Diamond Development Initiatives

https://ddinigeria.org/ddiprojects/gain-snips-home-gardening-project/
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DDI Concludes GAIN-SNiPS Home Garden Initiative Across 3 States
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Diamond Development Initiatives (DDI) is proud to announce the successful completion of its role as the implementing partner for the Home Garden component of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) Strengthening Nutrition in Priority Staples (SNiPS) Project in Nigeria. For the past three years, this vital initiative has empowered 21,414 households across Benue, Kaduna, and Nasarawa states by boosting their capacity to grow and consume safe, nutrient-dense foods.

Key Achievements and Impact

The project’s primary goal was to assist smallholder farmers and farm workers in the rice and maize value chains to make healthier dietary choices through improved access to and consumption of nutritious foods. Key achievements include:

--- Expanded Reach and Empowerment: The initiative networked 21,414 households, surpassing the original target of 20,000. Notably, women consistently formed the majority of participants, accounting for 71%, which is crucial for garden maintenance and long-term success.
--- Capacity Building: DDI conducted comprehensive capacity building sessions by training 102 Extension Agents (EAs) and 480 Lead Farmers on Good Agronomic Practices (GAP), nursery management, nutrition education, among other relevant skills. These master trainers, in turn, delivered step-down training to 21,033 households.
--- Infrastructure and Inputs: A total of 102 demonstration plots were established, serving as vital practical learning centres. Furthermore, 21,305 households received essential inputs like improved seeds (amaranth, tomato, pepper, okra), liquid organic fertiliser, and Vitamin A-rich Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP) vines.
--- Innovative Farming: The project actively promoted innovative, climate-smart solutions. Techniques such as sack gardening were introduced to overcome challenges like cramped spaces, poor soil, and rigid garden layouts, offering a budget-friendly way for families to secure year-round fresh produce.
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GAIN SNiPS Home Gardening Project - Diamond Development Initiatives DDI Concludes GAIN-SNiPS Home Garden Initiative Across 3 States Diamond Development Initiatives (DDI) is proud to announce the successful completion of its role as the implementing partner for the Home Garden component of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) Strengthening Nutrition in P...

Strengthening Ties for Greater Impact!
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Today, at our Head Office in Abuja, we were delighted to host representatives from Tanager, a seasoned development organization that works to connect people, partners, and markets to create equitable, inclusive systems that improve lives and livelihoods.
The visiting team was comprised of Maureen Munjua, Country Representative, Kenya; Margaret Ngetha, Partnerships Manager, IGNITE+; and Kemi Asuni, Gender Expert, and portfolio lead IGNITE+. Nigeria. They were received by DDI’s Executive Director, Adamu Garba, alongside Afis Adeola Olaoye (Head, Finance & Administration), and other staff members.
This visit follows an earlier engagement by the IGNITE+ team, led by Kemi Asuni, to initiate DDI’s onboarding into the IGNITE+ Capacity Building initiative – an effort aimed at strengthening institutional capacity for greater development impact.
During this courtesy visit, both organisations shared insights on their work, areas of focus, and mutual interests, while exploring potential opportunities for collaboration in empowering communities, promoting gender inclusion, and enhancing sustainable livelihoods across Nigeria and beyond.
We are truly grateful to Maureen, the Tanager team and the IGNITE+ initiative – for their visit and for recognising the work we do at DDI. We look forward to building a meaningful partnership that leverages our shared vision of driving inclusive growth and lasting change...

Last week, DDI was honored to be represented at Tanager and Inspire Decisions’ IGNITE+ Stakeholder Engagement Meeting – held on June 4th at Four Points by Sheraton, Victoria Island, Lagos. Our representative joined fellow African agricultural institutions to:
· Gain insights on the IGNITE+ local service provider approach
· Share best practices on gender-integrated, nutrition-sensitive programming
· Identify pathways for collaboration toward food-system transformation
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In Nigeria, Tanager is working closely with Inspire Decisions Consulting and Ikore International to expand locally led technical-assistance delivery to African agricultural institutions. At DDI, we know that sustainable impact comes from strengthening local capacities, that’s why our work in Business Support & Enterprise Management, Agricultural Value-Chain Development, Renewable/Off-Grid Energy Support, Youth Employability Enhancement, and Grants Management is so critical. By providing tailored technical assistance, we empower cooperatives, smallholder farmers, and youth entrepreneurs to build resilient, inclusive food systems that leave no one behind.

We look forward to forging new partnerships and leveraging the IGNITE+ platform to drive even greater progress toward zero hunger, gender equity, and healthy diets for all.

Stay tuned for updates on how DDI will collaborate with stakeholders to turn today’s insights into tomorrow’s success stories!