It is being increasingly recognised that sustainable development in the Niger Delta depends on civil society, especially in rural areas, having the institutions with capacity to develop itself according its members own perceived needs and priorities .
These institutions also serve as examples of good governance; avenues to resolve conflict; and, bring young men and women into the decision making process, giving them a voice and providing an alternative to violence.
The Vision of the ISD
Our vision for the ISD is to develop individual and institutional capacity for participatory community development, good governance and environmental security and to create partnerships to reduce conflict.
The Mission of the ISD
To be a highly respected centre of excellence for training and research, achieving social justice and equitable practices of sustainable development
around which a network of rural, community owned and managed training centres or 'living universities', will function.
To achieve this the Niger Delta needs more, development institutions, such as Community Development Foundations; more NGOs to facilitate institutional development at the grass-root level; more trainers to provide capacity building and skills, and; more researchers to monitor and evaluate progress and to develop technically correct messages for trainers to pass on.
The Institute of Sustainable Development (ISD) aims to fill this void by providing individual and institutional capacity development for participatory community development; building the civil society necessary for good governance, peace and security, and good resource management, and; by making linkages with national and international academic institutions interested in further research into development and conflict issues in the Delta.
