Center for Policy and Development (PolDeC)

PolDeC is a non-profit, non-political, non-governmental development organization committed to promoting appropriate development. We do this through advocacy of effective and implementable policies and initiatives. PolDec conducts policy research, documentation, advocacy and training targeted at improving the coherency of development policy. Our ICT work centers on documentation, research and capacity building targeted at creating awareness of the potentials of ICTs as enablers of socio-economic transformation.

Background

Founded in July 1999 as the Homebuilders Foundation, we have since evolved into a dynamic policy and development organisation which focuses on capacity building, research and advocacy.

We envision PolDeC as: a policy and development resource center that is a positive catalyst, an active participant in providing innovative initiatives as well as intellectual capital; and a mobilizing force for national and international resources towards sustainable development in Nigeria.

Our ICT work centers on documentation, research and capacity building targeted at creating awareness of the potentials of ICTs as enablers of socio-economic transformation.

Our publications include:
- Women, New Information Communication Technologies and Socio-Economic Transformation: A Beginners Handbook to the Information Society
- Mobile Telephony: Leveraging Strengths and Opportunities for Socio-Economic Transformation in Nigeria
- And the Rural Woman’s Guide to Mobile Telephony, which is still in the works for publication.

Our Website is hosted at Kabissa at http://www.poldec.org

ICT Projects

• Mobile Telephony: Leveraging Strengths and Opportunities for Socio-Economic Transformation in Nigeria

This project appraised the evolution of mobile telephony services in Nigeria, with emphasis on the transformational impact of these services on livelihoods and social interactions as well as the potential for fostering sustainable livelihoods in rural communities.

Outcomes of the project include the book, Mobile Telephony: Leveraging Strengths and Opportunities for Socio-Economic Transformation in Nigeria and a public presentation of the said book scheduled for Friday 8 December 2006 at the Heinrich Boell Foundation Conference Hall, Ikoyi, Lagos.

• The African Women ICT Tent

The Africa Women ICT Tent addressed the status of women in the information society noting in particular the capacity gaps of women in access to; knowledge and use of new information communication technologies as well as the critical need for the inclusion of African women in the information society cum emerging knowledge economy.

The forum also generated recommendations on the way forward in utilizing ICTs as development tools that would foster socio-economic transformation in rural Africa where the majority of poor women are located. The Federal Republic of Nigeria presented these recommendations at the inter government sessions.

• One-Day Multistakeholders Sensitization/Consultation on the Second Regional African Preparatory Meeting to the World Summit on Information.

PolDeC collaborated with The Heinrich Boll Foundation and two other Nigerian NGOs to hold a one-day multistakeholders sensitization/consultation on the Second African Regional Preparatory Meeting to the World Summit on Information Society.

Outcomes include:
- Sensitization of stakeholders on the Second African Regional Preparatory Meeting to the WSIS through the one-day meeting, and publications in the Punch and THISDAY newspapers.
- Formation of an online discussion group to take the discourse further.
- Draft Nigerian Multistakeholder Position Paper concluded in Accra.
- Decision to hold three Nigerian Caucus meetings and by implication, the establishment of a Nigerian caucus at the Accra WSIS.
- Three Nigerian Delegation Meetings between government and civil society representatives on Saturday 29 January 2005, Monday 31 January 2005 and Friday February 4, 2005.
- Presentation of the Nigeria Civil Society Draft Position Paper to the government delegation.
- Access to the Nigerian government working document on Nigeria’s Position.
- The invitation of civil society actors in ICT to pre conference discussions of preparatory activities for the Africa Regional Preparatory Conference on Telecommunications hosted by the Ministry of Communications and National Communications Commission in July 2005 at Abuja.
- The Nigeria Communications Commission assigned PolDeC the role of coordinating the ‘African Women ICT Tent’, one of the pre-event meetings at the Africa Regional Preparatory Committee Meeting to the World Telecommunications Development Conference.

• Sensitization and ICT Hands on Training for 40 Women and 3 Men at Calvary Believers Chapel Women√¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s Convention.

Following the success of PolDeC’s facilitation of the African Women ICT Tent as well as the beginners handbook to the Information Society, the organization was invited by the Virtuous Circle of Calvary Believers Church, Lagos, Nigeria to sensitize and do a hands on training for the women of the church.

The program focused on what ICTs are and the attendant benefits derivable from familiarization with and use of ICTs, particularly new ICTs such as mobile phones and the Internet. There was also a hands on session where participants were taken through basic computing. Copies of the handbook, Women, New Information Communication Technologies and Socio-Economic Transformation: A Beginners Handbook to the Information Society was circulated amongst the participants who were advised to continuously practice whenever they had access to computers. The point was also emphasized that ICTs are not demonic tools but enablers of socio-economic transformation if appropriately utilized.

A total of 40 women and 3 men drawn from diverse socio-economic strata participated in the training.

• The Fertility Awareness Seminar

It was designed and organized to eradicate ignorance on fertility, sensitize the community to the causes of infertility and the availability of medical treatment for infertility.

The objectives of the seminar were:
- To enlighten participants on male and female fertility.
- To highlight the causes of infertility.
- To offer advice on treatment of infertility.
- To promote the reproductive rights and health of women.

Challenges

Our greatest challenges have been inconsistent energy and sometimes server failures that hinder access to the Internet. Funding is also a challenge. In addition, the literacy levels of some our trainees sometimes constitute a barrier but that is often taken care of by training in local languages.