Leadership&Economic Empowerm 4 N/D Women African Centre for Corporate Responsibility (ACCR) is primarily established to act as a think tank and resource centre for the African continent on corporate social responsibility in extractive industries. ACCR facilitates the process of communication between theoil companies, communities and government using the leverage of shareholders of oil companies.

This project seeks to expand accessto economic and political opportunities for women in the Niger Delta region-a region, comprising of the oil-producing states of Nigeria. Despite contributing over 80% of Nigerian wealth, the region remains one of the most marginalized parts of the country with lots of environmental, social and economic challenges.
It would be recalled that in 2015, Chris Hufstadafrom Oxfam USA visited Nigeriato collect materials for the Dodd-Frank Act campaign. ACCR was the on-the-ground facilitator for the trip. This proposal therefore is aimed at supporting the campaign. If in line with the provision 1504 of the Dodd-Frank Act, extractive corporations are able to disclose payments made to the various governments; this project will empower the women to ask to what purposes such funds have been channeled. By asking those questions from their leaders, they will be able to make inputs into their local government, state and Federal budgets targeting their needs and that of the most vulnerable members of their communities.
Opportunities abound in the social, political, economic and other spheres of life. The main purpose is to utilize the talents and potentials of women to address some ofthe challenges of development in the Niger Delta by empowering them economically as individuals and as a collective. Second, it is also aimed at bringing more hands on board to create a balanced approach to development in the Niger Delta. Third, it is fair for women to have equal access to opportunities in the Niger Delta. Four, the resources of the Niger Delta should be used to add value to human life without discrimination. By not allowing womenample access to the opportunities provided by the oil industry, it amounts to human rights violation and marginalization. This project will utilize the strategies of advocacy, research, capacity-building, media and community outreach to expand women#s access to opportunities in the Niger Delta. It is hoped that through this project, the Niger-Delta women would be empowered to take active part in decision making at community level and that their economic fortunes couldbe changed for the better.
The scopeof the project will extend to 3 different communities across the oil-bearing states of Bayelsa,Rivers and Imo. These communities have experienced violence and human rights violations which has adversely impacted women. The essence of the three is to makefor easy measurement during monitoring and evaluation. The proposed target communities are: Umuechem, Gbarain, and Izombe. Each of these communities has a story about the status of women.
The overall goal of the project is to empower the women of theNiger Delta economically and politically so that they can have access and voice in the governance of their community; the specific objectives are:
# Within the duration of the project, there should be at least one woman member of the CDC of the threetargeted communities.
# Increase the number of positions reserved for women in the GMOU to at least three.
# Enable women to control and manage the 15% fund set aside for women in the GMOU.
# Empower the women who have been elected treasurers in the GMOUgovernance model to play their roles more effectively e.g. signing of checks and participating in the Accounts and Audit Committee.
# Establish and inaugurate the #All Niger Delta Women Association# (ANDWA).
# Ensure that at least one woman within the oneyear of this project becomes a member of the Elders# Council in the target communities.
# Ensure the recognition of female youths as bona fide membersof community youths in the target communities.
# Ensure that women have fair access to jobs, contracts and scholarships from oil companies operating in their area in the target communities.