Pro-Natura International Nigeria works to achieve long-lasting solutions for community development within the Niger Delta. By establishing trusted and transparent Community Foundations, PNI helps communities to lead their own development process. By building institutions, capacity, trust and confidence within the community, PNI is redefining community-led development in the Niger Delta through the Community Development Foundation Initiative.
Pro-Natura International (Nigeria) advocates that in the absence of good governance, an effectively implemented community led development process is the only viable vehicle for sustainable development, conflict resolution and economic improvement for poor and marginalised communities in the Niger Delta and elsewhere. There are no short cuts or simple solutions.
Since 1997, PNI has pioneered and successfully demonstrated participatory development with rural communities; strengthening existing institutions and creating community capacity to assess, plan, manage monitor and evaluate their own developmental needs.
With the help of PNI, communities such as the Akassa Kingdom, Eastern Obolo, Opobo-Nkoro and Oron have kick-started their own development through the establishment of corporate Community Development Foundations. These Community Based Organisations have learnt to help themselves and to attract the help of others.
Participatory Community Development, as practiced in these coastal areas, represents the best chance at ensuring equitable distribution of benefits directed towards communities: ensuring that development in the communities is inclusive, gender balanced and equitable. This community-led development process helps to promote peace and security within the communities.
Communities have learnt to apply local solutions to local problems in areas including: poverty reduction; health; education; small scale infrastructure development; improved natural resource management; violent conflict and preventing benefit capture.
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