Responsive Action for Sustainable Empowerment Initiative (RASE-I) is a Non-Governmental, Non-Political, Interfaith Organization and cuts across ethnic groups in Nigeria. RASE-I is geared towards improving quality of life in communities and families especially the most vulnerable population. RASE-I is dedicated to the support of vulnerable groups and sexual and gender minority communities as well as those at the intersection, especially the youth by identifying and mitigating issues around public health and educatin, gender norms, leadership development, capacity building, religeous tolerance and diversity and economic independence of this communities.

VISION

A country with equal access to rights, health and opportunities for sustainable development and growth.

MISSION

To achieve gender equality and sustainable development through community engagement, advocacy, research, education and leadership development.

CORE VALUE

• Service excellence
• Transparency
• Respect for Diversity
• Innovation
• Value
• Empowerment
  (S T R I V E)

WHO WE SEEK TO SERVE

• Diverse Women and girls
• Adolescent and Young persons
• Persons with special needs (disabilities)
• Key and other Vulnerable population at the intersection

WHO WE SEEK TO PARTNER WITH/STAKEHOLDERS

Public Sector	Private Sector
Federal and State Governments	Foreign donors/funder
Ministry of Womend Affairs	Implementing partners
Ministry of Health	Civil Society Organizations
Ministry of Justice	Community Stakeholders and Members
Law Enforcement Agencies	Philantropists
Human Right Commision	Volunteers
Ministry of Youth and Sport

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

• To foster leadership development for youths through Youth engagement, education and economic empowerment.
• To address Gender based violence against women and Young girls through women empowerment.
• To network and partner with other Civil Society Organizations, Non-Governmental Organizations, Implementing partners and stakeholders to facilitate access to information and client tailored services for vulnerable persons in Nigeria.
• To promote behavior change.
• To promote gender equality and mainstreaming at all levels.
• To establish support systems for vulnerable persons especially People Living with HIV, Hepatitis and survivors of Sexual violence, Gender Based Violence and other Human Rights abuses.
• To engage and advocate for favorable policies that address the needs of youths and vulnerable persons in Nigeria.
• To promote access to treatment services through direct service provision and linkage to networks.

WHERE WE OPERATE

RASE-I operates operates in Gombe with intention of expanding it to other parts of the country

FUNDING AND PARTNERSHIP

RASE-I is funded majorly by its vibrant and dedicated team and organizations that have passion for helping humanity, Donations from other well spirited individuals, collaboration with Organizations and Donors.

IMPLEMENTING STRATEGY

• Conduct evidence based researches.
• Advocacy and dialogue to influence policy change.
• Provide Psychosocial support.
• Encourage capacity building through workshops, training & mentorship for community growth and development at all levels.
• Provide Skill acquisition and economic empowerment.
• Provide Medical Care and support/ Linkages to appropriate treatment centres Engagement stakeholders.
• Promote access to affordable legal care especially for vulnerable persons and groups.
• Support Collaboration with other CSOs, NGOs for excellent service delivery to the target population.

WHAT WE DO

We stand to serve youth and women irrespective of gender structure and norms, providing platform of system that are for the improve and inform about health, education, economic empowerment and leadership development for sustainable development of peaople and communities

RASE-I network with other NGOs, Governmental Agencies and CBOS in related field through collaborative development efforts to create prosperous sustainable communities.

We Identifying community partners and develop community leaders

RASE-I executes her programs through these thematic areas;

1. Good Governance
2. Agriculture
3. Youth Training
4. Community Relations
5. Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation
6. Health/Environment Education/Advocacy
7. Political Awarenes
8. Media and Communication

APPROACH

RASE-I is participatory and responsive in its approach. RASE-I assists vulnerable groups to identify their needs and draw up action plans for intervention. Project Implementation Committee (PIC) meets and decisions taken at the community level are translated to projects and policies at the organizational level. RASE-I generally involves the household in its activities with the aim of relations by encouraging the involvement of men and women project intervention at all aim of improving gender involvement, respect for human rights, inclussive leadership and religeous tolerance for sustainable development.

STATEMENT OF CAPACITY

Responsive Action for Sustainable Empowerment Initiative from inception has implemented many projects that has made her gained a robust experience in the development work over the years. RASE-I qualified, effective and efficient staff are well trained in these program areas; right from the Executive Director to the volunteers, this is evidence on their profiles.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES: Is the highest policy-making body that governs RASE-I. The Board approves the organization's strategies and is responsible for ensuring that the organization policies and strategies are in keeping with its mission. The Board is characterized by women and men of great reputation who have distinguished themselves in various fields of endeavor and are responsible for the establishment of meaningful policies for running of the organization.

MANAGEMENT BOARD: the organization is ably headed by an Executive Director who is the Lead volunteer and supported by the Director Finance, Director Programmes/project specialist and Director Administration and other support staff. RASE-I operates with strictly followed policies approved by the BOT. These policies guide the day-to-day processes and activities of RASE-I, to align with international best practices and are a result of wide consultative processes. Some of these policies include financial policy, human resource policy, equipment use and inventory policy, social media policy, gender policy, procurement policy. etc.

RASE-I also has systems in place that ensure that project activities and management are carried out smoothly. Such systems include:

Monitoring and Evaluation: Our monitoring and evaluation systems include the use of logical framework, work plan, GANNT chart, graphical representation and data capturing, analysis and reporting tools. We are committed to Actionable Information Use and organizational learning to improve our programs and services; as such, Efficient Knowledge Management is a key value we possess.

Human Resource and Administration: RASE-I have a Human Resource policy/manual that guides her recruitment and interaction with staff. This human resource manual has specified that employed staff be given their letter of appointment and Job Description which is religiously adhered to. RASE-I currently work with 8 fulltime staff, 13 part time staff and over 200 volunteers of which 80% are community-based. volunteers and 70% women:

Internal Financial Control System: RASE-I also has an effective and stringent financial controls system designed to reduce waste and promote efficiency. Our process specifies that we operate that the funds for every project must be separated and not used for other projects. We also follow a cash accounting basis mannual and prepares cash flow and annual organizational and project budgets using activity based costing. We carry out budget variance reporting, bank reconciliation and strict segregation of roles. We are planning to graduate our accounting processes to the use of Quick Books or peach tree as soon as possible.

The strength of RASE-I is its multi-disciplinary team with a rich background in research, policy, advocacy and practice in the field as well as our ability to engage both the formal and informal sector. Staff have developed a track record of implementation of research, innovative/demonstration projects, training/capacity building, documentation, advocacy and provision of support services to most vulnerable groups.

RASE-I members of staff have received capacity building in Project and Financial Management, Organizational Development, Resource Mobilization and Proposal Development, Monitoring and Evaluation, Strategic Planning, Gender Food and Nutritional Security for vulnerables and Affected groups, Facilitation and Psychosocial Support for Facilitation, Baseline Survey Report Writing, Participatory Rural Appraisal/Participatory Learning Approaches, Supervisory Monitoring, Business Management, Peer Education and other trainings too numerous to mention here.