People who know their rights can hold power to account.
COMSSI is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organisation in Kano. We help disadvantaged communities understand budgets, laws and services, and speak up for education, health and justice.
Why we exist
COMSSI was formed by development workers who saw the same pattern again and again. When public money and services do not reach people, young people drop out of school, migrate, or fall into trafficking and political thuggery. Corruption and neglect are usually behind it.
We work from 185 Zaria Road, Kano, with NGOs, community groups and government partners across the country. Our approach is social accountability: giving people the information and skills to ask how public resources are used.
We are registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC/IT/NO81968) and governed by a Board of Trustees. Read more about us.
Our mission
Creating awareness to provide knowledge of self-ability and empower through social accountability.
Our vision
A society where disadvantaged groups have access to quality, affordable education, justice and self-esteem for sustainable development.
Informed citizens get better services. So we start with information.
What we do
Eight areas of work, all built on the same idea: informed citizens get better services. See details and examples.
Budget transparency and civic participation
We help citizens read and question government budgets, expenditure and programmes, and take part in collective advocacy through budget literacy, scorecards and participatory budgeting.
Education and basic literacy
Adult classes, extramural lessons for GCE, SSCE and NECO candidates and school dropouts, and support to reach tertiary institutions.
Health awareness
Reproductive and adolescent health, maternal and child health, HIV/AIDS awareness, and malaria campaigns including the 2022 net distribution in Madobi LGA.
Fighting human trafficking and child abuse
Community awareness on the dangers of trafficking and unsafe migration, and support to children sent to cities for domestic work.
Livelihoods and economic recovery
Small business training, skills acquisition and training of trainers for unemployed youth, women and internally displaced persons in communities affected by insurgency.
Climate-smart agribusiness
Supporting rural agricultural commodity groups to adopt sustainable, climate-smart technologies.
Human rights documentation
Research and publication, including a book documenting human rights violations in Northern Nigeria with Kano and Bauchi as case studies.
Capacity building and training
Training for government officials, CSOs, community and religious leaders on public financial management, budget monitoring, communication and report writing.
A track record with serious partners
15 years of documented work with EU, DFID, Pathfinder and other partners across Kano and Northern Nigeria.
- 2008Helped launch COBTAK, the Coalition of Budget Transparency Advocates in Kano, with EU support.
- 2022Social mobilisation and net distribution for Kano's malaria elimination campaign in Madobi LGA.
A few of our partners
Work with us
We are ready to work with government agencies, development partners, philanthropies and community organisations for the benefit of underprivileged citizens.
Partner or fund
Co-design a project on accountability, health, education or livelihoods.
Start a conversationVolunteer
Give your time and skills. Volunteers help run our classes, training and outreach.
Offer your skillsHire our expertise
Our team advises donors, NGOs and community groups on health, gender, mobilisation and enterprise.
Ask about consultancyContact us
No 185 Zaria Road, Kano, Nigeria+234 803 711 5519
+234 803 787 7859
dgrassroot@yahoo.com
Want to send a written message, or see directions and FAQs?
Go to the full contact page