By Gladys Ezeagu

The Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta, PIND and its United States based strategic partner, Niger Delta Partnership Initiative, NDPI, have released an independent impact-assessment report detailing the progress made by both organisations towards achieving sustainable and systemic change in the Niger Delta region.

The report shows that since their inception in 2010, PIND and NDPI, have brought significant international attention and resources to support sustainable development initiatives in the region.

As result of PIND and NDPI’s work, the Niger Delta is now receiving investment from multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and international non-governmental organisations as well as other private sector institutions, according to the report prepared by the Initiative for Global Development, IGD, a Washington, DC-based non-profit organisation.

PIND and NDPI’s work has enabled and strengthened relationships between local individuals and hundreds of organisations, resulting in more than $92 million of new investment in the region in both monetary and in-kind resources since 2010, according to the report.

“Although socio-economic challenges in the region persist, this report emphasizes that PIND and NDPI have created positive change for the people of the Niger Delta.

“We are proud that this assessment validates the progress we have made to date and provides us with recommendations to generate even greater impact going forward,” said PIND Chairman, Clay Neff.

The greatest impact of PIND and NDPI’s work is in the areas of economic development, peace building, and cultivating an enabling environment through advocacy and capacity building for economic growth and peace to take hold.

PIND and NDPI have also achieved significant impacts in forging strong partnerships, alliances and networks, and establishing a self-sustaining, rapidly growing movement of peace actors numbering more than 3,800 individuals, according to the report.

“We place a high priority on working with partners and existing organisations because coordinated development efforts can achieve greater impact than each organization working alone,” said PIND’s Executive Director, Sam Daibo.

With more than 32 million people, the Niger Delta represents a complex, yet critical region to Nigeria and West Africa as many of its current events typically have far-reaching effects.

“The report shows PIND and NDPI’s programmes are moving the needle on achieving systematic, sustainable change in a complex, yet important social environment in West Africa,” Daibo said.