we opted for a novel strategy: opening the windows of donation to the wider public and making it a collective responsibility. Thus, we took our campaign to the streets to raise awareness. Anyone and everyone can donate learning materials.

Donations are done simply by scheduling an appointment with us through our various channels: WhatsApp, a phone call or text message and a convenient doorstep pickup service would be rendered by our dispatch riders. Our organization also contribute our quota of donation from inhouse pocket and donated items are distributed to beneficiaries on a monthly basis. 

One of the long-term goals of this project is construction of children libraries in each school or community.  

Traditionally, the broader community tends to defer such matters to governmental or NGO initiatives. However, with our project, we are actively engaging with the public, transcending barriers and bringing attention to the plight of underprivileged schoolchildren.

We aim to dispel the notion that assisting the less fortunate must be a daunting task. Even small contributions, such as a pack of pencils or a set of notebooks, can make a significant impact. Moreover, individuals need not even leave their homes; they simply schedule a pickup at their convenience, and we will gratefully collect their donations. Whether new or gently used, all donated items are welcome. Used items undergo refurbishment to ensure they meet the necessary standards.

The range of donatable items includes school shoes, notebooks, textbooks, coloring books, crayons, pencils, school bags, children's learning tablets, educational toys, and more.

The response thus far has been overwhelmingly positive, with many individuals and families eager to contribute. Notably, several donations have originated from schools in affluent areas, as they understand firsthand the profound impact that a lack of adequate learning materials can have on a child's education.

Our organization has employed a variety of research methodologies to assess the efficacy of our solution in addressing the needs of underprivileged schoolchildren. These include interviews with school authorities, teachers, and grateful parents, as well as ongoing monitoring and evaluation efforts.

One of the primary forms of research we have conducted is through interviews with school authorities and teachers in the target schools as well as the students themselves. These interviews have provided valuable insights into the key areas where our intervention has made the most significant impact.

Additionally, we have engaged in conversations with parents of the students who are benefiting from our aid. These discussions have allowed us to understand the direct impact of our intervention on the lives of these families. Through their feedback and expressions of gratitude, we have gained valuable insights into the tangible benefits our solution is providing.

Moreover, we have also implemented a system of ongoing monitoring and evaluation to track the progress and outcomes of our intervention. This includes regular check-ins with schools and communities to assess the availability and utilization of donated materials, as well as measures of academic performance and student well-being. By systematically collecting data on these indicators, we can continuously refine and improve our approach to better meet the needs of the children we serve.

One notable outcome of our intervention has been the improvement in student performance as a result of addressing the lack of essential learning materials. Teachers have reported that students who previously struggled due to a lack of resources are now able to fully engage in their studies and demonstrate improved academic outcomes. This firsthand testimony from educators serves as compelling evidence of the effectiveness of our solution in enhancing educational opportunities for underprivileged children.

Overall, our evidence base draws from a combination of formative research methods, including interviews with stakeholders, ongoing monitoring and evaluation, and testimonials from beneficiaries. Through these efforts, we have been able to demonstrate the tangible impact of our intervention in addressing the needs of underprivileged schoolchildren and improving their educational outcomes.

Collected data have provided valuable insights into the effectiveness of our solution and have informed our work in several ways.

Firstly, the interviews conducted with school authorities, teachers, and parents helped reveal the sad reality of the challenges faced by underprivileged schoolchildren. Through these conversations, we gained a deeper understanding of the specific barriers to education that exist in the communities we serve. This insight allowed us to tailor our intervention to directly address these challenges, ensuring that our efforts are both targeted and impactful.

 for e.g. Teachers reported that students who lack access to basic school supplies struggle to fully participate in their studies and often fall behind academically as a result, which does not come as a surprise. This has reinforced the importance of our intervention in providing these materials to students in need, as it directly contributes to their ability to succeed in school.

Additionally, the data collected through ongoing monitoring and evaluation efforts have allowed us to track the progress and outcomes of our intervention over time. By systematically collecting data on indicators such as the availability and utilization of donated materials, academic performance, and student well-being, we have been able to assess the effectiveness of our approach and identify areas for improvement. e.g. we have used this data to refine our distribution process, ensuring that materials reach those who need them most in a timely and equitable manner.

Furthermore, the testimonials and expressions of gratitude from parents and beneficiaries have served as powerful validation of the impact of our work. Hearing directly from those who have benefited from our intervention has reinforced our commitment to addressing the needs of underprivileged schoolchildren and has inspired us to continue expanding and improving our efforts.

The donors themselves are not left out as our studies has shown that more people are willing to donate as long as it is convenient for them and do not take up their time or cost an arm or leg.  

Overall, the data collected from our research and studies have provided crucial insights into the effectiveness of our solution and have informed our work moving forward by helping us to better understand the challenges faced by underprivileged schoolchildren, track the outcomes of our intervention, and validate the impact of our efforts. Armed with this knowledge, we are better equipped to continue making a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve.

While our organization has made significant strides in addressing the needs of underprivileged schoolchildren through our intervention, there remains a need to strengthen the evidence base of our solution to ensure its continued effectiveness and sustainability.

One area where we see a need for improvement is in the depth and breadth of our research efforts. While our current research methodologies, such as interviews with stakeholders and ongoing monitoring and evaluation, have provided valuable insights into the impact of our intervention, there is room for expansion and refinement. Specifically, we recognize the importance of conducting more rigorous and systematic studies to assess the long-term outcomes of our intervention, such as its impact on academic achievement, school attendance, and overall well-being.

Additionally, we acknowledge the need to incorporate more diverse perspectives into our research efforts. While our current research primarily focuses on the experiences and perceptions of school authorities, teachers, and parents, there are other stakeholders whose insights could provide valuable contributions to our understanding of the problem and potential solutions. For example, engaging with community leaders, local government officials, and representatives from other relevant organizations could help us gain a more comprehensive understanding of the broader social, economic, and political factors that influence educational outcomes in the communities we serve.

Furthermore, we recognize the importance of adopting a more systematic approach to data collection and analysis. While our current monitoring and evaluation efforts have provided valuable data on key indicators such as the availability and utilization of donated materials, academic performance, and student well-being, there is an opportunity to enhance our data collection methods and analytical techniques. By implementing more standardized data collection tools and employing rigorous statistical analysis, we can ensure that the evidence we gather is robust and reliable, enabling us to draw more meaningful conclusions about the impact of our intervention.

In addition to strengthening our research efforts, we also recognize the importance of enhancing our communication and dissemination strategies to ensure that our findings reach a wider audience and have a greater impact. By sharing our research findings through various channels such as academic publications, policy briefs, and public presentations, we can not only contribute to the broader knowledge base on educational inequality but also advocate for evidence-based policies and interventions that address the needs of underprivileged schoolchildren more effectively.

In summary, while our organization has made significant progress in addressing the needs of underprivileged schoolchildren through our intervention, there is still a clear need to strengthen the evidence base of our solution. By expanding and refining our research efforts, incorporating more diverse perspectives, adopting a more systematic approach to data collection and analysis, and enhancing our communication and dissemination strategies, we can ensure that our intervention is grounded in robust evidence and has a lasting impact on the lives of those we serve.

1. What are the key factors influencing the sustainability of our intervention, both within individual communities and on a broader scale, and how can we strengthen our approach to ensure its continued impact over time?
2. What are the most effective strategies for engaging the broader community in supporting underprivileged schoolchildren, and how can we leverage these strategies to maximize community involvement and ownership of our intervention?

Over the course of the 12-week, we hope to have a set of research recommendations that will inform our approach to strengthening the evidence base of our solution in addressing the needs of underprivileged schoolchildren.

such as a thorough review of existing literature and research on education inequality, access to learning materials, and interventions aimed at supporting underprivileged schoolchildren. Foundational research that can serve as the basis for identifying gaps in the current evidence base and informing the development of our research questions.

Building upon this foundational research, we hope for a series of formative research studies aimed at generating new insights into the effectiveness of our intervention and the barriers faced by underprivileged schoolchildren in accessing education. These studies could include usability studies to assess the usability and effectiveness of our intervention, feasibility studies to explore the feasibility of scaling up our intervention in new contexts, and user interviews to gather feedback from key stakeholders on their experiences and perceptions.

Additionally, we hope for developed strategies and frameworks for engaging with the broader community and soliciting their input and involvement in supporting underprivileged schoolchildren. 

Furthermore, creation of a monitoring and evaluation tools to track the progress and outcomes of our intervention over time. 

In summary, our desired outputs of the 12-week LEAP Project sprint include a set of research recommendations that inform our approach to strengthening the evidence base of our solution. Recommendations grounded in foundational research, designed through formative research studies, informed by strategies and frameworks for community engagement, and supported by monitoring and evaluation tools for tracking outcomes. 

Following the conclusion of the LEAP Project sprint and the generation of research recommendations by our team of Fellows, our organization plans to put these outputs into action through a systematic and strategic approach. These outputs will serve as valuable guidance for informing our future efforts to strengthen the evidence base of our solution and enhance the impact of our intervention in addressing the needs of underprivileged schoolchildren.

Firstly, we will prioritize the implementation of the research recommendations generated during the LEAP Project sprint. This will involve conducting additional formative research studies to further explore key areas identified by our Fellows, such as usability testing of our intervention, feasibility studies for scaling up our efforts, and user interviews with stakeholders to gather ongoing feedback and insights. By actively engaging with these recommendations, we hope to continue to refine and improve our approach based on the latest evidence and insights.

Additionally, we will leverage the strategies and frameworks developed by our Fellows to enhance our community engagement efforts and mobilize support for underprivileged schoolchildren. This will include launching new outreach campaigns, forging partnerships with local organizations and businesses, and organizing community events and activities aimed at raising awareness and resources for our cause. with the aim of broadening our impact and fostering a sense of ownership and collaboration within the communities we serve.

Furthermore, we will integrate the monitoring and evaluation tools created by our Fellows into our ongoing efforts to track the progress and outcomes of our intervention. By establishing a robust system of monitoring and evaluation, we will ensure that our intervention remains responsive to the evolving needs of underprivileged schoolchildren and continue to make a meaningful difference in their lives. 

Overall, the outputs generated during the LEAP Project sprint will serve as valuable resources for informing and guiding our organization's future efforts to strengthen the evidence base of our solution. By putting these outputs into action, we hope to enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of our intervention, deepen our impact on the lives of underprivileged schoolchildren, and contribute to the broader goal of promoting educational equity and opportunity for all.

This LEAP Project presents a great opportunity for our organization to achieve several desired long-term outcomes that will both benefit our organization and advance the effectiveness of our solution in addressing the needs of underprivileged schoolchildren.

First and foremost, we aim for our organization to emerge from the LEAP Project sprint with a strengthened evidence base for our solution. By implementing the research recommendations generated by our team of Fellows, we anticipate gaining deeper insights into the effectiveness of our intervention and the barriers faced by underprivileged schoolchildren in accessing adequate educational resources. This enhanced understanding will enable us to make more informed decisions about our approach, allocate resources more strategically, and ultimately maximize our impact on the ground.

Furthermore, we expect the LEAP Project sprint to result in tangible improvements to our intervention and its delivery. The outputs produced during the sprint, such as new strategies for community engagement, enhanced monitoring and evaluation tools, and refined implementation plans, will provide practical guidance for enhancing the effectiveness and scalability of our solution. As a result, we anticipate being better equipped to address the needs of underprivileged schoolchildren in a more targeted, efficient, and sustainable manner.

In addition to these organizational outcomes, we anticipate several long-term outcomes for our solution as well. Firstly, we expect to see improved outcomes for underprivileged schoolchildren as a result of our intervention. By strengthening our evidence base and refining our approach, we aim to enhance the availability and utilization of essential learning materials, improve academic performance, and foster a more supportive learning environment for these children. Over time, we anticipate that these improvements will translate into better educational outcomes and brighter futures for the students we serve.

Secondly, we anticipate increased community involvement and support for our solution as a result of the LEAP Project sprint. By implementing new strategies for community engagement and mobilizing resources more effectively, we aim to cultivate stronger partnerships with local stakeholders, foster a sense of ownership and collaboration within the communities we serve, and ultimately broaden our impact on the ground. This increased community involvement will not only enhance the sustainability of our intervention but also contribute to a more inclusive and equitable educational ecosystem for all.

Overall, the desired long-term outcomes of the 12-week LEAP Project sprint for both our organization and solution are centered around strengthening our evidence base, improving our intervention, and maximizing our impact on the lives of underprivileged schoolchildren. By achieving these outcomes, we aim to create lasting change and opportunity for the students we serve, empower communities to take ownership of their educational futures, and contribute to the broader goal of educational equity and social justice.