Jaye Gaskia’s career is a testament to his unwavering commitment to advocacy and social change. His work has touched various facets of Nigerian society, from defense oversight to community policing, COVID-19 response tracking, and beyond. Gaskia’s dedication to promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance has left an enduring impact on the nation. As he continues to lead and inspire, his contributions remain vital in the ongoing journey towards a better Nigeria.
Lead Consultant with ThinkAct Consults Ltd
Jaye Gaskia’s journey in the world of advocacy and social change began in September 2014 when he joined ThinkAct Consults Ltd as a Lead Consultant. Since then, he has been at the forefront of numerous initiatives aimed at addressing critical issues facing Nigeria. His areas of expertise span a wide range of topics, including advocacy and campaigning, capacity building, peace and security, conflict transformation and peacebuilding, emergency preparedness, disaster management, and human security.
Highlights of Jaye Gaskia’s role as Lead Consultant at ThinkAct Consults Ltd
In the year 2020 alone, Jaye Gaskia’s contributions to the field of advocacy and social change were nothing short of remarkable. Here are some of the key highlights from his extensive career:
1. Legislative Retreat for House of Representatives Committees
– In January 2020, Gaskia collaborated with the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and Transparency International (TI) to facilitate a capacity development legislative retreat for select members of the House of Representatives committees on Army, Airforce, and Navy. This initiative aimed to enhance the legislative oversight of defense-related matters in Nigeria.
2. DDRR Workshop with Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN)
– In March 2020, Jaye Gaskia served as a technical team member at a three-day review and validation workshop organized by Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN). The workshop focused on developing an evidence-based model for Disarmament, Demobilization, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration (DDRR) in the context of youth cult gangs.
3. COVID-19 Response Toolkit Development
– Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Gaskia worked with Policy Alert to facilitate training sessions for civil society and media practitioners on tracking COVID-19 responses at the subnational level in Nigeria. He also played a role in developing a toolkit for this purpose, contributing to transparency and accountability during the pandemic.
4. Strengthening Community Policing
– In June and July 2020, Jaye Gaskia collaborated with ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) to facilitate training sessions for police officers from Kogi and Nasarawa States on strengthening community policing. This initiative was part of the System and Structure Strengthening Approach Against Violent Extremism (SARVE II) project.
5. National Citizens’ Report (NCR)
– Gaskia’s involvement with AAN extended to the development of the National Citizens’ Report (NCR) on the implementation of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance (ACDEG) in Nigeria. He also contributed to the development of a policy advisory document on democracy and governance based on the NCR.
6. Advocacy for Social Security and Health
– In August 2020, Gaskia collaborated with HEDA Resource Center to develop a policy brief as an advocacy tool on social security and health, furthering the discourse on crucial social issues in Nigeria.
7. Legislative Retreat on Defence Accountability
– In September 2020, Jaye Gaskia worked with CISLAC and TI to facilitate a legislative retreat on defence accountability mechanisms, legislation, and legislative oversight. This event was designed for leaders of the House of Representatives committees on Defence, Army, Airforce, and Navy.
Highlights from Previous Years
While the year 2020 was a standout year for Jaye Gaskia’s career, his contributions to advocacy and social change have been consistently impactful throughout the years. Here are highlights from some of the previous years of his career:
2019:
– Lead Consultant on PCVE Sensitization Programs: In October 2018 to December 2018, Jaye Gaskia served as the lead consultant for a series of sensitization and training programs on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) in the UNDP PCVE Project. This initiative aimed to raise awareness and build capacity to address the challenges of extremism.
2018:
– Advocacy for Agricultural Resilience: In July 2019, Gaskia undertook a consultancy to develop advocacy briefing kits for the sensitization of stakeholders on the National Agricultural Resilience Framework (NARF). He also engaged with state governments to encourage the development of state policies and implementation plans on agricultural resilience.
– Technical Support for Kaduna State Peace Commission: Gaskia provided technical support to the Kaduna State House of Assembly in finalizing the Bill to establish the Kaduna State Peace Commission, a critical step in conflict resolution and peacebuilding.
2017:
– Development of Policy Briefs: Jaye Gaskia was involved in the preparation of a series of policy briefs on the national conflict context with recommended solutions for the DFID NSRP-funded project of CISLAC.
– Evaluation of the Open Minds Project: He conducted an evaluation of the Open Minds project in Nigeria, a Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) project implemented by the Institute of War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) on behalf of the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD).
2016:
– National Action Plan for Strategic Conflict Assessment: Gaskia served as the lead consultant for the development of the National Action Plan for the 2016 Strategic Conflict Assessment (SCA) for the Institute of Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) in Nigeria.
– Policy Brief on Climate Smart Agriculture: He prepared a policy brief on Climate Smart Agriculture and the significance of agricultural extension for HEDA Resource Centre.
2015:
– Research Report on Paris Club Refund and Bailout Regimes: In 2016 and 2017, Gaskia conducted research, prepared a research report, and provided capacity-building for partners of the Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre-LSD) on the Paris Club Refund and Bailout regimes in the Voice To the People (V2P) project supported by Christian Aid.
– Capacity Building on Social Audit: He conducted a three-day capacity-building session on the conduct of social audits for Community and Social Development Project (CSDP) partners in the DFID-funded CDD SPARC (Anti-corruption) project.
2014:
– Consultancy for DFID NSRP: Jaye Gaskia’s consultancy services extended to preparing a research report and capacity-building of partners of the Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre-LSD) on the Paris Club Refund and Bailout regimes.
These highlights showcase the breadth and depth of Jaye Gaskia’s contributions to various aspects of advocacy, peacebuilding, governance, and development in Nigeria over the years. His work continues to be instrumental in addressing critical issues and driving positive change in the country. Jaye Gaskia remains a leading figure in the field of advocacy and social change, inspiring others to join the mission for a better Nigeria.
