1. 1
Innovative Project
Project title
Hand-in-HandWe Stand!
CanadianBusinessWomenPartnerwithSouth-EastNigerianYoungWomen
Elevator Pitch (200 word max)
What is the problemor opportunitythat your project addresses?Whatis the proposedsolution?
The problemis the highprevalence of FGM/CinSouth-East(SE) Regionof Nigeria,the opportunityisresource
mobilizationinCanada,and solutioniscreatingacultural bridge of collaborationbetweenCanadian
business/professional womenandNigerianyoungwomencontributingtoeradicate FGMinSE of Nigeria.
The projectaimsto contribute tothe eradication of FGM/Cby creatingsix awareness/mobilization events,where
600 direct-participantswill attend, and40,000 indirect-beneficiaries will be reachedthroughmedia. According to the
Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey 2013, one in four women, aged between 15-49 years has been
circumcised. Ebonyi (74.2%), and Imo (68.4%) have the worst record.
A networkof NigerianexpatriatesinCanada, volunteers of CUSO-International, andCanadianwomen-focusedNGOs
will conductadvocacy to Canadianbusiness/professional women.$11,468 will be raisedthroughthisadvocacy. An
orientationpackage of FGM/Cfact sheet,agreement,payment/reportingmechanismwill be deliveredto300
business/professional women.
Thisnetwork of advocatorsand donors will become the seedsforsustainabilitythroughagrapevine strategy after
the projectwouldhave beencompleted.
The approach will be broad-basednetworkingforresource mobilization inCanadathroughe-volunteerism,e-
communicationsande-transaction, butdirectface-to-face communitymobilizationatthe heartof the FGM/C
prevalentareas.
Budget
Total costof the project: $24,550 peryear
Major line items
Communication:$5846
Communitymobilization&awarenesscampaign:$15,178
UNFPA Admin,Tech,HR (in-kind):$1920
MonitoringandEvaluation:$1606
RequestfromInnovationFund
$11,162
Other FundingSources (optional)
Resource mobilization fromCanada:$11,468
UNFPA Admin,Tech,HR (in-kindsupport):$1920
Name ofproject Focal Point
IffatZehra
GenderAdvisor
Email
Zehra@unfpa.org
BusinessUnit
CrossRiverSub-Office,Nigeria

2. 2
Region
WCA
Problemor opportunity (500 word max)
What is the problemor opportunitythat your project will address?Include background and rationale.
The projectwill addressthe opportunityof creatingabridge betweenthe womenof NigeriaandCanadato eradicate
FGM/C.
The phenomenonof global citizenshipistakingroots,andbusinesswomenof Canadaare joiningitasneverbefore.
It isa reflectionof the rise of womenpoweringeneral,andof businesswomeninparticular.Theyare well travelled,
careeroriented,financiallystrongand readytosupportwomencauses. Beingprofessionals,theyare contributing
and participatingto forums,networks,andpeergroupstodiscuss,share,andsupportthe causes.
The recently discoveredknowledge aboutFGM/Cisshockingthemtothe core,and an intense desire to contribute
to eradicate thiskindof violence isfuellingsocial mediadiscussions. Graduallyaculture of sharedglobal norms,
values,andbeliefsaround women’s sexual andreproductive rightsisemerging,where FGMisthe ultimate and
brutal denial.
Social media, videoconferencing,virtual offices,apps,e-transfers,etc.are creatingthe environmentwhere big
dreams of connectingacrossoceans are possible. The infrastructureof mobile companies, electronicbanking,and
internetprovidersisinplace inNigeriato tapon to implementthispartnership.
The Big Data, and Artificial Intelligence are the bedrocksforthisenablingenvironment,where instantreporting,
monitoringandevaluationare possibletosatisfythisnew breedof womenphilanthropiststoachieve results,andbe
part of governance whilesittingoceansacross.
Beside thistechinfrastructure,the internationalNGOsare creatingan environmentwherepartnershipscanbe
formedaroundinnovativeideas. The change of leadershipwithinthe CanadianFederal Governmenthasresultedin
fundingchangesforinternational development,andinternational volunteerismnow playsahuge role. Thisis
creatinga big groupof volunteerscomingintoNigeria,and returningtoCanadawitha betterunderstandingof
women’s issues,and withthe desire andcommitmenttoactingas e-volunteersfollowingtheirin-country
placements.
Today we can engage Canadianbusiness/professional womenasglobal citizensforadvocating,investingand
governingforthe eliminationof FGM/Cthrough an orientationpackage, subsequentagreementsof investment and
commitmentof reportingbackforthe cause. FourCanadian groupscan helpUNFPA to reachout to this newer
breedof philanthropists; CUSOvolunteers,Nigerian expatriates andtheirforumsinCanada,Canadian women-
focusedNGOsandlocal electedmunicipalcouncillorsof wardswhere AfricanandMiddle Eastern expatriates reside
ingreaternumbers.
The Nigerianprovincial governmentsof SERegionare now comingon boardto eradicate thisbutchery;Ebonyi state
inJulythisyear hasstarteda flagoff eventwhere people fromall walksof life includingtraditional chiefs,Nollywood
actresses,andpoliticianspledgedtoeradicate FGM. Nigerianwomenare alsoputtingtheirweightintothisfight;
NewNGOswithnewvigourare joiningin.Thoughthe culturesof NigeriaandCanadaare a worldapart,but the basic
humanrightsand instinctsare the same.Whentheyare informed,educate andtrainedtheyjointhe fighttosave
mankindingeneral andownfolksinparticular.
Innovative Approach (500 words max)
What makes the solutionyou are proposing innovative? Make sure to referto 1 or more ofthe UN
Innovation Principles.

3. 3
Our solution istosensitizeglobal citizensforeradicatingFGM/Ccause,andprovide themaway to participate in
advocating,investingande-volunteeringforthiscause. Thisis designing forscale, which is replicable and
customizablein othercountriesand contexts.
Our collaborative approachis toreachout to Canadianbusiness/professional womenwhoare becomingaware of
FGM/C, and involve theminthe solutionstoaddressthisissue inSouth-EastNigeria,andinthe process, builda
networkof advocatesinCanadiancommunitieswhowillspeakoutagainstthishorrendouspractice.
The projectis forone Regionof Nigeria,butitspansoverstates involvingavarietyof stakeholderswhowill bridge
the gap throughe-communicationsande-volunteering. Once the project isimplemented,itwill carryonits own
momentumbuildbythe grapevineCanadiannetworking groupsandcarriedbyregularstaff of CUSO-International
and UNFPA.
Thisis a stepfurtherandfartherfor resource mobilization.UNFPA isgraduallymovingfromGovernmentfundingto
corporate funding,butitisstill appealingtocorporations.Thisproposal isasteptowardsappealingtothe executives
behindcorporationsinprivate capacities.
Solution(800 word max)
Describe the solutionthat you plan to implement.Include the mainobjectives,scope,and constrains,target
audience/users.
Thisproposal isin accordance with UN General Assembly Resolution69/150, Outcome 3; Output3.1, “Individuals,
families,andcommunitiesinprogramme areasare increasinglyeducatedaboutthe harmsandnorms relatedto
FGM/C and alternatives tothe practice.
We have three specificobjectives;
1. Conduct6 campaignand communitymobilization eventsinSouthEastRegion, reachoutto 600 girls/parents
and deliverthe message of eradicating FGM/Cin6 local government areas.
2. Raise $11,468 donationbydeliveringthe message of FGM/C brutality to300 Canadianbusinesswomen
through7 Chambersof Commerce inGreaterTorontoArea & Ottawa, and get150 commitments.
3. Involve fourCanadianstakeholdersgroups(Nigerian expatriates,CUSO-volunteers,womenNGOs,andlocal
councillors) toadvocate againstFGM/Cand sustainthe movementbeyondthe lifeof the project.
Our approachis broad-basedbridgingbetweenthe womenof CanadaandNigeria,where one issufferingandthe
otheris helping. We willuse the segmentsof societywhoare traveling/migrating between twocontinents,aswell as
the women-focused NGOsasthe constructorsof that bridge.We will be targetingonly the corporate sectorforfund
raisingto ensure future sustainability,asonce connectedandreportedbacktheywill hooktothe ideaof donating
for thiscause,withtheirgrowingfinancialpower. We willemployafocusedapproach of one issue only,whichis
easy enough toconvey,shockingenoughtoremember,andinspire enoughtoact. We will employthe transparent,
inclusive andopengovernance approach,where donorswill be getting anexactpicture of the implementation
electronicallyandinreal-time.We willcollaborate,partner,andnetworkthroughoutthe lifeof the project.
E-volunteerism,e-communicationande-datawill be the cornerstone of the whole project.Regularvideo
conferencingwill be employedwiththe advocators.The activitiesof UNFPA aroundFGM/CinNigeriawill be shared
withthe advocatingnetworktokeeptheminspired,andup-to-date. Social mediawill be usedtodiscussprogress
and connectionbetweenfourgroups of advocators.All fundswill be collected andtransferred tothe UNFPA
account,and charity receiptswillbe givenfortax exemptionpurposes.
An orientationpackage will be preparedwithprint,websiteandsocial mediaforums.The fourgroupsof advocators
will connectwiththe donors’forums,presentthe factsaboutFGM/C, andUNFPA effortsinthisregardinNigeria.
Will getthe agreementsfromcore targets,andperipheral donors. All donation transactionswillbe to CUSO-
International Account,fromthere will be transferredtoUNFPA projectcode account. The six community
mobilizationandcampaigning eventssponsoredbythatfundraisingwill take place inSoutheastRegionunder
CalabarUNFPA sub-office.

4. 4
The database of people involved,the amountraised,andeventsforcontributingtoeradicate FGM/Cwill all be
recordedelectronically.All transactions,orientationpackages,andagreementswill be online.We are expanding on
the “WomenInvestinginWomen;EngagingWomenphilanthropistinArgentinaandBeyond”innovativeproject,and
will use “EndFemale Genital Mutilation”materialproducedbyUNFPA. Privacy andcyber-security of donorswillbe
respected. Collaborationiscentral tothe project,aswe will be workingcloselywithourpartnersatCuso-
International andmembersof the Canadian-Nigerianexpatriatecommunity.Thisresource mobilizationispossible
because of the ease of e-transfers,the Canadiangovernmentpolicyof charity$tax exemption,andregulatory
policiesof Nigeriangovernments aroundFGM/C.
The ultimate beneficiariesof the fundsraisedbythisprojectwill be youngNigeriangirls,theirparents,communities
and the state,whomwe are constantlyreachingouttothroughother UNFPA programs.
Team (500 words max)
Whois the team that will implementthissolution?What is the collaborative approach that you will take?
In Calabarthe projectwill be coordinatedbyaCUSO Volunteer underthe supervisionof UNFPA Sub-office Program
coordinator,withthe helpof admin,driverandtech staff.One CUSOvolunteerisalreadyworkingonFGMissue,and
thisexistingpartnershipwithCUSOcaneasilybe extendedtoimplementthe projectof raisingfundsfromoverseas.
CUSO International will provide the servicesof currentandreturningoverseasvolunteersaswell ase-volunteers
fromCanada to connectwiththe businesswomenforums.Itwill alsoplaythe role of trustyforcollectionof
donations,andissuingreceipts.
CanadianNGO,“Women’sMulticultural Resource andCounsellingCentre of Durham(WMRCC)”will make the listsof
Nigerianexpatriates andtheirforumsinCanada,andwill liaisonwiththem.
CanadianNGO,“Womenat the Centre”will Liaisonwiththe local governmentrepresentativesof the wardswhere
Africanexpatriateslive in largernumbers.
Nigerianstate Ministriesof WomenAffairsandlocal governments of Ebonyi andImostates will create women
networksinlocal communities toleadandfacilitate the campaigntoeradicate FGM/Cpracticesthroughcommunity
mobilizationand awarenessevents.
Success Metrics(500 words max)
How will you know ifyou have succeeded?Include timeline,milestone,metrics,andtools for measuringsuccess
(M & E plan)
Q14: Result; describe the intendedresultsor progress to be achieved,and how achievementswill be monitored?
Whenina year, the database will show 100 Canadian volunteeradvocators fromfourgroupsof stakeholders,and
150 Canadian businesswomen donors,whenthe attendance sheetswill show 600 direct participants of community
mobilizationandawarenesscampaign,and when3radio mediaoutlets relaythe coverage of thiscampaign to
40,000 listeners, we will knowthatwe have completedone milestone.
The resource mobilizationof $11,468 is the otherindicatorinprojectM & E, whichiseasyto monitor.
Our monthly,quarterlyandfinal reportswill capture progresscontinuously.The spendingof projectmonieswillbe
an indicatorof our activitiestoo.
The rate of FGM/C goingdowninEbonyi and ImoState is the ultimate successwe are lookingfor.We will get
qualitativefeedback fromlocal NGOsand local mediaof the six LGA where communitymobilizationandawareness
campaignwill take place. The resultwill be measuredbycountingthe numberof communitiesthatdeclared
abandonmentof FGM/Cin the interventionarea.

5. 5
Indicator:Numberof communitiessupportedtodeclare abandonmentof FGM/C;target: six communities.
Disseminationofknowledge (500 words max)
How do you planto collectand disseminate lessonslearnedfromyour project to facilitate replication?
The quarterly andfinal reportwill be shared onthe “myunfpa”mailinglist,andthe successfulproposal will be
sharedon “InnovationHub.”ItisexpectedthatotherAfrican UNFPA countries’ officescanalsoconnectwiththeir
expatriates indevelopingcountriesusingthe same approaches.
We will alsoshare the lessonslearned,setbackif any,challenges,andsolutionstothose challengesduringthe course
of the projectinour reports.We will invitesadvisesinhow tosolve the problemsandconstrainsduringthe lifeof
the project.
Please open
CUSO International, http://www.cusointernational.org
Women’sMulticultural Resource andCounsellingCentre of Durham, http://www.wmrccdurham.org
Womenat The Centre, www.womenatthecentre.com
TED Talks, “What doesitmeansto be citizensof the world”https://itunes.com/apps/tedconferences/ted
TED Talks,“Rise of WomenPower” https://www.ted.com/talks/hanna_rosin_new_data_on_the_rise_of_women?
See Attachments
- Letterof supportfromCanadianNGOledby Nigerianexpatriate,“Womenatthe Centre”
- Letterof supportfromCanadianNGOledby Nigerianexpatriate,“Women’sMulticulturalResource &
CounsellingCentre of Durham”
- Letterof supportfromCUSO Volunteers
- Letterof supportfrom CUSO-International
- Conceptual Framework