Women are key agents in building resilience for themselves, their households, and their communities. Yet persistent barriers to women’s decision-making power, community engagement, political participation, leadership, and agency more broadly limit their ability to shape the policies, institutions, and community responses that affect their lives. As Nigeria confronts overlapping economic, climate, and security challenges, greater understanding is needed of how women’s voice, agency, collective action, and leadership can contribute to stronger institutions, social cohesion, resilience, and more inclusive approaches to preventing and responding to conflict.

Join us for this policy workshop presenting new evidence on women’s voice, leadership, and resilience in Nigeria. Presenters will share research that examines how gender, governance, fragility, and conflict shape women’s ability to participate in decision-making and build individual and collective resilience. This workshop will bring together policymakers, researchers, civil society organizations, and development partners to discuss approaches to strengthen women’s participation in public life, support women’s leadership and collective action, and translate rigorous evidence into effective policies and programs. Participants will also discuss policy priorities, future research needs, and opportunities for collaboration to strengthen women’s resilience and empowerment in Nigeria.

Welcome Remarks

• Katrina Kosec, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI
• Oliver Kiptoo Kirui, Research Fellow and Acting Program Leader, Nigeria, IFPRI

Keynote Address

• Vivian Effem-Bassey, Governance Specialist, ActionAid Nigeria

Research Presentations

Moderated by Oliver Kiptoo Kirui, Research Fellow and Acting Program Leader, Nigeria, IFPRI

• Women’s Advocacy Training and Women’s Resilience in Nigeria: Katrina Kosec, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI
• Measuring Women’s Voice: Lucia Carrillo, Senior Research Analyst, IFPRI
• Gender, Water Vulnerability, and Women’s Resilience in Adamawa State, Nigeria: Charity Osei-Amponsah, Senior Regional Researcher – Governance, Institutions, and Inclusion, International Water Management Institute (IWMI)
• The Gender Asset-Ownership Gap, Women’s Agency, and Its Implications for Household Inequality Evidence from Nigeria: Opeyemi Olanrewaju, Research Analyst, IFPRI
• Inclusive Information Systems and De-risking Solutions for Building Resilience and Mitigating Conflict in Nigeria: Meshack Baraza Obonyo, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)
• Making Anticipatory Action in Nigeria Gender Responsive: Katrina Kosec, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI

High-Level Policy Panel: From Evidence to Action: Strengthening Women’s Leadership, Resilience, and Peace-building in Nigeria

Moderated by Katrina Kosec, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI

Panelists

• Jennifer Orgle, Assistant Country Director – Programs, CARE Nigeria
• Other speakers to be announced

Closing Remarks and Next Steps

• Katrina Kosec, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI
• Oliver Kiptoo Kirui, Research Fellow and Acting Program Leader, Nigeria, IFPRI