Relief2Empower

In March, the federal government announced a lockdown in Nigeria. During this time, Uwakmfon Joshua (cofounder of We Save Lives Africa) heard a knock on the door, and upon opening it she saw unexpected guests – Anita and her 3 children. Anita was a single mother from Mbritam village who had a thriving business which, as a result of the pandemic, had now ground to a halt. She had knocked on the door of a stranger to ask for money, as a final attempt to provide food for her children. Food items were provided, but we believed we could do more. After conducting a survey in her community we discovered that there was an alarming number of women just like Anita. As many as 1 in 3 households are led by single mothers, with most having 3 – 4 children and multiple extended family dependents. These homes are managed by single mothers in a culture that disempowers women economically. As the heads of households, they work in the informal sector to support their family. But with the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a collapse of the informal sector of the economy which has seen their livelihoods threatened.

The impact of the collapse of the informal sector is a potential increase in poverty, hunger, and out-of-school children. An intervention for these women and their families is necessary to help them mitigate the impact of impending hardship as they enter into what is expected to be the country’s worst economic recession in four decades.

The project will provide a stimulus package (food and economic relief) to households and MSMEs across 5 communities in 3 states in Nigeria. We will be providing:

Food and hygiene products: Staple food provisions and hygiene products (including soap, face masks, and hand sanitizer) to 500 households led by single mothers for up to 7 days.

Household financial support: Funding for household needs such as education, healthcare & medication, nutrition, and accommodation. All payment will be facilitated through Do Good Africa’s clearing house. Except under extreme circumstances, monies will not be sent directly to beneficiaries, but instead to the end user e.g, a school.

Business support: Funding and capability building for their micro-businesses through reputable and well-managed cooperatives. Otherwise promising micro-businesses that are now facing a downturn in this economy will be provided with essential financial support necessary to turnaround their business during this difficult time. In addition, these business owners and their employees will also be taught the skills necessary to accelerate their business’s performance even after the pandemic.

This project aims to provide a social and financial safety net for 500 households to ensure they do not fall further into poverty. Furthermore, it aims to empower these households and potentially lift them and their children out of poverty by removing financial barriers. This project will impact the lives of over 5,000 Nigerians living below the poverty line, providing:

•   Basic food items and hygiene products for 500 households
•   Education to c. 100 children
•   Accommodation for c. 50 households
•   Medication for 50 households
•   Funding to 50 businesses
•   Capability building for 50 businesses and 250 employees