The CSP lays
out USAID/Nigeria’s vision for its support to Nigeria’s
political, social and economic development for the years 2004 to
2009. The Country Strategic Plan (CSP) took a year to develop and
engaged the participation of USAID/Nigeria staff, partners and stakeholders
in Nigeria, in the West African region, and in USAID/Washington.
Nigeria’s development needs are enormous and the CSP is grounded
in USAID’s comparative advantage and areas of engagement that
provide the best opportunities for maximum results.
Overall Assistance Environment
Nigeria successfully concluded a second round of democratic elections
in 2003, ushering in the first civilian to civilian electoral transition
in its 43 years of independence. The country is now in a position
to address the damage and neglect inflicted by three decades of
military rule that at best was indifferent to the needs of the people
and at worst flagrantly violated their human rights. Nigeria’s
size, with approximately 135 million people; complexity, with over
300 indigenous ethnic groups; and large revenue generations from
petroleum exports make it significantly different from other developing
nations on the continent, more like a region than a single country.
Nigeria is dominant in West African affairs and a leader on the
continent not only because of its size, but also because of its
role in emerging organizations such as ECOWAS and NEPAD that frame
a new vision for Africa. In keeping with key tenets of NEPAD, the
new administration has renewed its commitments to fighting corruption,
supporting service delivery, and revitalizing the economy. Civil
society is beginning to emerge from the shadow of military suppression
and engage with government to frame the policy agenda. At no time
in independent Nigeria’s history has the environment for leveraging
significant change been more positive.
Development Trends
The years of military rule have had a largely negative impact on
development indicators in Nigeria. Nigeria ranks 152 out of 175
countries on the 2002 UNDP Human Development Index and has not improved
its standing over the past 15 years. The economy is stagnant, growing
in 2002 at a rate of just 3.3 percent, less than half what is required
to reduce poverty and only slightly higher than the annual population
growth rate of 2.8 percent. Per capita income is just $300 per year,
and 70 percent of Nigerians live in poverty on less than $1 per
day. At least 15 percent of Nigerian children die before reaching
their fifth birthday, victims of largely preventable illness such
as malaria or diarrhea. Only slightly over half of school-age children
attend school regularly and many drop out before completing primary
school, contributing to low adult literacy rates of 58 percent for
men and 41 percent for women. Nigerian women marry young and have
an average of six children, contributing both to a population growth
rate that will double the population to 270 million in less than
25 years, and also to high maternal morbidity and mortality that
makes Nigerian women up to 100 times more like to die of pregnancy-related
causes than women in Western countries. Institutions of governance
such as the National Assembly remain weak and uncertain of their
roles. The recent national elections were flawed by poor administration
and questionable practices. Patronage remains the customary way
of conducting political business and civil society remains largely
excluded from broad participation in policy dialogue and setting
the national agenda. Women and minorities are particularly vulnerable
to exclusion and women constitute only six percent of elected representatives
at the national level. Social conflict triggered by resource competition,
religious and ethnic differences, and/or the economic situation,
has claimed thousands of lives over the past four years. These are
all serious challenges to sustainable development and to the well-being
of Nigeria’s people. The new government appears prepared to
take these challenges seriously and to institute reforms that will
make a difference in the lives of its citizens.
Program Rationale
The democratic government came into office in 1999 on a platform
that promised macroeconomic policy reform, poverty alleviation,
improved service delivery, universal basic education, accountable
government and reduced corruption. But the legacy of military rule
was not so readily overcome, and most of these promises have not
yet been realized. Nonetheless, important first steps have been
taken on a number of fronts. Institutions to attack corruption been
established and have survived the efforts of the legislature to
disempower them; the government is gradually developing a coherent
poverty reduction strategy, with civil society engagement; sound
policies on reproductive health and nutrition have been put into
place; the President has recognized the massive threat of HIV/AIDS
and thrown his political weight behind the national program; high-profile
public sector institutions are soundly managed and have zero tolerance
for corruption; civil society is dynamic, enjoys an increasingly
open political and social environment, and supports democracy. U.
S. engagement with Nigeria is also crucial because of the pre-eminence
of the country in the region, as well as its economic importance
to the United States as a supplier of 8-10 percent of American crude
petroleum imports, a proportion that is growing. The reelection
of President Obasanjo gives him the opportunity to build on both
his past accomplishments and the positive spirit in the country,
and move his reform agenda more aggressively. It also gives the
international community a renewed opportunity to support the government
and the people of Nigeria, to increase the intensity and focus of
dialogue with Nigeria, and to develop strategic interventions that
will move Nigeria to realize its potential and allow its people
to prosper.
Stakeholders
USAID/Nigeria’s planning process for the
2004-2009 Country Strategic Plan is distinguished by the comprehensive
stakeholder consultation process that informed strategy development.
Stakeholder dialogue was initiated at the concept paper stage. The
consultations took place at several levels, and at different points
along the continuum of strategy development, and invited the input
of a rich diversity of implementing partners, donors, GON, civil
society, private sector interests, and USG colleagues. As the strategy
evolved, it was repeatedly discussed with and vetted by these groups.
Well over one thousand individuals, representing more than 400 organizations,
participated, and endorsed USAID/Nigeria’s program goal: USAID
supports Nigeria in achieving a more transparent and participatory
democracy with a healthier and better-educated population in a growing
and diversified economy. The final CSP reflects this extensive dialogue
and ground-truthing.
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