About the organization

Okaha Women and Children Development Organization (OWACDO) is a Non-Governmental Organization founded in 2010 and became operational in the same year. Her core focus is Gender Equality and Empowerment of the less privileged in the society thereby placing premium on Women, Girls and Children who are the majority in her target population. OWACDO envisions a society where Women and Girls have equal rights and access to education, health and opportunities as their male counterparts.

Vision statement

Okaha Women and Children Development Organization upholds the following values: • Human Right • Transparency • Accountability • Equity • Team work • Networking

Mission statement

OWACDO’s singular purpose is to fight against all factors such as poverty, ignorance, diseases and harmful cultural norms and practices militating the development of Women, Girls and Children in the society.

Objectives

The objectives of Okaha Women and Children Development Organization as contained in its constitution are as follows: 1. To provide a forum for the exchange of information, ideas, technique and insight to help succeed in the fight against Gender Based Violence, Poverty and Diseases among women, children and youth in line with the Federal Government policies on same. 2. To create awareness and provide public enlightenment on the growing problems, indecent treatment and exploitation of the target group. 3. To facilitate economic empowerment of the disadvantaged, promote the rights of the vulnerable; rehabilitate institutions by providing technical education and vocational skills necessary to support life. 4. To raise the consciousness of the target group in rural focused communities about their rights and roles in order to appropriate their social, health, political and economic responsibilities. 5. To collaborate and network with national and international NGOs to promote knowledge, good health and improved standard of living for the vulnerable women, youth and children. 6. To promote peoples understanding of their entitlement to quality health care and their responsibility in prevention and management of priority health problems such as HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB) Hepatitis, Malaria, Polio, Reproductive Health and Motherhood. 7. Raising the income of the target group by providing access to credit facilities and establishing channels for cottage industries and processing of farm produce. 8. To provide a data base on condition of women, youth and children living in abject poverty and submitting periodic reports on the implementation of National Policies on poverty eradication, basic education and healthcare programmes. 9. To condemn all the prejudices against the target group and fight for the removal of all encumbrances which hinder the girl child from achieving self-fulfillment and more investment on the girl child.

Thematic areas of work

1. GENDER MAINSTREAMING Sexual and Gender Based Violence Anti-human Trafficking Female Genital Mutilation Sensitization against harmful cultural practices Capacity Building Protection Livelihood Empowerment 2. HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE Emergency Response to Disasters Disaster management 3. HEALTH HIV/AIDS Sensitization and Management Infant and Maternal Health Sensitization Tropical and Non-Tropical Diseases Sensitization Menstrual Health Hygiene Management Health Education Referral 4. ENVIRONMENT Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Climate Change Open Defecation free Campaign 5. GOOD GOVERNANCE AND POLICY Advocacy on Transparent Governance Practice ( Open Government Partnership Capacity Building for Policy Makers at all levels Civic Rights Education Budget Tracking and Monitoring Legislative Monitoring and Advocacy Pressure Group Advocacy for Robust Policy Formulation and Regulation 6. KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT Project Monitoring and Evaluation Operational Research Capacity Building Data Collation and Management

Contact address of organization

CORPERATE OFFICE ADDRESS: #6 Victor Malu Road New GRA Makurdi, Benue State BRANCH OFFICE : No 2. Secretariat Road Okaha College Premises, Okpodom, Egah-Ibilla, Oju LGA, Benue State. NO 10, Old Barrack Road, Obi LGA, Obi Local Government Benue State Contact Person: Mrs. Joy A. Ijuwo Position: Executive Director/State Coordinator NEWSAN Telephone +234-8033714318, 0808 390 3087 Email: owacdo2013@gmail.com Website: www.owacdo.org.ng