CART is a community institution, which arose as a result of the project of ActionAid Nigeria, supported by GCERF, aimed at enhancing community role in PCVE.
The System and Structure Strengthening Approach against Radicalization to Violent Extremism - SARVE II project implemented by ActionAid was implemented in two states, Kogi and Nasarawa.
The SARVE II project was informed by the need to decrease the vulnerability of at-risk young men and women to Violent Extremism, strengthen community system and structures to address Violent Extremism and create an enabling environment for preventing Violent Extremis.
The commencement of a second phase was as a result of the impact and achievement recorded in the first phase of the project which was designed to systematically address the source of extreme restive violence that played out in Kogi State as a result of its numerous porous borders by digging deep into the fundamental causes of the type of violence in the state and to create workable community-driven solutions to prevent and address internal conflicts and general restivenesss.
SARVE II presents a number of inspiring statistics. To bring the project to life , 130 media professionals from Kogi and Nasarawa states were trained on conflicts sensitive reportage and counter narratives, as part of efforts in preventing and countering violent extremism.
In adddtion, 39 radio programmees episodes have been held in Kogi and Nasarawa states and FCT with increased awareness on preventing violent extremism and peace building. Also 1500 youths and 1000 women from Kogi and Nasarawa states were engaged and empowered with livelihood skills and economic empowerment.
396 Local volunteers from 24 communities inn Kogi and Nasarawa states supported a community wide awareness and sensitization of the door to door campaign to contain the spread of the pandemic during the global lockdown.
With funding from the GCERF, SARVE II is now being implemented in Kogi and Nasarawa states in partnership with ActionAid Nigeria’s Local Rights Partner in Kogi state ; Participation Initiative for Behavioural Change in Development(PIBCID), and Global Peace Development(GPD) and Beacon Youth Initiative (BYI) in Nasarawa state.
The project is also working closely with the office of the Governors, Ministries of Women Affairs and Social Development, Ministries of Agriculture, Ministries of Youth and Sports Development; Ministries of Education; Ministries of Commerce and Industries and other relevant MDAs, Community Based Organizations and Youth Groups in the states. The project is being implemented to reach 36000 direct beneficiaries in six(6) LGAs in Kogi state (Igalamela/Odulu, Ankpa, Adavi, Okehi, Lokoja and Kogi) and six(6) LGAs in Nasarawa state(Obi, Lafia, Nasarawa-Eggon, Akwanga, Toto and Nasarawa).
The SARVE II project was projected to last for 33 months.
From interventions, 36000( direct beneficiaries, youths, males and females), 6320( in school children - 3160 male and 3160 female), 1290,360 (indirect beneficiaries - 40200 females and 89,160 males) were reached through constant support of benefiting communities to build tolerance, strengthen local and community agencies where violent extremists’ groups exploit weak governance to perpetrate injustice. The project also provided positive socio-economic alternatives and livelihood skills as an alternative to what violent extremists claim to offer.