Supported by: FID (Fund for Innovation in Development)

Location: Oyo State, Nigeria

Overview:

Youthcare Development and Empowerment Initiative (YCDEI), a Nigerian nonprofit organization, is leading a proactive intervention to prevent school-related gender-based violence (SRGBV) through early education, capacity building, and systems strengthening in public primary schools across Oyo State.

With funding and technical support from the Fund for Innovation in Development (FID), YCDEI is piloting an evidence-based prevention program aimed at equipping students and teachers with the knowledge, skills, and tools to recognize, report, and respond to SRGBV. The initiative is grounded in a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) designed to evaluate the effectiveness of YCDEI’s custom-developed training manuals, which were carefully curated with inputs from experts in child development, safeguarding, and education.

Key Activities

• Data collection
• Training of Students and Teachers 
• SRGBV reporting systems 

Impact

• Development and deployment of age-appropriate SRGBV training manuals
•  2111 data  were surveyed in primary school among primary 4,5 and 6 pupils, and 419 data were surveyed among teachers 
• Training of 951 students during the treatment phase
•  153 teachers were trained during the research program 
• Evidence generation to inform state and national policy on school safety and gender equity
• Increase awareness of students’ rights and safety
• Strengthen teacher capacity to manage and respond to SRGBV cases
• Improve overall academic performance and school retention
• Reduce the number of children dropping out due to violence

This RCT not only equips students and teachers with the knowledge and tools to combat gender-based violence but also builds the foundation for safer, inclusive, and equitable learning environments across Nigeria.