Abuja: The Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC) has unveiled an application portal for the 7,500 dollars ‘Budeshi Mini Grant’ designed to empower grassroots actors monitoring public procurement projects. Speaking at a news conference on Thursday in Abuja, the Chief Executive Officer of PPDC, Mrs. Lucy Abagi, announced that members of every participating group or organisation would receive 300 dollars along with training to enhance their skills.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the initiative is aimed at supporting community advocates and ensuring that service delivery reaches communities that have been left behind. Mrs. Abagi stated, “Today, we officially opened the application portal for the $7,500 Budeshi mini grant, a major step in our efforts to localise transparency and empower civic actors at the grassroots level.”
The initiative, launched in partnership with Devon Technologies through the Budeshi platform, is designed to support community advocates. It targets public procurement monitors, grassroots organisations, or citizen advocates passionate about tracking public projects and ensuring service delivery reaches the unreached communities.
“The Budeshi grant application portal is an open, transparent digital platform designed to support local organisations across Nigeria in applying for and managing small grants dedicated to tracking public procurement projects in their states,” Abagi added. Built by Devon Technologies Ltd. and powered by PPDC, the new system ensures that the grant process is inclusive, accountable, and citizen-centered, from registration to reporting.
Abagi emphasized the importance of pairing access with action, stating, “That’s why this mini grant is more than just funding, it’s an opportunity for citizens to dig into the data, raise their voices, engage public institutions, and hold duty bearers accountable.”
Looking ahead, Abagi expressed plans to expand the initiative across Africa, building a pan-African accountability movement driven by technology, transparency, and local community power. “We want to see Budeshi replicated, adapted, and led by African citizens across borders,” she said.
Also speaking on the program, PPDC Programme Officer Precious Adigwe mentioned that 37 institutions are expected to participate in the programme nationwide. Adigwe highlighted the creation of a new platform to ensure the project’s impact is achieved, focusing on data collection, policy advocacy, and community engagement.
Adigwe explained, “We’re going to teach them how to collect data, mine this data, use it for policy advocacy, and engage with their leaders in their communities.” The programme not only empowers participants with a stipend but also imparts lifelong skills that will strengthen their organisations and individuals alike.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that while the programme is sponsored by PPDC, it seeks partnerships with well-spirited Nigerians and donor agencies for sustainability.
