Development Initiatives Network (DIN) is an independent non-governmental organization (NGO), which was founded on 1 April 1999.

This was in recognition of the fact that new models, processes and tools are needed in order to address Nigeria's longstanding social and economic problems. DIN's activities have focused on promoting evidence-based policy influence work as an integral aspect of its public interest mission.

Our objectives are the advancement of open government, good governance, social justice, environmental sustainability and economic empowerment with human rights protection and gender equity as cross-cutting themes.

This project is being undertaken by Development Initiatives Network (DIN) with the support of the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF). The Project finds its justification and rationale in the information and knowledge gaps that exist particularly between women involved in micro enterprises and the financial services sector in Nigeria.

As a result, these women who in many cases have to juggle family responsibilities with entrepreneurial activities, fail to maximize their economic and financial potentials. In the current phase, the EMPOWA Project is providing financial literacy education to women in the two focal States of Osun (South West Zone) and Kwara (North Central Zone) and helping the trainees to build business linkages.

The target beneficiaries are small-scale agricultural producers, market traders and artisans. It is expected that this in this way, the EMPOWA Project can help to accelerate the realization of personal, family and business goals.

Development Initiatives Network (DIN) commenced the ArtLaw Project in September 2006 with funding support from the Ford Foundation.

The Project aims to promote a more professional approach to legal and business matters within the arts sector.

This is to be achieved through the introduction of information toolkits, online resources, training and public education programmes, that will improve artists’ understanding of legal and regulatory requirements and the scope of available legal entitlements.

One of the observed weaknesses of economic decision-making in Nigeria is the limited public participation in budget processes and the fact that monitoring and analysis of the impacts of government expenditures is not commonplace.

DIN’s Gender Budget Transparency and Accountability Project aims to promote greater transparency and accountability by Governments in fulfilling commitments to the advancement of women’s rights by analyzing the gender impacts of Government budgets and expenditure.

The objectives of this project, which commenced in April 2006 with the support of the European Union are to monitor, analyze and document the gender impacts of the Lagos State budget and sectoral allocations in seven key areas: women affairs, economic planning, education, health, housing, poverty alleviation and environment; to conduct gender budget analysis training and skills development programmes for at least 540 women and community activists by project end; and to promote policy and administrative reforms, specifically, the publication of a gender budget statement by the Lagos State Government.

For more information, www.lagosgenderbudget.net