The Rule of Law and Empowerment Initiative also known as Partners West Africa Nigeria (PWAN) is a women-led non-governmental organization dedicated to enhancing citizens’ participation and improving security governance in Nigeria and West Africa broadly, which we achieve through our Rule of Law and Citizens Security Program Areas.

The organization does this through research, collaborative advocacy, capacity building, dissemination of information and integrating the implementation of government policies such as United Nations Resolution 1325, Women Peace and Security National Action Plan, Prevention and Countering Violent Extremism National Action Plan (P/CVE NAP), Administration of Criminal Justice Act or Law (ACJA or L), UN Resolution 2250 amongst others which are complementary to our strategic objectives.

We have established a strategic delivery and adaptive management structure with an emphasis on field presence, accountability, and cost efficiency which builds on the extensive consortium and effective program implementation experience in West Africa. PWAN has operated in Nigeria since 2016 and currently employs 30 staff including interns.

The organization drives an approach that embodies continuous improvement – internally to promote a centre of excellence building the capacity of young women from internship to senior level positions and externally to produce value-driven and context-specific output. The organization is modelled to address key issues within the security, governance, and criminal justice system through its Program areas:

• Rule of Law program area: As part of our contribution to SDG 16 which is aimed at promoting peaceful societies for sustainable development, providing access to justice for all and building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. PWAN’s RoL program area aims conceptualise and implement projects that address challenges that impede effective dispensation of justice by the legal and judicial stakeholders. We do this by providing technical support, capacity building, third party assessments for the criminal justice stakeholders and processes.
• Citizens’ security program area: Our work under the Citizens Security program area contributes to SDG 5 which is aimed at achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls, by conceptualizing and implementing projects that are aimed at improving relations between government and citizens. Our portfolio includes activities that enhance the capacity of women to engage in politics and governance; provide collaboratory platforms for cooperations between security agencies and oversight bodies.

We have offices in Abuja, Borno and Kano states but with a reach across the six geopolitical zones  in the country: Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Ebonyi, Edo, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers and Yobe states.