Objective- To contribute towards ensuring communities in the Niger Delta experience fewer negative effects of the oil and gas industry and greater benefits from the revenues it provides, and that both local and global environmental impact from the oil and gas industry is reduced
SDN has worked to empower 46 communities spanning six Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Bayelsa State, including host communities, to better navigate the challenges posed by the oil and gas sector. SDN set up 24 Community Monitoring and Advocacy Groups (CMAGs) and trained 288 community members. By amplifying local voices and engaging with office and budget holders, the CMAGs used their Village Books (Charter of demands and sustainable development initiatives tailored to community needs) to advocate to stakeholders. Their efforts have led to significant infrastructure improvements, including the installation of solar street lights and the construction and renovation of roads, schools, and healthcare facilities, leading to investment worth over 2 billion Naira. Till date, even after the end of the project cycle, CMAGs are still recording development projects. The CMAG model was first piloted in Rivers State with a few communities and scaled to Bayelsa State due to tangible results from citizen-led advocacy engagements.
