2019 Niger Delta Partnership Initiative Foundation (NDPI) Annual Report

Partners in Development

Advancing Economic Opportunities and Peace in the Niger Delta

Director’s Note

As many of you know, I joined the Niger Delta Partnership Initiative Foundation (NDPI) as Executive Director earlier this year. It is a privilege to continue the exceptional work of my predecessors: Dennis Flemming, Heather Kulp, and Johanna Nesseth Tuttle. It’s like a dream but 2019 marked 10 unbelievable years since the launch of the NDPI and its Nigeria-based implementing partner, the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND). Within those years, we have demonstrated our commitment to our purpose to support Chevron’s operations in Nigeria, as well as to address regional issues related to conflict and poverty by focusing on supporting equitable economic growth. I can say we’ve come a long way since those early years. Since our launch, together with our partners, NDPI has:

  • Reached over 630,000 farmers and agro-allied Small, Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
  • Increased the yield and productivity of over 360,000 farmers and agro-allied SMEs, almost half of whom were women, promoting long-term business sustainability in the region
  • Raised the incomes of more than 220,000 farmers and SMEs by over USD $80M
  • Helped to facilitate the creation of more than 45,000 new jobs in the region
  • Built a peace building network of over 10,500 members, who have mitigated hundreds of conflicts and helped to reduce violence around elections
  • Helped incentivize investments, resulting in more than $90M of additional investment into the region by Federal and State governments, the private sector, and other agencies

Today, NDPI is recognized internationally as a revolutionary model for global development, with growing interest in our methodologies and successes. NDPI is entering a new decade excited to be your “partner” for peace and equitable economic development in the Niger Delta. We are releasing our 2019 Annual Report, as the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has settled in as a major force in the world. Many of us are still working remotely in an attempt to “flatten the curve” and reduce the strain on our healthcare system. I’m hopeful that the program highlights and photos will warm your spirits during this challenging time and remind you of the important work that is going on in so many of the communities in the Niger Delta. Of particular note, we recently launched the COVID-19 Niger Delta Update to help spread awareness on the dangers and realities of COVID-19. Please see the special section compiled at the end of this report on that topic.

We’re tremendously grateful to Chevron, our more than 500 partners, and the communities who’ve been a part of our story these last 10 years. Here’s to many more.

Nadeem Anwar, Executive Director

Niger Delta Partnership Initiative Foundation (NDPI)

Nadeem Anwar

PEACE BUILDING

Aligned with the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, our peace building program aims to leverage early warning, conflict management and peace agents across the Niger Delta to create an enabling environment for economic growth. In 2019, NDPI and our partners:

The Partners for Peace (P4P) Network in all nine Niger Delta states continued to grow as a self-sustaining membership organization. In 2019, the platform grew by over 2,000 members.

Our work included a series of media engagements and education programs leveraging on the facilitation of platforms, data, analysis and resources. In 2019, we reached over 11.5 million people.

In 2019, we expanded our ability to strengthen local peace actors to carry out interventions in their local communities. 190 new partner organizations were identified and trained as peace agents in the Partners for Peace network across the Delta.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Niger Delta Partnership Initiative Foundation (NDPI) economic development program supports farmers and enterprises in key agricultural sectors in the Niger Delta to improve their productivity, and income. We are proud of our efforts to contribute to the UN SDGs. 1: No poverty, 2: Zero Hunger, 5: Gender Equality, 6: Clean Water and Sanitation and 7: Affordable and Clean Energy. In 2019, NDPI and our partners:

Leveraged nearly USD $12.2 million from economic development activities to streamline value chains, better connect businesses and develop and implement new technologies to increase productivity and wages.

Helped over 33,000 people increase their incomes through a market development approach focused on palm oil, cassava, aquaculture and other promising industries.

Helped create over 8,500 jobs in 2019, for a total of over 12,000 jobs in palm oil, cassava, aquaculture and cocoa since 2010.

HIGHLIGHTS – PROGRAM

BUILDING LOCAL CAPACITY

Since 2010, NDPI and PIND have made veritable strides towards economic and social equality and stability. By engaging directly with the communities most impacted by poverty and conflict, we have afforded people in the Niger Delta the opportunity to construct meaningful change. We have helped build local capacity by conducting trainings in good business practices, emphasizing collaboration. The graduates and participants are actively supplanting poverty for self-determination. In the words of a PIND beneficiary, “Lucky” Omote, “PIND recognized my potential and empowered me to develop it.” Lucky became a successful craftsman despite previously thinking himself in a hopeless situation due to his physical disability. But with the help of NDPI and PIND, like so many others, Lucky learned the essential formula for posterity: knowledge transforms. Examples abound.

EMPOWERING WOMEN AND GIRLS

NDPI and PIND also focus on equipping women and girls with skillsets to become leading advocates in their communities. We lead trainings for women and girls and have seen the participants apply their learnings and raise their voices in their communities — advocating for greater gender equity. Women—young and old—are finding themselves in mold-breaking positions of power, and the social effects are accordingly palpable—campaigns against gender-based violence have led to policy actions, which in turn produce more employment opportunities for all women. That positive effects compound is no surprise. One of the tacit but evident premises of PIND is that positive influence for change begets greater positivity. In time, the dream and plan are that all these innovations will suffuse throughout each of the Niger Delta states, and eventually form a broad chain of collegial change and determination. By working together, peace and posterity are inevitabilities.

Case Study – Solar Mini Grid

BRINGING ENERGY ACCESS TO THE NIGER DELTA’S LAST MILE COMMUNITIES

BACKGROUND

The Niger Delta region is home to around 32 million people. Even though the oil-rich region is the source of 75% of Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings, over 70% of the population live on an average of less than USD $2 a day beset by a myriad of complex development challenges, including conflict, youth restiveness, high unemployment and limited electricity access. NDPI and PIND are helping establish grid electricity and reliable, scalable off-grid solutions to make the region a more attractive region for investment by tapping into the entrepreneurial potential of the Niger Delta.

THE INNOVATION

The Solar Mini Grid is a 20-foot off-grid solar system that collects, stores and distributes clean electricity. It is an ‘energy in a box’ solution that utilizes a pay-per-use model and power purchasing agreements with local developers.

PARTNERING FOR SUCCESS

In April 2019, NDPI, PIND and A4&T Power Solutions Limited, a Nigerian solar power provider, piloted the Solar Mini Grid in the Gbagira community, a coastal community located along a stretch of coastal settlements along the Apostle Canal in the Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State. Like many other ‘last mile’ communities, it remains underserved with electricity. PIND facilitated the signing of a power purchase deal between the Gbagira community and A4&T for an initial period of one-year. The signed agreement ensures that the business can deploy resources to this community without any fear of competition from similar providers. With an initial investment by PIND and A4&T, electricity is being provided without end-user financing or upfront costs of equipment.

IMPACT

The impact is noteworthy. Along with broad-based community adoption and acceptance, the Solar Mini Grid reduced the cost of electricity by over 30% to roughly USD $0.33 per kWh (~NGN 120) and powered 60 businesses and households. Through newer technologies like lithium batteries and smart metering, energy storage capabilities have improved significantly, and communities can have up to 14 hours of electricity daily. Results from the monitoring and performance of the Solar Mini Grid suggest that unlocking the potential of solar has had a significant impact on the local economy and can increase business turnover by up to 40%. The project is also having positive environmental impact due to zero emission and reduction of noise pollution.

COVID-19 – SPECIAL REPORT

OUR RESPONSE TO COVID-19

As 2020 began, COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, was thought of as a mostly China-specific issue. But by late February, our world – seemingly overnight – was turned upside down. People around the globe were learning what the pandemic meant for them and were coming to understand the potential health risks of the virus. By November, nearly 50 million people had contracted the virus and more than 1,200,000 people had died from it, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

  • Rising to address the unprecedented challenges posed by COVID-19:
  • NDPI and PIND partnered with Flying Labs Nigeria South West Hub to launch an interactive dashboard/map that provides the latest information on cases in the Niger Delta, preventative measures, state actions, and hotlines. Learn more the dashboard here: https://pindfoundation.org/niger-delta-covid19-updates/.
  • Around the world, incidence of domestic violence and violence against women increased in step with the onset of the pandemic. In response, we promoted the Flying Labs Nigeria South West Hub’s Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Observatory and amplified campaigns to stop violence against women and girls during the lockdown.

We also modified the ways in which we conducted critical capacity-building activities. For instance, we changed how we went about improving agronomic and business practices for farmers and enterprises. We began conducting virtual trainings and altered our practices for in-person trainings to maintain social distancing and implement other safety measures.

Mamadou Beye

From the Chairman

“I’m proud to be a part of the work of NDPI and PIND and thrilled to celebrate their 10 years of commitment and dedicated service in developing new solutions to the economic and social development challenges of the Niger Delta and enabling peace, prosperity and ensuring our activities are supporting the real needs of the people in the area. While I am very proud of our legacy, we will not rest but will remain focused on the task ahead.”

– Mamadou Beye, NDPI Board Chairman

Financials

Assets

Current Assets

$8,364,442
  • Cash and cash equivalents

    98.66% ($8,252,349)
  • Accounts receivable

    1.18% ($98,955)
  • Prepaid expenses

    0.16% ($13,138)
  • Grants receivable

    0% ($0)

Fixed Assets

$130,121*
  • Equipment

    49.53% ($64,455)
  • Computer equipment

    46.75% ($60,826)
  • Leasehold improvements

    3.8% ($4,940)
  • *Accumulated depreciation and amortization accounts for -$116,786 Total Net Fixed Assets $13,335

Other Assets

$21,000
  • Other Assets

    100% ($21,000)

Total Assets

$8,398,777

Liabilities & Net Assets

Current Liabilities

$3,159,771
  • Grants payable

    94.94% ($3,000,000)
  • Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

    4.73% ($149,543)
  • Accrued salaries and related benefits

    0.12% ($3,884)
  • Deferred rent abatement

    0.2% ($6,344)

Long term liabilities

$3,159,771
  • Deferred rent abatement, net of current portion

    0% ($0)

Net Assets

$5,239,006
  • With Donor Restrictions

    99.36% ($5,205,544)
  • Without Donor Restrictions

    0.64% ($33,462)

Total Liabilities

$3,159,766

Total Liabilities and net assets

$8,398,777

Statements of activities and changes in net assets for the year ended December 31, 2019

Revenue Unrestricted Temporarily Restricted Total
Corporate grant Unrestricted: - Temporarily Restricted: $584,109 Total: $584,109
Net Assets released from donor restrictions Unrestricted: ($1,370,720) Temporarily Restricted: $1,370,720 Total: -
Total Revenue Unrestricted: ($1,370,720) Temporarily Restricted: $1,954,829 Total: $584,109
Expenses
Program services Unrestricted: ($1,810,897) Temporarily Restricted: - Total: ($1,810,897)
Supporting services Unrestricted: $440,177 Temporarily Restricted: - Total: $440,177
Total Expenses Unrestricted: ($1,370,720) Temporarily Restricted: - Total: ($1,370,720)
Changes in net assets
Unrestricted: - Temporarily Restricted: $1,954,829 Total: $1,954,829
Net assets at beginning of year
Unrestricted: $3,057 Temporarily Restricted: $5,249,331 Total: $5,252,388
Net Assets at the End of Year
Unrestricted: $3,057 Temporarily Restricted: $7,204,160 Total: $7,207,217

Past Annual Reports

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