Outcome NGA_D_3.1

By 2027, all people living in Nigeria have improved social protection coverage that is inclusive, gender-responsive, and shock-responsive, including social assistance, social insurance, and labour market interventions

In 2025, progress toward ending violence against women and girls in Nigeria remained constrained by persistently high prevalence levels, while system-level prevention and response mechanisms continued to strengthen. Nationally, 13.9 percent of women aged 15–49 have undergone female genital mutilation (latest nationally available data), and violence against women remains widespread, underscoring the scale and complexity of the challenge. In this context, UN Women Nigeria focused on strengthening prevention, coordination, accountability, and survivor-centered response systems, rather than short-term prevalence shifts. System-level progress included UN Women’s support to seven (7) draft and adopted policies and frameworks with integrated monitoring and accountability mechanisms to address discrimination and gender-based violence, alongside sustained engagement to ensure Nigeria maintained a national violence prevention process. At the organizational level, two (2) national institutions, the Nasrul-Lahi-il-Fathi Society of Nigeria (NASFAT) and the Organization of African Instituted Churches (OAIC) formally adopted internal gender-based violence prevention policies with UN Women’s technical support, strengthening organizational norms, accountability, and zero-tolerance standards within influential faith-based umbrella bodies. While counted as two institutions in line with indicator methodology, these reforms have cascading normative influence across their extensive networks of affiliated mosques and churches nationwide. At the service delivery level, thirty-eight (38) institutions strengthened their capacity to deliver survivor-centered services, while sixty-four (64) women’s organizations enhanced their capacity to support prevention, referral, and response efforts. Through these systems, approximately 4,800 survivors and justice users accessed legal, protection, or referral services in 2025.

By 2027, all people living in Nigeria have improved social protection coverage that is inclusive, gender-responsive, and shock-responsive, including social assistance, social insurance, and labour market interventions

During the reporting year, women's access to gender-responsive social protection was enhanced as a result of the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative and the Traditional and Cultural Leaders for Ending GBV by Advancing Advocacy, Policy, and Social Norm Change in Nigeria and West Africa (LEAP). The Council of Traditional Leaders of Africa established a workplan to engage on issues of GBV and address discrimination against women and girls. The institution further made commitments to address GBV endorsed by the leadership. The Nigeria Spouses Forum has further made strong commitments around establishment and funding of services to respond to gender-based violence. Their actions on GBV are institutionalised and demonstrated by self-initiated advocacy actions on GBV.

By 2027, all people living in Nigeria have improved social protection coverage that is inclusive, gender-responsive, and shock-responsive, including social assistance, social insurance, and labour market interventions

Reporting outcome result is subject to the release of the nationally conducted assessment by the National Bureau of Statistics. UN Women has enhanced the capacities of key officials from the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and 36 state representatives to design, implement, and monitor VAWG prevention programs using the RESPECT Framework. This capacity strengthening led to the development of Nigeria's first National GBV Prevention Strategy and supported six states in creating State Action Plans on VAWG prevention, fostering institutional reforms that advance gender equality and women's leadership in decision-making processes.