The LAPO DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION (LDF) is a subsidiary of LAPO initiated in 1996 with the mandate to socially alleviate poverty and create awareness on pertinent health issues especially among rural dwellers and communities through non-credit activities such as training and advocacy programmes.

 

LDF implements programmes geared towards enabling LAPO members, their communities and non-LAPO members understand the processes and structures that engender and sustain poverty, ill health, gender inequality/equity and empower them to challenge and breakdown such processes and structures.

 

LDF seeks to create an environment where men and women live and contribute meaningfully to social progress without any form of discrimination and diseases.  LDF attempts to do this by helping members and communities overcome factors beyond lack of funds, which tend to strengthen the severity of poverty.  Issues like ignorance, illiteracy, low self-esteem, exclusion from decision-making processes and governance, environmental degradation and health matters are focused upon.

 

VISION

 

A healthy and informed society characterized by prosperity justice and equity.

 

MISSION

To provide access to healthcare facilities, conduct training and research and provide advocacy services so as to enhance educational quality, equity, and good governance among women youth and target communities.

 

CORE VALUES

Equity, knowledge, education, justice and good governance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OBJECTIVES

 

• To identify and redress structures that promote and sustain gender discrimination
• To enhance leadership skills of target population
• To improve the socio-economic and political conditions of women in communities
• To promote good governance in target communities
• Increase awareness of its beneficiaries on maternal and child health.
• Encourage beneficiaries to adopt healthy living practices
• Promote preventive rather than curative health care practices
• Conduct investigations and surveys on pertinent health, poverty and gender related issues in target communities.
• To measure the impact of programmes/activities in target communities for decision making

 

LDF runs its programme through the following departments:

• LADEC
• HEALTH
• INFORMATION AND ADVOCACY
• RESEARCH AND DOCUMENTATION
• FINANCE
• ADMIN

LAPO DEVELOPMENT CENTRE, LADEC

The unit works to build a society where men and women live together without any prejudice.

 

OBJECTIVES

• Empower LAPO members to effectively participate in the informal sector.
• Promote gender equity at households and community levels.
• Promote political participation among women.

 

Number of LAPO clients that attend sensitization programmes

% that participate in the informal sector

% that understand issues of gender equity

% that support gender equity

% reduction in practice of obnoxious customs/tradition (harsh widowhood rite, FGM etc) in target locations

 

Programmes

 

 

GENDER, ENVIRONMENT AND LEADERSHIP TRAINING (GELT)

Gender, Environment and Leadership Training (GELT) is a two-day training programme covering issues in gender, environment and leadership.  Its beneficiaries are sensitized on entrenched social injustice and also enlightened on sustainable natural resources utilization practices.

 

Objectives/Indicators    

• To identify the structures that promote and sustain gender discrimination

 No of structures identified

• To sensitize participants to challenge existing gender roles

% number of people who challenge and resist anti-women practices

No of participants sensitized

·         To enhance leadership skills and to increase political participation of women in target communities

Number of women whose leadership skills are enhanced

Number of women occupying leadership positions

% increase in number of women participating in politics

• To develop positive attitude towards the use and management of the environment

Level of improvement in sanitation of the physical environment

 

 

COMMUNITY DIALOGUE

 

 

Objectives/Indicators    

• To identify the structures (Cultural laws, policies, practices, norms etc) that promote and sustain gender discrimination

 No of structures identified

• To sensitize participants to challenge existing gender roles

% number of people who resist anti-women practices

No of participants sensitized

·         To enhance leadership skills and to increase participation of women in political issues and decision making in target communities

Number of women whose leadership skills are enhanced

Number of women occupying leadership positions

% increase in women participating in politics

% increase in women involved in decision making

• To develop positive attitude towards the use and management of the environment

Level of improvement in sanitation of the physical environment

 

QUARTERLY DIALOGUE SESSION  

Quarterly Dialogue session is a tool of intervention by LADEC.  It is an interaction session between the representatives and the electorate to deliberate on emerging societal issues and proffer solutions to problems.

 

OBJECTIVES and INDICATORS

·               TO CONTRIBUTE TO POLICIES ON DEVELOPMENTAL ISSUES IN TARGET STATES

Number of policy issues contributed to in target state

 

To Provide Avenues For Social Interaction In Order To Bridge The Gap Between Elected And Electorate With A View To Encourage Good Governance

 

Number of sessions held

Number of elected participants that attend meetings

Number of communiqué disseminated to the public

 

LAPO ANNUAL DEVELOPMENT FORUM

 

The LAPO Annual Development Forum is one avenue for investigating into the nature of poverty. The forum provides opportunity for persons; development practitioners, beneficiaries, scholars, donors, professional, religious and traditional bodies, the media, involved in varied spheres of development and poverty alleviation to present, exchange and discuss ideas and outline practical options to aid LAPO and interested organizations improve their programme focus and delivery.

 

OBJECTIVES

v      TO PROVIDE AVENUE FOR STAKEHOLDERS IN the field of development to discuss and interact on issues of poverty and development with a view to proffer possible solutions

Number of stakeholders attending each session

v      To outline practical options to aid LAPO and interested organizations to improve their programme focus and delivery.

      Number of practical options created

Number of practical options adopted by LAPO.

 

 

 LAPO HEALTH

LAPO Health exist to create health awareness among LAPO beneficiaries and members of their communities.

 

OBJECTIVES:

      Increase awareness of target beneficiaries on maternal and child health

Level of increase on maternal and child health awareness

      Promote adoption of healthy living practices among members of target communities

No of promotional activities conducted

Level of awareness on healthy living practices among community members

Types of healthy living practices adopted by community members

      Reduce incidence of malaria in target communities through sensitization activities on prevention practices.

Level of awareness on prevention practices

Level of increase in knowledge on malaria prevention techniques

No of prevention practices adopted by community members

 

      Reduce the incidence of HIV/AIDS in target communities

Level of reduction in incidence of HIV/AIDS

Level of increase in knowledge on HIV/AIDS

Level of increase in the adoption of prevention practices

Level of increase in number of persons with knowledge on HIV status

 

      Mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS in target communities

Level of reduction in stigma and discrimination

Number of persons benefiting from support and care

Level of reduction in opportunistic infections among persons living with HIV/AIDS

Increase in drug adherence among persons living with HIV/AIDS

 

      Conduct investigations and carry out survey on pertinent health problems in various communities.

 

      Promote preventive rather than curative care of health services

Level of increase in the adoption of healthy living practices

 

      Reduce the incidence of water borne diseases in target communities

 

PROGRAMMES

 

• HIV/AIDS project
• Malaria and Tropical diseases
• Reproductive Health ( STIs, Maternal Health/family planning)
• Water & Sanitation
• Community health

 

HIV/AIDS project

This project is geared towards prevention of HIV/AIDS spread and mitigation of impact on target communities.  

• Training of in-school & out of school youths as peer educators
• Counseling and referral services
• Community mobilization for utilization of PMTCT services
• IEC development and distribution
• Community awareness promotion for prevention of HIV infection
• Care and support for person infected/affected by HIV/AIDS
• Economic empowerment for HIV/AIDS patients.

 

OBJECTIVES

 

To contribute to reduction of the spread of HIV/AIDS in target communities through awareness creation

 

Indicators

% increase in awareness created

No of IEC materials produced/distributed

No of in-school youths trained as peer educators

No of out- of school youths trained as peer educators

No of infected persons reached with services

No of affected persons reached with services

No of positive living trainings conducted

% reduction in stigma and discrimination in target communities

% reduction in stigma and discrimination among PLPs

% increase in the level of drug adherence 

% reduction in OIs

 

To promote access to health/impact mitigation services

 

Indicators

No of linkages/referrals created

No of health facilities upgraded with VCCT facilities

No of persons accessed to health services

No of persons integrated into the care and support group

No of care and support groups established and maintained

No of pregnant women accessing VCT services

 

To empower PLPs economically

Indicators

No of persons accessed to loans

% Increase in income of PLPs

No of mentoring visits to PLPs

Level of loan repayment

 

 2. Malaria & other tropical diseases

• Supply of disinfectants, insecticides and treated net
• Community awareness promotion for tropical diseases prevention
• Community Action Against Malaria (CAAM)
• Training of rural health points for management and referral services
• IEC development and distribution
• Training of health workers and upgrading of health facilities for effective treatment.

 

OBJECTIVES

To promote awareness on malaria prevention

To increase community participation in malaria prevention and control

To provide access to referrals and linkages for management of malaria

 

Indicators

No of health facilities upgraded for effective treatment

No of CAAM established and functional

Level of community involvement in project

No of disinfectants, insecticides and ITNs distributed

No of persons provided with disinfectants, insecticides and ITNs

No of persons accessed to referrals and linkages

No of IEC materials produced and distributed

 

 

3. Reproductive Health (STIs, Maternal Health/Family Planning)

• Family planning education, counseling and referral services
• Provision/distribution of oral contraceptives and condoms
• Pregnancy care education in community
• Provision of information on prevention and care of STIs

 

OBJECTIVE

·         To create awareness on the importance of family planning and antenatal care towards safe delivery

 

% Increase in the level of awareness created

Number of women accessing FP and antenatal care services

No of ANC visits to partner health facilities

 

·         To promote access to oral contraceptives and condoms

 

Indicators

No of oral contraceptives and condoms provided /distributed

No of women of reproductive age accessed to Oral contraceptives and family planning services

 

4. Safe Water Project

• Community awareness promotion on safe water consumption
• Supply of water treatment commodities

 

OBJECTIVE

·         To promote awareness on safe water consumption in target communities

 

% increase in awareness created

 

·         To reduce the incidence of water borne diseases in target communities

                  % reduction on reported cases of water borne diseases

 

·         To provide access to water treatment commodities

Number of water treatment commodities distributed.

 

·         To provide access to safe water

Number of water project enabled communities to build/complete

 

5. Nutrition for PLWHAs

• Awareness creation on good nutrition for positive mothers and children
• Supply of nutritional supplements to Nursing mothers and malnourished children

 

OBJECTIVES

v      Create awareness on good nutrition for nursing mothers and children

 

Promote access to nutritional supplements for nursing mothers and malnourished children

 

Social marketting

 

• Training of Community Based Distributors (CBDs) for RH promotion commodities

 

 

 

INFORMATION AND ADVOCACY DEPARTMENT

 

OVERVIEW

The Information and Advocacy (I & A) department of LAPO Development Foundation (LDF) strives to manage information and activities as it relates to LAPO and subsidiaries. It also seeks to project a positive image of LAPO and its subsidiaries to the outside public through the use of several communications channels.

 

The department also has the mandate to speak on behalf of the poor and the marginalized to bring about desired changes in their lives and communities through its sustained media and advocacy activities.

 

OBJECTIVES

1.   To influence & facilitate policy formulation, change and implementation to favour the poor and the marginalized

2.   To create gender equity in the society by facilitating the process of enacting & enforcing extant gender-friendly legislations & laws in LDF’s  areas of intervention

3.   To enhance women’s ability to seek redress on violations concerning heritage, female genital cutting, domestic violence, harsh widowhood rites and political discriminations against women etc, on the basis of existing legislation through high level awareness campaign and advocacy engagements on their rights and privileges

4.   Cultivate, maintain and sustain goodwill and understanding between LAPO and its various publics

5.   Create and promote awareness and good public image for LAPO and its subsidiaries by highlighting their programmes and success stories

 

 

PROGRAMMES & STRATEGIES

Below are vital programmes and strategies instituted in I & A department to achieve its objectives:

 

1. PUBLICATIONS

The Information and Advocacy department of LDF has the mandate for the production and circulation of publications in the LAPO system. Regular publications produced in I & A department are:

 

 

• SUPPORT  NEWSLETTER

Support newsletter, a 42-page newsletter, focuses on microfinance and development issues. It is published four times yearly.

 

• COMMITMENT  NEWSLETTER

Commitment newsletter, produced monthly by I & A department is an 8-page staff news organ used for information sharing amongst staff.

 

• e-SHARING  NEWSLETTER

Sharing is an e-newsletter produced every other month to highlight and project the activities of LAPO and its financial subsidiaries.

 

• e- ACTION

Produced every other month, Action is an e-newsletter covering the activities of LAPO Development Foundation (LDF).

 

• IEC MATERIALS

LAPO Development Series, website, books, brochures, fliers, stickers and posters, reports, etc are also veritable channels through which LAPO/LDF communicate with the outside world.

 

2. BRIDGING-THE-GAP WEEKLY TV PROGRAMME

The Media Relations Unit of I & A department projects a positive image of LAPO and its subsidiaries to the general public by building and sustaining useful relationship with the media and development partners within and outside the country. The overall goal is to present LAPO as a formidable, socially responsible organization in the forefront of the war against poverty.

Here are the major activities under this programmme:

 

v  MEDIA RELATIONS COMMITTEES (MRC)

As a part of the efforts to build and strengthen useful ties with the media for the furtherance of organizational objectives, I & A Department maintains a standing Media Relations Committees (MRC), made up of LAPO friends in the media, both at the head office and in most states where we operate. Media briefing is a major activity at the monthly MRC meeting at the head office. The establishment of MRCs is cultivating a more cordial and useful relationship with the media and helping to acquaint members with the major development strides being recorded in LAPO with a view to mirroring its programmes and highlighting its activities properly to the generality of the public.

 

v  PRESS RELEASES

The Information and Advocacy department promotes development and governance issues in the country through the publication of press 5releases regularly in the media. News and information about the organization are also given prominence as well.

 

v   BI-ANNUAL MEDIA TOUR (BMT)

Media Tours are organized on a quarterly basis by I & A department to enable Journalists have access to first hand information about the activities and prospects of LAPO. It is usually rounded off with a press briefing at the head office where media executives are given opportunity to freely ask questions about the growth and development of the organization.  

 

v   ANNUAL LAPO MEDIA INTERACTIVE CONFERENCE (ALMIC)

The Annual Media Interactive Conference (AMIC) is usually organized by I & A department to capture major strides and achievements recorded during the year. AMIF creates good opportunity to mirror LAPO and its subsidiaries properly to the generality of the public, highlight their programmmes and achievements during the year and enable the media gain in-dept understanding about the policies, procedures and operations of LAPO and general development taking place in the organization as a whole.

 

6. ADVOCACY

The Information and Advocacy department facilitates the process of enforcing gender laws in LDF’s areas of intervention, carry out public and media awareness campaign on rights, privileges and obligation of citizens and facilitate the process of policy formulation, change and implementation to favour the poor and the marginalized in the society.

 

7. NETWORKING

The Information and Advocacy department collaborates with government agencies, civil society groups, faith-based organizations, political parties, the media and other organizations with similar objectives to bring about policy change, good governance and general development in communities.

 

 

RESEARCH & DOCUMENTATION DEPARTMENT

 

Introduction:

 

The Research and Documentation Department in LAPO Development Foundation strives to ensure available and up-to-date data/information on projects and activities for all the foundations activities and for management decision making.

 

Activities

 

NEEDS ASSESSMENT

BASELINE SURVEYS

MONITORING

EVALUATION

IMPACT ASSESSMENT

RESEARCHES

 

Objectives:

 

Ø  To ensure availability of data base for effective planning and implementation of programs

 

Database set and consistently updated for all programmes intervention

 

Ø  Establish and document baseline information that would aid effective monitoring of program/project implementation in target communities

 

Baseline data documented for each programme/project intervention in target communities

 

Ø  To enhance access to relevant information on all LDF programme areas  through research in order to improve program delivery

 

Available information as and when needed

 

Ø  To assess needs of target population to be used in effective programme design and implementation

 

Target population needs assessed for each new project to be embarked upon

 

Ø  To ensure programmes/projects are implemented effectively according to plan and stated objectives

 

Number of assessment visits conducted

Up to date assessment reports produced

 

Ø  To measure impacts of projects/activities

Number of evaluation assessments conducted

 

 

Ø  To supervise the implementation of the LAPO workplace policy

Level of increase in implementation

Level of increase in awareness created among LAPO staff

 

Ø  To document and disseminate research findings to stakeholders

No of research findings documented

No of research findings disseminated