The development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC), in partnership with the Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF) and funded by Global Affairs Canada, has officially launched a new project aimed at mainstreaming Gender-Based Violence (GBV) prevention and response within agricultural value chains in Kano State. The launch took place during a high-level inception meeting held at the Murtala Mohammed Library, Kano, bringing together government officials, development partners, academia, agricultural stakeholders, community leaders, and civil society representatives.
The project, titled “Mainstreaming Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Prevention and Response into the Agricultural Value Chain in Kano State,” seeks to address the interconnected challenges of gender inequality, GBV, and the exclusion of women from economic opportunities within the agricultural sector. Over a twelve-month implementation period, the initiative will strengthen community-based prevention and response mechanisms, support positive social norm change, and promote safer and more inclusive agricultural environments for women and girls.
Speaking during the event, representatives of dRPC highlighted the organisation’s commitment to advancing gender equality and inclusive development through evidence-based programming and strategic partnerships. Participants were informed that the project will engage and build the capacities of approximately 460 community leaders and 285 gender champions who will collectively reach an estimated 16,000 community members across participating communities in Kano State.
The launch attracted 70 participants, comprising 37 men and 33 women, and featured representatives from the Kano State Ministry of Women Affairs, Children and People with Special Needs, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Education, development partners, agricultural associations, community leaders, and AECF-supported agricultural enterprises.
A key highlight of the event was the participation of the Honourable Commissioner for Women Affairs, Children and People with Special Needs, Hajiya Amina Abdullahi, who reaffirmed the Kano State Government’s commitment to combating GBV and promoting women’s empowerment. She also acknowledged dRPC’s longstanding contributions to gender-related reforms and welcomed the project’s approach of working with community leaders and gender champions to strengthen prevention and accountability mechanisms at the grassroots level.
The meeting also featured presentations from experts who explored the links between gender, agriculture, and GBV. Discussions emphasized that violence against women goes beyond physical abuse and includes exclusion from decision-making, denial of economic rights, and restricted access to productive resources. Speakers underscored the importance of empowering women as a pathway to stronger families, more productive agricultural systems, and sustainable economic development.
Representatives of AECF reaffirmed their commitment to advancing women’s economic empowerment and inclusive agricultural development. They noted that economically empowered women contribute significantly to stable households, resilient communities, and broader economic growth. The delegation also commended the Kano State Government for its collaboration and support for the initiative.
An important segment of the programme focused on identifying and validating community leaders and gender champions who will support project implementation in target communities. Through facilitated group work and plenary discussions, participants reviewed and adopted lists of nominees who will serve as local change agents in promoting GBV prevention and response mechanisms.
Participants also developed recommendations to strengthen implementation, including increased advocacy to traditional and community leadership structures, stronger representation of women in project activities, continuous capacity building, improved referral pathways, and enhanced community-level documentation and reporting systems.
The event concluded with strong stakeholder commitment to the project’s objectives and a shared understanding of the critical link between women’s safety, agricultural productivity, and inclusive economic growth. The successful launch marked the beginning of a collaborative effort to build safer, more equitable, and economically inclusive agricultural value chains across Kano State.
In the news:
https://healthwise.punchng.com/new-kano-project-targets-gender-based-violence-against-women-in-agriculture/
https://hotpen.net/2026/09/16/drpc-launches-initiative-to-mainstream-gbv-prevention-in-kano/
https://punchng.com/new-kano-project-targets-gender-based-violence-against-women-in-agriculture/
https://gazettengr.com/kano-govt-partners-target-16000-women-as-new-gender-based-violence-prevention-project-takes-off/
https://www.thetentaclesnews.com.ng/drpc-launches-gbv-prevention-initiative-in-kano-agriculture-sector/
https://paradigmnews.ng/kano-launches-project-to-tackle-gbv-in-agriculture/
https://newsequal.com.ng/drpc-partners-mobilise-gender-champions-to-tackle-gbv-in-kano/
https://ndfrplatform.ng/2026/09/16/kano-launches-intervention-to-tackle-gender-based-violence-affecting-women-in-agriculture/
https://periscope.ng/drpc-launches-initiative-to-mainstream-gbv-prevention-in-kano/
