CDI Nigeria is a registered, independent, national non – profit organization working with partners and other stakeholders toreduce poverty and improve quality of life and living condition by strengthening community engagement and participation in development while promoting respect for the socio-cultural, political, and economic rights of the people through research, training/capacity – building, advocacy, communication and policy development.
CDI Nigeria uses research to develop effective and practical responses/solutions to real –life community challenges, creating opportunities for people to learn, develop and use their skills and to take action to improve their living condition for both the present and future generations.
CDI Nigeria therefore, contributes cutting – edge development knowledge and skills that are crucial in empowering practitioners to work towards practical, positive societal change while promoting self-help and self – reliance among local community people.
As a training institution, CDI Nigeria is in the fore front of providing leadership and career development opportunities to improve the country’s man – power situation in the dynamic and fast evolving human and social development sector.
Significant development policy challenges still exist in the country. The paucity of quality data, weak and in some cases non-existent social statistics have for instance led to low capacities in social and human development planning. This means that policy decisions which ought to have a positive effect on the people are rarely integrated into specific programmes or used to design innovative activities. CDI Nigeria therefore advocates for closing of policy gaps at all levels by working with other development partners to promote effective policies that can help to foster an environment in which sustainable development can thrive.
The Institute is committed to informing, education and creating public awareness among the various stakeholders on issues related to sustainable community and social development. It therefore serves as a catalyst in the sharing of relevant, up – to – date and innovative knowledge, experiences and best practices that address the multi – faceted and complex dimensions of development in the country. The Institute disseminates information through blog/websites, databases and relevant publications including journals.
The institute is registered in Nigeria, in accordance with the relevant laws, and with the approval of the Federal Ministry of Education.
Beyond Intuition to Research – Based Social Change Strategies
Lack of scientific research do not only impact negatively on development planning, but compromises the quality of service delivery. CDI Nigeria believes in socially relevant and rigorous research that contribute solutions to the various human and social development problems in the country. The Institute’s emphasis on science - based information and approaches ensure that the decisions on development project planning are based on empirical understanding of community needs which helps in the development of effective intervention that results to successful project outcomes. The Institute provides the relevant tools that enable practitioners to move beyond intuition to research – based social change strategies.
Communities as the Centre Point of Development.
The institute’s work is associated with people – centred approaches that place communities at the centre of development intervention. While communities continue to face multiple development challenges, they still remain the most effective centre – point for development interventions or programmes.
Communities need skills to achieve sustainable development. There is therefore a compelling necessity to assist communities build their capacity to address their concerns and meet basic needs. Thus the institute partners with local communities to implements community – based programmes to address real – life community challenges that improve human welfare.
The institute therefore serves as a catalyst for sharing tools, experiences, knowledge, strategies and approaches that empower communities to achieve sustainable development.
Bridging the gap between theory and practice.
Meeting the nation’s development challenges of the 21st century requires citizens’ participation in sustainable development effort. Citizen’s participation is an integral part of development. Without the citizens’ participation as change agents, there can never be development. CDI Nigeria therefore works to build a more inclusive and secure societies by expanding the avenues for citizens to participate in development and policies that affect their lives and to become both agents and recipients/beneficiaries of development. We achieve this by providing a delicate balancing of the academics and the practical.
VISION STATEMENT
To be a leading development institution, contributing to the advancement of development knowledge and skills through education, research and training.
MISSION STATEMENT
To create a more inclusive and secure society, devoid of poverty, with improved social services and policies that support community well – being.
