The development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC) is a non-profit Social Enterprise, with head offices in Kano State in the North of Nigeria founded by two former Lecturers, activists and partners. The dRPC designs and implements high impact development researches and interventions, involving government, civil society and the international development community. The Center’s mission is to build capacity and social capital for participatory development. Its vision is for a vibrant and empowered civil society, for communities and social institutions that are involved in  putting and keeping Nigeria on the path of sustainable development.

Our History

The dRPC was formed in May 1994 and registered in 1995. Having commenced operations under military rule in the mid-1990s, good governance and participatory approaches for development are central to the Centre’s work. Also, the reduced presence by international development partners at the time of the Centre’s formation in the 1990s has led to a focus on high impact interventions which are sustainable over time through community assets and initiatives. In May 2008, the dRPC registered an affiliate the Development Partners Resource Centre to instutionalize development partnerships formed since its formation.

Our Approach

Participatory development is at the heart of all the Centre’s activities at it designs and implements development projects using participatory approaches which seek to incorporate the needs of  the poor, the vulnerable and socially excluded groups such as women. While the dRPC works throughout Nigeria most of its activities have been concentrated in the Northern states.

In facilitating development interventions, the dRPC carries out the function of an intermediary organization, working between the international development community and local civil society organizations such as FBOs, CBOs, NGOs and NGO Networks.  The dRPC emerged in response to challenges faced in implementing bottom up development efforts. Nowhere was this challenge more greatly felt than in large states such as Kano.

There are several non-profit groups directly implementing development projects in Nigeria; few groups set out to facilitate others to carry out interventions. This is the gap that the dRPC seeks to fill. The dRPC set out to address the challenge of how to build capacity within civil society organizations to catalyze change and through evidence based development interventions.

 The Center’s areas of focus:

• Poverty Alleviation and Sustainable Livelihood
• Girl child Education and early childhood development
• Reproductive health/HIV/AIDS
• Economic development and business development
• Migration and trafficking of persons
• Islam and Development
• Development Project Support Services

The Center’s Activities

Re-granting, sub-granting and facilitating international development partnerships

Leadership Development

Monitoring, Evaluation and Action Research

Capacity building trainings and workshops

Designing and Coordinating training, retreats & Study tours

Community outreach and grassroots project  implementation

Capacity building and organizational strengthening

Knowledge management