The Social Accountability Fellowship (SAF) is an innovative civic and leadership training under the Strengthening Participation, Accountability and Transparency in States (SPATS) Project in Ondo State, supported by ALDA – European Association for Local Democracy, under the WYDE Civic Engagement Project, and implemented in collaboration with Elbarlament, People in Need, and the European Partnership for Democracy, with funding from the European Union.

The fellowship is designed to empower emerging leaders and innovators in the field of social accountability. Through this fellowship, you will have the chance to participate in intensive training, hands-on projects, and collaborative learning experiences with like-minded individuals and experts.

Aim

• The project aims to improve youth participation, accountability, and transparency in governance and empower young citizens to engage in advocacy and demand accountability. It will also provide an opportunity to learn from local stakeholders on how to strengthen citizens’ capacity to oversee public budget spending in their communities, thereby improving transparency and accountability at the community level.

Objectives

• The objectives of the Social Accountability Fellowship are as follows:
  • To conduct a 2-month hybrid fellowship for young people, women, and persons with disabilities aged 18 – 35 years in Ondo State.
  • To lead research and advocacy activities for the development of youth development policies to facilitate increased youth participation in governance.
  • To build a #FollowTheProject dashboard to drive social accountability and transparency in tracking the government’s programmes and projects in grassroots communities.

Benefits

• By participating in the Social Accountability Fellowship, young people, women, and persons with disabilities will gain critical skills in civic engagement, policy advocacy, and community mobilization. Through tailored training and hands-on experience, they will be empowered to influence youth development policies, contribute to the design of a digital dashboard for public project tracking, and actively monitor, track, and report government-funded projects in their communities. This inclusive initiative ensures that underrepresented voices are amplified in governance, fostering transparency, accountability, and sustainable development at the grassroots.
• Candidates who are admitted and complete the fellowship will be awarded a ‘certificate of completion’, stipends and be inducted to become part of our civic community to influence policies and shape development in their community.

Program Specifications

• The curriculum is robust and strategically designed to enhance youth participation in governance. It covers key areas such as the role of artificial intelligence, data analysis, and emerging technologies in driving participatory governance. Other focal points include youth engagement in public budgeting systems, the effectiveness of audits at subnational levels, and monitoring public procurement to ensure improved service delivery.
• These sessions will be led by seasoned facilitators, including Executive Directors, Country Representatives, Program Managers from leading civil society organizations, top development practitioners, and representatives from relevant government ministries.
• The project will:
  • Train 18 Social Accountability Fellows (one per LGA) in governance, advocacy, and project tracking.
  • Conduct research and advocacy for the domestication of the National Youth Policy in Ondo State.
  • Develop a Public Project Dashboard to track government projects and expenditures to drive improvement in service delivery.
  • This groundbreaking initiative is designed to empower citizens, civil society, and state institutions to work together in building a stronger, more participatory democratic culture in Nigeria.

Duration

• Six months (June – November 2025)

Target Audience 

• This project seeks to empower young people aged 18 – 35 years, women, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and youth development state agencies with the information and skillset to directly contribute to influencing youth development policies in Ondo State; follow up, monitor, and report government projects in grassroots communities; and foster increased youth participation in governance related activities.

Eligibility Criteria

• Individuals resident in Ondo state.
• Individuals between the age of 18 to 35.

For more information, visit Promad Foundation.