USADF Signs a Grant to Support Handicapped in Nigeria:

WASHINGTON - June 23, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. – June 23, 2009 – In an effort to support marginalized populations in Africa, the United States African Development Foundation has signed a grant to benefit a community group in Nigeria. The grant will benefit the Physically Handicapped Association of Nigeria-Kaduna State (PHAN-Kaduna).

After signing the grant, USADF President Lloyd Pierson stated, “It is USADF’s aim to identify and work with marginalized and under-served populations in Sub-Saharan Africa, helping them to become economically self-sufficient.  This grant is designed to work with the handicapped in Nigeria to become self-sufficient.”

PHAN, the Physically Handicapped Association of Nigeria, is the apex organization for all associations of the physically handicapped in the country.  PHAN-Kaduna represents the chapter in Kaduna state, a northern state in Nigeria.

The physically handicapped are one of the most marginalized groups in northern Nigeria.  It is with this in mind that PHAN-Kaduna formed to provide support to the physically handicapped of Kaduna State and help them develop skills so they can participate in the local economy and become self-sufficient.  With growing market demand for tailored goods and construction, PHAN-Kaduna has provided vocational training for physically handicapped in tailoring and metalworking.  However, members need more support to turn their skills into income generating activities.

The two year, $91,464 grant will help augment the organization’s capacity to support tailoring and metal work operations.  Specifically, funding will be used to establish metal work and tailoring workshops, purchase equipment, and provide technical assistance and capacity building.  PHAN-Kaduna will contribute $4,233 to cover the cost of labor at the metal works and tailoring workshops and the purchase of embroidery and sewing machines.

USADF started programming in Nigeria in 2001. Nigeria’s current portfolio stands at twenty-one investment projects totaling nearly $3.7 million.  For more information about the portfolio, please visit the country’s quick source page at http://www.adf.gov/USADF-QuickSourceCountryPortfolioPage-Nigeria.htm .

The United States African Development Foundation (USADF) is a United States Government agency dedicated to expanding access to economic opportunity in Africa. Currently USADF operates in 20 African nations.  Over the past 25 years, USADF has funded nearly 1,500 projects representing in excess of $150 million in support of African enterprises and local African communities.  For more information on USADF, its programs and application guidelines, visit www.usadf.gov.

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