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Note: This document may not always reflect the actual appropriations determined by Congress. Final budget allocations for USAID's programs are not determined until after passage of an appropriations bill and preparation of the Operating Year Budget (OYB).

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NIGERIA

FY 1998 Development Fund for Africa

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

$7,000,000

Introduction

A politically stable and economically strong Nigeria is in the vital interest of the United States because of its major oil resources, huge potential market for American products, essential role as a peace keeper in the region, and major political and economic influence throughout Africa. Current U. S. investments in Nigeria are estimated at $4 billion. Unfortunately, Nigeria is a troubled country in crisis with current difficulties in democratic transition, human rights abuses, narcotics transiting, and international business scams. It is in the interest of the U.S. to avoid instability in Nigeria which could spread widely throughout the region, and to work constructively to the extent possible to help the country resolve its current crises. If economic growth is sustained and a stable and democratically elected government is instituted, Nigeria has the potential to be a major political leader in resolving regional issues.

The Development Challenge

Nigeria has been under military dictatorship for 30 of its 36 years, having briefly experimented with democracy in 1960, 1979, and 1983. The country has been "decertified" by the President for each of the last three years for inadequate efforts in supporting anti-narcotics programs. The current military regime has attracted worldwide condemnation for its disregard of the electoral will of its citizenry, as well as its record of human and civil rights abuses. However, the regime has announced that it will return the country to democratic rule in 1998 and has recently released some political detainees. Nigeria has also been a key player in promoting the peace process in Liberia in cooperation with the U.S. and other countries in the region.

Nigeria's economy has been in a downward spiral for two decades, although a slight upturn in economic growth and stability of the national currency was recorded in 1995. The gross domestic product (GDP) has declined from a high of $1,000 per capita income in the mid-1980's to an estimated $285 today. In January 1993, the inflation rate spiraled upward from a baseline of 22%, to a peak of 73% in 1995. As a result of initial economic reforms, the rate has been reduced to 30% in the first quarter of 1996. The consumer price index, fixed at 100 in 1985, is now near 2000.

Nigeria's estimated population of 100 million is approximately half the population of all West African countries and constitutes more than 25% of the entire population of Sub-Saharan Africa. The population growth rate is 3.1% (1996), which is higher than Africa's average rate of 2.8%. Without interventions, Nigeria's population will double in only 22 years. The HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in the general population has risen from 3.8% in 1994 to 6.7% in 1996. In high-risk groups, prevalence is up to 50% in some parts of the country. This implies that over 3.5 million Nigerians are infected with HIV/AIDS which comprises over 60% of the West African sub-region HIV/AIDS burden. Nigeria's health and social sector services collapsed in the midst of the political crisis following the 1993 election annulment. The plight of Nigeria's vulnerable women and children has worsened. Malnutrition is now commonplace, infant and maternal mortality rates continue to be among the highest in the world, and immunization coverage has declined to below 25%. The extraordinarily high infant, child and maternal mortality rates are alarming and could threaten economic and political stability in both Nigeria and surrounding countries.

USAID ceased all support to the Government of Nigeria in 1994 and now works exclusively in the private sector. USAID further downsized its assistance program and staffing in 1996 and the current modest $7.0 million NGO-based program is managed by only one U.S. direct hire employee. However, the program is dynamically catalyzing the ascendancy and strengthening of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Nigeria working at both the community and national level in traditional areas of health care support and also in the more recently USAID supported area of democratization. Although the program cannot provide adequate resources to address the myriad of development and political problems in Nigeria, it is providing pivotal moral and material support to the NGO sector, and bears witness to the political aspirations of the majority of Nigerians who are disenfranchised by the current regime.

The short term benefits from energizing and strengthening the private NGO sector will be to help move the country toward making its democratic transition. The long term benefits will be an educated and strengthened civil society in Nigeria with the capability of sustaining a sound democratic transition in a stable political environment. The health portion of the program also contributes to the basic human needs of Nigeria at a time when the public sector services are largely ineffective, and also confronts regional disease outbreaks such as polio and HIV/AIDS which know no borders. From a political viewpoint, the current program reflects a holding posture in Nigeria, pending implementation of the promised transition to a civilian government and improvement in the U.S.-Nigerian bilateral relationship.

Other Donors

Because of its current political isolation and dysfunctional public sector agencies, most donors have cut back drastically or eliminated developmental assistance to the Government of Nigeria, but many have redeployed some resources to humanitarian activities in the private sector. Multilateral donors including the African Development Bank and the United Nations agencies (UNICEF, UNFPA and UNDP) continue to work with the Government of Nigeria and provide the largest share of development assistance entering the country.

The United States remains the largest bilateral donor in health and democracy/governance (DG), the only sectors in which it provides assistance. Canada, Germany, Norway, the United Kingdom and other countries of the European Community have small assistance programs. These other bilateral donors have generally followed the U.S. lead and limited their assistance to social sectors and NGO programs. Some donors have worked sporadically in DG programs but there is now a stated commitment to go further. In this effort, the British, Canadians and the Ford Foundation are our natural partners. Canada has recently developed a DG program similar to that of USAID in magnitude and activities.

FY 1998 Program

The USAlD/Nigeria program is part of a U.S. policy of preventive diplomacy that recognizes Nigeria's strategic importance as a major population concentration, regional military power and oil producing country. The program strategy responds to prevailing conditions in Nigeria and supports the U.S. policy of pressured engagement and selective sanctions. The program addresses both the dire need for essential health care services, and the need to strengthen civil society's contribution to democratic participation.

Agency Goal: Stabilizing World Population Growth and Promoting Human Health

All funding proposed under this strategic objective is currently planned for child survival and HIV/AIDS prevention activities.

With over 100 million people, Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and the 10th most populous country in the world. At its current population growth rate of 3.1%, Nigeria's population will double in 22 years. The mortality rate for children under five is currently estimated at 191 deaths per 1000 live births, a rate which is higher than its neighboring African countries. Immunization rates have fallen to below 25 % and Nigeria has one of the largest remaining foci of polio virus in the world. The HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in the general population has risen from 3.8% in 1994 to 6.7 % in 1996 which includes 3.5 million people and an estimated 12.5% of the worldwide total.

The purpose of the program is to promote a healthier and more productive society through the provision of integrated maternal and child health services through community level-non-government organizations (NGOs.) The program works with Nigerian NGOs to enhance their capacity to deliver and sustain integrated health care services. The program recognizes the link between the health of mothers and their children and includes an emphasis on women. NGOs are provided with training, institutional development and technical assistance to assure the delivery of quality services for the care of sick children, maternal and child health services, immunizations, malaria control and oral rehydration therapy. USAID has led other donor efforts in the development of private sector (voluntary and commercial) alternatives to deliver support through umbrella organizations in focus states. These include plans to maximize institutional sustainability.

USAID has been leading the effort to enhance awareness and stimulate programs addressing the HIV/AIDS crisis, and supports behavior change communication through peer health education outreach as well as a condom social marketing program. The program recently produced 172 media spots reaching the broader audience and trained 462 peer educators, while the social marketing program sold 55 million condoms in 1995, of which 75% are estimated to have been purchased for disease prevention.

* Strategic Objective 2: Improved Maternal and Child Health Practices

* Special Objective 1: Improved HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control

Agency Goal: Building Democracy

Without a credible democratic transition and increased respect for human rights, Nigeria will never realize its full potential and contribute constructively to regional and global betterment. The newest element of the USAID program supports democracy and good governance. The purpose of this program is to strengthen civil society's contribution to democratic participation and respect for civil rights.

USAID/Nigeria has built through its health-based programs an extensive and credible relationship with the Nigerian NGO community. Similarly, the United States Information Agency (USIA) and the U.S. Embassy have built important linkages to the progressive elements of Nigeria's civil society. USAID's relationships have more recently expanded to include a broad range of community mobilization and democracy activist groups with interest and potential to assertively engage in strengthening democratic participation and greater respect for civil rights. While fully aware of the risks of government attention, harassment and potential suppression, these Nigerian NGOs, the independent press, and private Nigerian institutions are challenging the legitimacy of the military regime and its violations of basic rights. Operating at both the community and national level, the NGO and pro-democracy groups are emerging as the leaders in this struggle and look to the USG for material and moral support.

The USAID democratization program is providing direct support to Nigerian NGOs working in democratization that address the full spectrum of DG issues pertinent to the restoration of democratic rule in Nigeria. USAID funding currently supports a Democracy and Human Rights Fund (DHRF) 116(e) program through the U.S. Embassy which gives small grants to pro-democracy groups advocating a return to a democratically elected civilian government. USAID has expanded on this program with an FY 1996 inter-agency transfer grant to USIS which expands upon the 116(e) program and makes funding available for a significantly greater number of groups and allows expansion of the program to provide more support for regional, state and local NGOs working in specific geographic areas within the large federated country which is Nigeria. In addition, USAID is funding three additional programs which support and complement the PVO grants program. These are: (1) a major initiative to increase women's rights and women's participation in the democratic process, (2) an extensive mass-media program to promote civic education and support for democratization, and (3) support to the African American Labor Center which provides support to Nigerian labor unions, perhaps the most powerful of anti-government groups in Nigeria whose national strikes in 1994 almost brought down the government. All of these programs enhance the strengthening of civil society's influence and advocacy role for the masses of people who disagree with the military regime while contributing to democratic participation and respect for civil rights. One example of the expected success of this program was USAID sponsorship of a meeting of women activists from all 36 states to develop a women's political agenda in the evolving political situation in Nigeria. The political manifesto that was produced has been printed and is being widely distributed to women's groups throughout the country. The high level of interest and enthusiasm encountered in the field for this activity was unexpected and it is clear that there is a substantial absorptive capacity for DG activities using women's organizations.

The Country Democracy Team (composed of USAID, U.S. Embassy and USIS) is working on a set of intermediate benchmarks and indicators which it believes will lead to this eventual result. While we cannot claim that this program initiative alone will bring about the desired democratic change in Nigeria, It is certain, that the program will maintain positive and sustained pressure for change, and that it will contribute to the necessary eventual achievement and maintenance of democratic stability in Nigeria.

* Special Objective 2: Strengthened Civil Society Contribution to Democratic Participation and Civil

Rights

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NIGERIA

FY 1998 PROGRAM SUMMARY

	Encouraging Broad- based Economic Growth	Stabilizing Population Growth and Protecting Human Health	Protecting the Environment	Building Democracy	Providing Humanitarian Assistance	Totals
USAID Strategic Objective
SO 2: Improved Maternal and Child Health Practices - Dev. Fund for Africa	---	3,000,000	---	---	---	3,000,000
SP 1: HIV/AIDS Prevention - Dev. Fund for Africa	---	1,000,000	---	---	---	1,000,000
SP 2: Strengthened Civil Society Contribution to Democratic Participation and Civil Rights - Dev. Fund for Africa	---	---	---	3,000,000	---	3,000,000
Total -Dev. Fund for Africa	---	4,000,000	---	3,000,000	---	7,000,000

USAID Affairs Officer: Felix Awantang

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ACTIVITY DATA SHEET

PROGRAM: NIGERIA

TITLE AND NUMBER: Improved Maternal and Child Health Practices, 620-S002

STATUS: Continuing

PROPOSED OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCES: $ 3,000,000 DFA

INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1995; ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2000

Purpose: To promote a healthier and more productive society through the provision of integrated maternal and child health services through community level non-governmental organizations (NGOs)

Background: Rates of infant, child and maternal morbidity and mortality are high in Nigeria. Public sector services are extremely limited. This program works with Nigerian NGOs to enhance their capacity to deliver and sustain integrated health care services. The program recognizes the link between the health of mothers and their children and includes an emphasis on women.

USAID Role and Achievements to Date: NGOs are provided with training, institutional development and technical assistance to assure the delivery of quality services for the care of sick children, maternal and child health services, immunizations, malaria control and oral rehydration therapy. USAID has led other donor efforts in the development of private sector (voluntary and commercial) alternatives to deliver support through umbrella organizations in USAID focus states. These include plans to maximize institutional sustainability.

Descriptions: USAID supports the delivery of child and maternal health services as a component of an integrated health care package. Implementing U.S. Agencies and their Nigerian NGO partners work in geographic focus areas in northwest, southeast and southwestern states. Activities target reducing the infant, child and maternal mortality rates by promoting immunizations, the use of oral rehydration therapy for diarrhea treatment, malaria control and appropriate home-based treatment of the sick child. The improved participation of women in decision making, NGO capacity development and enhanced organizational sustainability are cross-cutting strategies.

Host Country and Other Donors: The United Nations Childrens' Fund (UNICEF) provides a broad range of infant, child and maternal health inputs through the public sector. Their Bamako Initiative Project (a collaboration with the British Overseas Development Agency) focuses on support at the local level. Substantial vaccine contributions have been made by Japan and Germany, and the Israeli government supports an exchange program for health management training.

Beneficiaries: Infants, children under the age of 5 years and their mothers. USAID-supported programs target 17 focus states with a total estimated population of 55 million.

Principal Contractors, Grantees or Agencies: USAID implements activities through a participating agency service agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and U.S. Cooperating Agencies (CAs) who work in turn with Nigerian NGOs. Major CAs include the Basic Support for Institutionalizing Child Survival Project (BASICS), Initiatives, Johns Hopkins University and the International Center for Research on Women. All U.S. implementing partners' programs deliver integrated services that include child survival, family planning and HIV/AIDS interventions -- thus expanding impact.

Major Results Indicators                    Baseline                    Target

Improved Immunization Coverage: i.e. Polio     20.7% (1995)          40% (1998)

Increased rate of children with correct
home management of diarrhea                    NA    (1995)          40% (1997)

 Reduced prevalence of stunting                NA    (1995)          35% (1997)
in the under 5 age group

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ACTIVITY DATA SHEET

PROGRAM: NIGERIA

TITLE AND NUMBER: HIV/AIDS Prevention , 620-SPO1

STATUS: Continuing

PROPOSED OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCES: $1,000,000 DFA

INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1995 ; ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 1998

Purpose: To promote a healthier and more productive society through the prevention of HIV/AIDS and sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs) through sustainable, community level non-governmental organizations (NGOs)

Background: The HIV/AIDS epidemic threatens millions of Nigerians. Seroprevalence rates have been increasing since the mid-1980's and may now be high as 50% in selected high risk populations such as commercial sex workers. With prevalence rates in 1996 estimated at 6.7%, more than 3.5 million Nigerians have been infected with HIV -- 12.5% of the worldwide total.

USAID Role and Achievements to Date: USAID-supported programs target 17 focus states with a total estimated population of over 55 million. The program supports NGO efforts at the community level. In targeted Information, education and communication (IEC) efforts, over 248,000 commercial sex workers and long distance drivers have received information and education. This has been supported by 172 media spots reaching the broader audience. Approximately 462 peer educators have been trained and 1 million condoms have been distributed to high risk populations. These are stimulating the demand for condoms from other sources, i.e. Contraceptive Social Marketing (CSM) sales rose from 24 million condoms in 1993 to 45 million in 1994 and 55 million in 1995. Condoms sales as of June 1996 stood at 44.1 million.

Description: USAID has been leading the effort to enhance awareness and stimulate programs addressing the HIV/AID crisis and has a three part strategy: (1) behavior change communication through peer health education outreach, (2) STD management emphasizing a syndromic diagnosis and treatment approach and (3) the promotion of condoms. Given the disempowerment of women in marriage or sex situations, the program provides peer support and training in negotiation skills for women. In order to address the issue of women empowerment as well as NGO institutional strengthening and sustainability, all NGO proposals submitted by the different U.S. Cooperative Agencies to USAID for approval, include improved participation of women in decision making, NGO capacity development and enhanced organizational sustainability as cross-cutting strategies.

Host Country and Other Donors: The British Overseas Development Administration (ODA) and the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) have planned inputs, but have yet to launch programs.

Beneficiaries: Sexually-active adults and adolescents with a special focus on high-risk populations such as commercial sex workers, long distance lorry drivers and women in sex situations which require negotiation such as polygamous marriages.

Principal Contractors, Grantees or Agencies: USAID implements activities through a contract with the AIDSCAP program. AIDSCAP delivers integrated services that include child survival, family planning and HIV/AIDS interventions -- thus expanding impact.

Major Results Indicator                Baseline          Target 1998

Improved availability of condoms     17 million (1990)      60 million

Increased proportion of men and women
  knowledgeable about AIDS           47% (1993)          >75%

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ACTIVITY DATA SHEET

PROGRAM: NIGERIA

TITLE AND NUMBER: Strengthened Civil Society Contribution to Democratic Participation and Civil Rights, 620-SPO2

STATUS:Continuing

PROPOSED OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCES: $ 3,000,000 DFA

INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1996 ; ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2000

Purpose: To Strengthen Civil Society's Contribution to Democratic Participation and Respect for Civil Rights.

Background: Through its health-based program, USAID-Nigeria has built an extensive and credible relationship with the Nigerian NGO community. Similarly, the USIS and the U.S. Embassy have built important linkages to the progressive elements of Nigeria's civil society. USAID's relationships have more recently expanded to include a broad range of community mobilization and democracy activist groups with interest and potential to assertively engage in strengthening democratic participation and greater respect for civil rights. While fully aware of the risks of government attention, harassment and potential suppression, these Nigerian NGOs, the independent press and private Nigerian institutions are challenging the legitimacy of the military regime and its violations of basic rights. Operating at the community as well as national level, the NGO and pro-democracy groups are emerging as the leaders in this struggle and look to the USG for material and moral support. The small grants program managed by USIS through an interagency transfer and the Embassy's 116(e) program complement USAID's Democracy and Governance (DG) activities to reach a wide range of organizations that address the full spectrum of DG issues pertinent to the restoration of democratic rule in Nigeria. During this pre-transition period when the military regime is very sensitive to critics, the Embassy and USIS will implement the potentially more confrontational elements of the program while USAID manages those components more compatible with the health portfolio and focused at the community level.

USAID Role and Achievements to Date: The USAID element of the country DG program focuses on three areas of interest to women which re-enforce activities in the health program: women's political empowerment, women's participation in politics and the democratic process and respect for fundamental human rights. A broad range of community NGOs and leaders, some of whom have been involved in health services provision, will be providing training in social mobilization, women's empowerment, advocacy and leadership. These organizations and leaders, including the core DG NGO and pro-democracy groups, seek a stronger and more effective role in the growing effort to strengthen democratic participation and respect for civil rights.

The following activities have been undertaken to set the stage for implementing a small grants DG program. An intensive field investigation of potential NGOs has been completed and approximately 45 NGOs and community based organizations have been identified to implement the program. Groups of interest that were identified in this survey include market women and church groups which are interested in influencing the political evolution of the nation. This activity was preceded by a meeting of women activists from all 36 states, meeting to develop a women's political agenda in the evolving political situation in Nigeria. This document has been printed and is being widely distributed to women's groups all over the country. The high level of interest and enthusiasm encountered in the field for this was unexpected and there is a substantial absorptive capacity for DG activities in the system.

If the Military regime keeps its promise and turns over the country to a democratically elected civilian government in 1998, a major review of the DG program would be in order. Assuming improved relations with the U.S. by the new government, it would be necessary to review the entire program with a view to designing a new program that is more responsive to the needs of the new civilian government.

Descriptions: The current results package provides modest operational and strengthening grants, limited commodities and targeted technical assistance to Nigerian private organizations and persons that contribute to the strengthening of democratic participation and greater respect for civil rights in Nigeria. The recipients include Nigerian non-governmental organizations working for democratic participation and greater civil rights awareness, private governance think-tanks, the independent press, progressive opinion leaders and other appropriate groups and individuals. USIA, U.S. Embassy/Nigeria and USAID-Nigeria are working together to identify the committed, credible and accountable grant recipients and to facilitate linkages in the various components of the U.S. Government funded D/G activities.

Host Country and Other Donors: Donors have had only modest activities addressing democratic participation and respect for civil rights. The donor community has expanded its activities. Our most important partners are the Ford Foundation, the National Endowment for Democracy, the Canadian High Commission and the British Council/Overseas Development Agency. Other foundations (e.g., Fierdich Ebert) have also contribute to a common effort.

Beneficiaries: The People of Nigeria

Principal Contractors, Grantees or Agencies: United States Information Agency (USIA), Center for Development and Population Activities (CEDPA), Johns Hopkins University, African American Labor Center

Major Results Indicators: In Development

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