What we do

Budget transparency and civic participation

We help citizens understand how public money is planned and spent, and give them the skills to take part.

Examples of our work

• Radio phone-in programme (one year) on public participation in the budget process, supported by SAVI/DFID
• Capacity building for state and local government officials, CSOs, community and religious leaders on public financial management, supported by EU SRIP (2007/2008)
• Took part in Kano State's Medium Term Sector Strategy and Medium Term Expenditure Framework (2016)
• Political economy, drivers of change and sector analyses in education, health, water and sanitation, and livelihoods for M4D/DFID in Kano, Jigawa and Kaduna
• Field research on local government social accountability systems in Kano and Jigawa

Education and basic literacy

Education is the way out of neglect. We open doors for people the school system has left behind.

Examples of our work

• Adult classes for formal and non-formal education
• Extramural classes for GCE, SSCE and NECO candidates and school dropouts
• Help with admission and support into tertiary institutions
• Computer training and creating job opportunities
• Extramural activities for school children in host communities

Health awareness and outreach

We bring health information to communities and advocate for laws and services that protect young people and mothers.

Examples of our work

• Awareness on HIV/AIDS, reproductive and sexual reproductive health rights, adolescent physical and mental health, and maternal and child health
• Adolescent Reproductive Health Empowerment, a three-year Pathfinder International project delivered with YOSPIS
• Malaria elimination: social mobilisation in Tsanyawa LGA (2014) with SFH and MCH2
• Interpersonal communication for pregnant women on insecticidal nets in Tsanyawa, Garko, Sumaila and Gaya LGAs (2013 and 2019)
• 2022 net distribution campaign in Madobi LGA with Catholic Relief Services, Faith Action Results and SFH

Fighting human trafficking and child abuse

We raise awareness of the dangers of trafficking and unsafe migration, which can end in modern-day slavery.

Examples of our work

• Community sensitisation on trafficking, child abuse and migration
• Assistance in cases involving young people sent to cities for domestic work
• Member of the Anti-Trafficking State Taskforce against Human Trafficking and Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse

Livelihoods and economic recovery

Right now COMSSI is running livelihoods projects that build resilience in communities hit by insurgency.

Examples of our work

• Projects for unemployed youth and women
• Small business management training
• Training of trainers for volunteers on livelihoods
• Training of trainers to support internally displaced persons
• Skill acquisition programmes

Climate-smart agribusiness

We support rural farming groups to grow more sustainably and earn more.

Examples of our work

• Support to agricultural commodity organisations
• Building capacity to adopt technologies that fit sustainable, climate-smart agriculture

Human rights documentation

We record what happens so that it can be acted on.

Examples of our work

• Survey and published book on the documentation of human rights violations in Northern Nigeria, with Kano and Bauchi as case study states
• Community and human rights empowerment
• Member of the Kano Human Rights Network

Capacity building and training

We train others, and we keep learning ourselves.

Examples of our work

• Training on budget monitoring, communication skills and report writing
• Programme accounting and auditing workshops
• Study tour to best-practice CSOs in Osun State (2008)
• National sensitisation on the Public Procurement Act
• Seminar on anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism compliance
• Participation in the Coalition of Budget Transparency Advocates in Kano (COBTAK)