From Femi Mustapha, in Kaduna
In a landmark move to strengthen participatory budgeting, Civic Impact For Sustainable Development Foundation, in collaboration with the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Technical Working Group (TWG) on Strengthening Participatory Budgeting Process, has announced the launch of a four-week intensive capacity-building program.
The programme, titled #EngageKdBudget2026, targets to train 500 participants across Kaduna State.
This was contained in a statement signed by Head of Policy, Research and Data Management, Civic Impact For Sustainable Development Foundation, Gabriel Adinga, and Citizen Co-chair, OGP TWG on Strengthening Participatory Budgeting Process, Civil Society Co-chair, made available to the media in Kaduna today.
The statement stated that 215 registrants had already confirmed their participation, making the training the largest pre-budget engagement initiative in the state’s history.
The Statement added that the intervention comes in response to the recently released 2026–2028 budget calendar by the Kaduna State Planning and Budget Commission.
The 2026-2028 Budget, according to the state, outlines multiple opportunities for citizens to contribute to fiscal planning—including the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF)consultation, community needs submission, draft budget town-hall meeting, and public appropriation hearings.
” This moment provides a critical window to ensure that citizens’ voices are not just heard, but also influence the final budget.
“Despite Kaduna’s leadership in open governance under the Open Government Partnership (OGP), low awareness and weak technical capacity among citizens continue to limit meaningful engagement in budgeting processes.
“This program seeks to change that by equipping community members, CSOs, and civic actors with tools and knowledge to advocate for budgets that reflect real community needs.
“The Kaduna OGP journey has opened new frontiers for civic participation, but the quality of engagement matters. This training will ensure that citizens are not just present, but influential in the spaces that shape how public funds are allocated.”
The #EngageKdBudget2026 training will cover core themes such as: Public Financial Management system; understanding the Kaduna State budget cycle and entry points for civic input; overview of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and sectoral allocations; prioritizing and submitting community development needs; gender-responsive and climate-tagged budgeting; and accountability tools for budget analysis and advocacy.
“The initiative is in partnership with Policy and Citizens Initiative, Institute of Budget & Policy – Africa, Youth Assembly of Nigeria (YAN) – Kaduna Chapter, National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN)- Kaduna State Chapter, OpenGov Youth Innovation Hub, the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), and Coalition of Associations for Leadership, Peace, Empowerment & Development (CALPED).
“Together, they bring grassroots mobilization, policy expertise, and youth inclusion into a coordinated civic effort.
“The training will be delivered through virtual sessions – ensuring wide coverage and inclusivity, especially for persons with disabilities (PWDs), women, and youth.
“So far, participants from all 23 LGAs have begun registering, reflecting the urgency and enthusiasm for informed engagement in Kaduna’s budgeting process.
“As the state moves closer to drafting the 2026 budget, this training promises to enhance citizen-government collaboration and improve budget outcomes.
“The Civic Impact-led engagement is a testament to Kaduna State’s growing reputation as a hub for civic innovation and participatory budgeting.
“By raising the bar for how budgets are co-created, Kaduna is not only setting an example for other states but also redefining the future of inclusive governance.” The Statement reads
