Program activities are being implemented in several phases. Phase I began in February 1997 with the awarding of grants to the NGOs. Among the groups receiving grants are women s lawyer and journalist NGOs, women s religious organizations, youth advocacy NGOs, market women groups, and theatre troupes. An important feature of the program is its strategy for developing networks and promoting measurable change in attitude and behavior. The focus on measurable change in attitude and behavior ensures that activities are designed with well-defined outcomes and that resources are strategically allocated.
Membership includes both print and electronic media journalists.
More women are coming forward to participate in elections, discriminatory traditional practices are being reformed, and the interests of women are receiving more attention from the media, political parties, and community leaders. There has been an increase in NGO membership across the board. More than 60 capacity-building seminars and workshops have been conducted, attended by over 20,000 people. Advocacy visits have reached nearly 17,000, and rallies held throughout the country have consistently drawn large crowds. The achievements of individual NGOs have affected many areas of political and social life in Nigeria.