Nigeria Youth Futures Fund (NYFF)

Young Leaders Development Funds

Catalyst Grant Proposal Format

Applicants should submit their proposal in not more than 3,000 words using the guidelines below:
Organization Name SPEAK OUT AFRICA INITIATIVE (SOAI)

Email
speakoutafrica54@gmail.com, info@speakoutafricainitiative.org

Phone Number 08065281411, 07086774545, 08026156558

Proposed Project Title

YOUTH ENGAGEMENT IN GOVERNANCE (YEG)

Project Duration December 2023 - October 2024

1.0
Organization Background: Brief description of the organization’s information, relevant
experience, and previous grant(s). (Max: 200 words)

Speak Out Africa Initiative is an accountable civic hub that promotes youth development and
participation in decision-making processes via evidenced-based advocacy, research, and capacity
building. SOAI envisions grooming the largest social transparency and accountability active citizens –
even in the most remote areas in Nigeria, well empowered with the right public information to
demand good governance in an organized manner thus, changing the narratives. Our mission is to
build and support tech-driven systems hinged on the principles of inclusion, accountability, and
institutional reforms geared toward good governance.

Relevant experience, and previous grant(s).

Integration of Digital Skills Education/Drug Abuse Prevention into Nigeria Secondary Curriculum - EU
(ongoing)
To support CSO advocacy to expand school curricula in 12 states at the sub-national to include
relevant strategic topics for students’ well-being and inclusion (drug abuse prevention) with digital
labor-market skills through policy influencing for quality education.
2023 General Election Grant/Open Society Foundations
This project tackled voter apathy, low permanent voters’ card collection, undertaking election
observation as well and general voter education with a view to strengthening Nigeria's democracy.
Swing into Action Project /Italian Ministry of International Cooperation and Foreign Affairs-CISS
The project strengthened the role of young people as change-makers in the fragile settings of Nigeria
through legislative modeling.

Please explain the challenges/problems you have identified that require intervention
(Max: 200 words)

2.0. Youth do not have equal access to decision-making at all levels of government in the country or
 inclusive involvement without discrimination. Further checks on the government are required in order to
promote accountability, openness, and good governance. There is a need for a forum where the
government is held accountable for its activities and where young people may contribute to finding
answers to important issues such as running costs and performance in governance. The results of the
recent elections, which dashed their hopes, also contributed to the rising level of political/governance
apathy among young people. Sadly, the rights and privileges of youth (boys, girls, and PWDs) are not
respected and protected. Thus, YEG is conceived to address the need to place young people at the very
heart of development policies/programs to build inclusive and resilient societies to contribute to citizenry
safety, development, and societal stability having been inadequately represented and their voices
silenced. More so, youth lack knowledge and comprehension of governing structures and procedures, as
well as the capacity to checkmate the government. Hence, the YEG project will bridge the gap by
enhancing their engagement in governance to help set new standards for governance in tune with global
demand.

3.0 What are the goals and objectives of your project? (Max: 100 words)

Goal (s):
The YEG project aims to strengthen, support, and promote youth ecosystem building by increasing the
level of involvement of youth and PWDs in decision-making processes, expanding inclusivity, and
encouraging general participation in governance while answering fundamental national questions.

Objective(s):

I. Address youth-related concerns and challenges to Increase influential young engagement in

governance and peace-building activities where youth rights and privileges are respected, and protected
and their needs and perspectives are reflected in policy decision-making for societal stability and
mitigation of intergenerational poverty transfer.

II. Promote tech-driven social change that creates an avenue for youth civic engagement in governance
through the CEEC, youth advisory council, and community service clubs using an easy-to-use app.

4.0 Explain the initiative/proposed activities of your project (Max: 300 words)

The Youth Engagement in Governance (YEG) is a tech-driven initiative that seeks to set a new
standard for governance in Nigeria by strengthening civic and democratic participation of youth and
Nigerian civil societies, most especially other NYFF grantees in promoting just, peaceful, and
inclusive societies (SDG 16) as affirmed by the UN Security Council Resolution 2250. More so, it will
create space for influential youth participation in governance and decision-making platforms, which
will serve as an antidote to issues of marginalization, exclusion, inequality, and human rights, as well
as mitigate the intergenerational transfer of poverty, which drives non-resilient and uninformed
persons into sectional agitation & crime such as banditry, kidnapping, human trafficking, rape,
forced early marriages, and acute corruption that results in infrastructure degradation. It will also
increase the capacity of civil society networks and youths to influence the development and
implementation of key democratic reforms at the local, state, and national levels." The YEG project
will strive to promote the country's short- and long-term development initiatives in the areas of cost
of governance, peacebuilding, equity, social inclusion, cohesion, and justice, as well as the
promotion of national values such as patriotism, unity, and empathy. YEG is hinged on four
significant subprojects:

§ Civic Education and Engagement Center (CEEC): Engaging citizens, particularly young people, in
civic knowledge and engagement is a necessary push/step toward improving democracy and
inclusivity. It is critical to engage citizens, particularly youths, women, and PWDs, to "speak out" in
order to mitigate challenges of inequality and discrimination in governance processes and ensure
inclusive participation in decision-making. In this context, SOAI seeks to establish the CEEC, both
physical and web/mobile app, to serve as Democracy Hubs for civic education in order to provide
democratic and civil enlightenment to young people, and to encourage their public/civic
participation in their various States and Local Government Areas thereby, stimulating their interest.

§ The Youth Advisory Council (YAC): The establishment of a youth-led initiative such as YAC
promotes transparency and accountability, facilitates good governance, and peacebuilding, and
promotes inclusivity, representation, and effective policy-making at the various levels of
government, beginning with local government, by advocating for youth issues, promoting youth
participation in decision-making processes, and working to create positive change. YAC is a platform
where young people, along with PWDs, can voice their ideas and concerns, as well as contribute to
decision-making processes by collaborating with government officials and agencies. The council will
act as a link between young people and policymakers.

§ Youth Community Service Club: This is a club where young people come together to make a
positive impact in their community through participation in events that promote awareness about
the government, such as workshops, panel discussions, and community forums to educate and raise
important awareness about important social issues, participation in service projects, and the
establishment of educational programs that focus on civic engagement and democratic
participation. In addition, the club will arrange volunteer activities such as offering mentorship to
underprivileged children and PWDs.

§ The Youth Vision Summit: This is a gathering of young people who share their views for the future,
debate their goals, and look for ways to make their ambitions a reality. It is a platform that allows
adolescents to design the world they want to live in and inspires them to take action toward their
aspirations. There will be many areas for debates, dialogue, and collaboration among youth leaders.
This would encourage active citizenry, young empowerment, and the development of innovative and
inclusive solutions for the country's future. It will promote togetherness, patriotism, empathy, and
social inclusion.
5.0 Discuss your plan to strengthen the youth ecosystem, most especially other NYFF grantees, in
your region (Max: 300 words)
This proposal addresses the issue of youth underrepresentation in the Nigerian government and
emphasizes the importance of inclusivity in a democracy. With over 100 million people under the age of 30
in Nigeria, the proposal acknowledges the vital role that young people play in promoting democracy,
particularly during events like the 2023 general election.
To address this issue and strengthen the youth ecosystem, the proposal outlines a multifaceted approach.
Firstly, it prioritizes social inclusion and cohesion through initiatives such as youth leadership programs.
These programs aim to build the capacity of young leaders and youth-led organizations, promote youth-led
initiatives, and encourage mentorship programs. Additionally, the proposal advocates for policies
supporting youth development, active citizenship, leadership development, and transparency and
accountability at all levels of government.
The project also aims to increase the participation of underrepresented groups, including young people,
people with disabilities, and women, in decision-making processes across government levels. To ensure
young voices are heard, it proposes the formation of a Youth Advisory Council. Furthermore, the
establishment of a Civic Education and Engagement Center will provide educational resources and
opportunities for youth involvement in civic activities, fostering a sense of civic responsibility. A Youth
Vision Summit and Youth Community Service Club are also proposed to facilitate discussions and
community engagement among young people.
These initiatives will be implemented in the states within the South East and/or North Central regions of
Nigeria, with a focus on Enugu, Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Imo and Nasarawa, Plateau, Benue, Kwara, Kogi,
Federal Capital Territory respectively. Together, these projects aim to empower and amplify the voices of
young Nigerians, creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for their growth and active
participation in the nation's democracy. Overall, the YEG project will be a viable platform for NYFF
grantees.

6.0 How will your initiative/activities influence young people to be conscious of their civic
responsibility, embrace diversity, and effectively engage relevant institutions (government,
private & non-governmental institutions) towards social change (Max: 300 words)

The initiative unites youth leaders from diverse backgrounds encompassing a spectrum of genders across
different states, designed to instill a strong sense of civic responsibility, promote diversity, and empower
young people to engage effectively with various institutions for meaningful social change. This dynamic
program involves a process of learning, unlearning, relearning, and reassessing, with the ultimate goal to
deepen democracy and elevate youth participation.
The selected youths will undergo comprehensive training and support to empower young individuals at the
local and state levels, enabling them to advocate for their rights, actively participate in decision-making,
and ardently advocate for their interests. Peer-to-peer learning will be a pivotal component of the
program, allowing youth leaders to share insights, strategies, and problem-solving approaches, fostering
collaboration, and equipping them to address community-specific challenges. These leaders pulled from
secondary and post-secondary spheres, will gain valuable knowledge on addressing specific issues faced by
young people in their respective communities.
Further inclusivity will be ensured by sponsoring and training young activists, representing various groups,
faiths, and tribes. These activists, who often wield considerable influence in their communities and on
social media platforms, will form the bedrock of the initiative's outreach.
By providing the knowledge, platforms, and opportunities for involvement, the initiative empowers young
people to drive social change and effectively collaborate with government, private, and non-governmental
institutions to create a more inclusive and prosperous society including media as strategic partners,
leveraging their reach to ensure positive reporting and the dissemination of advocacy messages to a
broader audience.
More so, corporate organizations will be encouraged to throw their support. This collaborative approach
aims to drive transformative social change across all concerned stakeholders. Overall, these activities aim
to cultivate a generation of informed, engaged, and responsible young citizens who understand the value
of diversity and actively participate in governance.

7.0 What are your plans for gender and social inclusion, especially PWDs and vulnerable groups?
(Max: 150 words)

YEG is committed to gender and social inclusion, with a focus on Persons with Disabilities and other
vulnerable groups recognizing that diversity and inclusivity are fundamental principles of effective
governance. Consciously, we will ensure there are equal opportunities and representation of all genders
for all the activities within our control. We will actively engage and empower young women, ensuring their
voices are heard and their leadership opportunities are promoted as well as implement gender-sensitive
policies/programs to address their unique challenges in the political landscape. We will prioritize measures
such as accessible venues and materials, and provide social services for PWDs ensuring they’re actively
involved throughout the project. Additionally, our outreach efforts will target vulnerable communities,
offering them resources, training, and opportunities for meaningful engagement.
In line with HRBA, we are dedicated to upholding the principles of inclusive participation, non-
discrimination, equity, and access to information through disaggregated data to achieve a situation where
gender, disability, and vulnerability are not barriers but rather assets that enrich our democratic processes.

8.0 What are the sustainability plans of your project? (Max: 150 words)
Our sustainability is underpinned by several key strategies. Firstly, we are committed to capacity
building and knowledge transfer, ensuring that local stakeholders, including youth leaders, are
equipped with the skills and expertise to continue project activities independently.
Secondly, we aim to foster partnerships with local institutions and CSOs especially NYFF grantees,
creating a network that will endure beyond the project's duration. This network serves as a platform
for collaboration and resource-sharing. Additionally, the creation of community-based structures
and mechanisms would empower the communities to take over the governance programs ensuring
they continue being relevant and effective. Hence, it is designed to be self-sustaining and adaptable
to evolving community needs.

Lastly, we will prioritize data collection and evaluation to assess the project's outcomes and make
data-driven adjustments for long-term effectiveness with the aim of fostering a sustainable platform
through capacity building, partnership formation, community empowerment, and effective feedback
that would promote youth leadership participation and not only be limited to the piloting phase.

What are the plans for public awareness and dissemination of your project activities and
outcomes? (Max: 100 words)

9.0:: The project will employ variety of techniques, utilizing social media platforms, cooperating with
local media outlets for coverage, and developing compelling content, such as videos and infographics,
to deliver essential project messages. Engaging media organizations to encourage constructive
reporting and dissemination of advocacy messages to larger audience. SOAI will also undertake the
project using a participative and demand-based people-to-people approach. The method will involve a
survey, peer-to-peer influence via unity walks, rallies, media dialogue, digital campaign, eye-catching
posters/flyers and bulk SMS stimulating messages. The technique is novel, and will aid in reaching a
larger audience and promoting the project's impact.

Logic Framework

Objective 1

Outcome Output Activity Resources

The grant from

the Nigeria
Youth Future
60 cohorts of Fund. Venue
informed, spaces for
empowered, meetings, youth
 and engaged development
Establish a CEEC young citizens experts/facilitat
center to serve as who actively ors, and internet
a vital resource contribute to data.
for equipping the democratic
young citizens process,
Design and develop a curriculum, Digital web
with civic promote
space, workshops, seminars, Documentation
knowledge and inclusivity, and
and Reporting, interactive sessions, IEC
literacy. It will drive positive
materials, Training, local schools and
emphasize the change within
community organizations, Outreach and
significance of their
Promotion, online resources, engaging
diversity in a communities
participants, Feedback Mechanisms as well
democratic and the
as regular Assessments: Conducting
society, broader
assessments to measure participants'
empowering society. This,
knowledge gain and civic engagement
young people to in turn,
activities throughout the project's duration.
engage strengthens
meaningfully in the
civic activities. foundations of
Thus, serving as democracy
Democracy Hubs and
for civic governance in
education. the region

Objective 2

Outcome Output Activity Resources

The Youth
Advisory Council
Recruitment and selection for the Youth
comprising
Advisory Council members.
diverse youth
representatives Closing link
from the between the
geopolitical zones young people
involved aims to and
actively involve policymakers
marginalized by allowing
groups, including contributions
youth, women, of essential
and people with perspectives Dedicated team
disabilities, in and ideas on of youth
governance issues,
processes. to influence volunteers and
amplify their policies and experienced
voices in initiatives that mentors. and
decision-making. impact them, the NYFF grant.
in addition to
aiding
decision-
making
processes.
Also, inclusion
of youth
perspectives in
policy
discussions
through the
Youth Advisory
Council. 20
YAC advisors
formed in each
senatorial
zones in the
state.

. Youth advisory council was formed Resource

comprising 20 diverse representatives from 3 persons/youth
senatorial zones in the states of the experts and
geopolitical zone. Venue spaces
for trainings and
meetings

Reduction in
political
apathy Collaboration meetings of the
amongst the representatives with the state and local
youth and government officials and youth leaders
increase in
interest.

Objective 3

The community Outcome Output Activity Resources

service clubs
(CSC) will instill a
sense of duty and Engaging200 youths in a community service
club focused on mentorship, workshops,
empathy among
panel discussions, and community forums to
young people. By educate and raise important awareness
actively engaging about important social issues, participation
them in in service projects, and the establishment of Collaboration
200 youths with secondary
community educational programs that focus on civic
recruited as
engagement and democratic participation. schools and
service, they will community
develop a strong service club NGOs including
commitment to members NYFF existing
making a positive both at grantees.
community Establish the youth community service club
impact in their in secondary schools for each local
level and
communities. schools governments in the state(s) of the
respectively. geopolitical zones to plan and execute
viable/attractive local school and community
projects.

Tangible
NYFF grant
positive
changes
resulting from
the service
club initiatives: Community service club is established,
awareness is initiating three impactful projects quarterly.
created about Organize a mentorship and workshop event
in these secondary schools inviting youth
important
representatives/leaders, youth influencers,
social issues,
young people in government, mentors etc.
student
interests
towards the
government’s
activities are
awakened.

Establishment of educational programs that

focus on civic engagement and democratic
participation.

The Youth Vision Speakers/

Summit (YVS) resource
initiative will Organize two youth vision summits attended persons,
provide a by 300 young leaders to discuss and propose facilitators,
solutions to fundamental national problems
platform for policy experts,
young individuals venue space for
to address the event and
pressing issues government
and share Youth-led functionaries.
innovative ideas. proposals and
This will policy
encourage their briefs/docume
active nt released for
participation in addressing
government, pressing
private sectors, national Plan and organize the National Youth
and non- issues. Summit, including topics, speakers and
governmental logistics.
organizations,
fostering
collaboration and
change

Work Plan

Category Activity Unit Cost Quantity Total Cost Timeline (M/Y - M/Y)

Operation and Logistics: (15% of the budget)

Administrative $4300 Dec., 2023 – Dec., 2023

expenses (project plan/
strategy/launch, project team
salaries etc)

Office supplies and $700 Dec., 2023 – Oct., 2024

equipment (projector/screen,
internet etc)

Transportation and travels $2500 Dec., 2023 – Oct., 2024

Subtotal (Operation & Logistic) $7500

Concept Implementation (80% of the budget): (Main Project: 60% & Institutional
Strengthening to the Youth ecosystem organizations: 20%)

CEEC Jan., 2024 – Oct., 2024

Curriculum development $1,000

manual for leadership

Workshops/capacity building $3,000

Engagements, Outreach, and $2,000

promotion

Training facilitators $1,500

Venue rental and consumables $1,200

Youth Advisory Council Jan., 2024 – Oct., 2024

Council meetings $1,300

Training and capacity $3,000

Community Service Club $2,000 Jan., 2024 – Oct., 2024

Project funding for projects $4,000

Club activities $2,500

Transportation and supplies $500

Youth Vision Summit $2,500 Jan., 2024 – Oct., 2024

Event planning and logistics $1,000

Venue rental and consumables $2,000

Guest speakers and facilitators $2,000

Outreach and promotion $500

Main Project: Subtotal (Concept $30,000

Implementation)

Institutional Strengthening $10,000 Apr., 2024 – Oct., 2024

Sub-total (Institutional Strengthening)

Youth Ecosystem Organizations for local CSOs and NYFF grantees

Capacity-building programs $7,300

Networking events and forums $1,200

brainstorming

Surveys, needs assessment, and $1,500

advocacy
Subtotal (Concept
Implementation)

Monitoring and Evaluation: (5% of the budget) Mar., 2024 – Oct., 2024

Data collection tools and $1,000

software
Lesson learned $500
meetings/assessments

Evaluation and reporting cum $1,000

visits

Subtotal (Monitoring & Evaluation)

$2,500

General Total $50,000 USD