Digital Inclusion
MADE
My Ability with Digital Empowerment equips people with physical disabilities with practical digital skills and opportunities for greater participation in the digital world.
Explore MADEWhat we do · Our work
Projects that turn knowledge into action.
OKDI works with communities, young people, civic actors and partners to advance rights, strengthen participation and build practical solutions to the challenges people face.
20+
Projects delivered
5+
International partners
2020
Work began
Our projects
From community action to public-interest innovation
Our projects respond to real challenges affecting communities, young people and civic actors. We combine research, advocacy, capacity building, community engagement and technology to create practical pathways for change.
Gender Equality
AmplifyHer
A project empowering girls in Gombe State to raise awareness, prevent gender-based violence and promote safer schools and communities.
Explore AmplifyHer
Digital Resilience
Digital Defenders Lab
These technologies have created enormous opportunities for civic participation. They have also created new vulnerabilities.
Digital Resilience
Digital inclusion
MADE — My Ability with Digital Empowerment
MADE is a project dedicated to empowering individuals with physical disabilities by providing them with essential skills to navigate and thrive in the digital world.
Our mission is to bridge the digital divide by ensuring accessibility and inclusivity for all, regardless of physical limitations.
Through practical digital skills development and inclusive learning opportunities, MADE seeks to strengthen confidence, participation and access to opportunities in an increasingly digital society.
Gender equality · Safer schools
AmplifyHer
For safer schools; free from GBV.
AmplifyHer, a flagship project of OKDI supported by Plan International Nigeria, focuses on empowering girls in Gombe State to combat gender-based violence (GBV).
Through a multifaceted approach, the project equips girls to lead GBV awareness within schools and communities while strengthening their confidence, knowledge and ability to speak up about issues affecting them.
The project contributes to safer and more inclusive environments where girls can learn, participate and exercise their rights.
Taking Human Rights to the Village Square
Human Rights Village Assembly
Human rights are often discussed in courtrooms, conferences, policy documents and international institutions.
But rights are ultimately experienced somewhere much closer to home. They are experienced when a woman can participate in decisions affecting her community. When a child can access education. When people can demand accountability from those exercising authority. When neighbours can live peacefully with one another. And when every person is treated with dignity.
This thinking inspired the Human Rights Village Assembly, a grassroots initiative of the Open Knowledge Development Initiative designed to bring conversations about human rights directly into community spaces. On 23 November 2025, OKDI piloted the approach in Anguwan Bali community, Demsa Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
Participants developed a Village Charter on Dignity and Rights, built around seven commitments: Dignity for All; Participation; Education and Knowledge; Water, Health and Environment; Peace and Non-Violence; Accountability and Justice; and Solidarity and Mutual Support. Twenty-five community members endorsed the Charter.
Advocacy and Empowerment for Civic Space in Nigeria
CIVICUS World Alliance Lifeline Grant
OKDI led multi-sectoral advocacy efforts to counter restrictive legislative bills affecting civic space and fundamental freedoms in Nigeria.
The project mobilized civil society organizations, youth groups, and media actors to protect freedom of association and expression, and produced an advocacy communication manual that continues to strengthen FOAA advocacy nationwide.
Building Digital Resilience for Civic Actors in Northeast Nigeria
Protecting Civic Action in an Increasingly Digital World
Civil society increasingly depends on digital technology.
Organisations communicate with communities through social media, store sensitive documents online, coordinate teams through messaging platforms, conduct advocacy digitally and rely on email and cloud services for everyday operations.
These technologies have created enormous opportunities for civic participation. They have also created new vulnerabilities.
In 2026, the Open Knowledge Development Initiative launched Digital Resilience and Protection for Civic Actors in Northeast Nigeria, with support from the CIVICUS under the Digital Democracy Initiative. The project was designed not simply to teach digital-security concepts, but to understand the actual risks facing organisations and help them develop practical responses.
Beyond individual projects
A growing portfolio of civic and community action
Our work has expanded beyond individual projects into a broader portfolio addressing human rights, civic space, digital rights, peacebuilding, climate mobility, governance and emerging technologies.
Human Rights
Civic Space & Human Rights
Supporting civic actors and communities to understand, exercise and defend their rights while creating space for meaningful participation.
Digital Rights
Digital Rights & Resilience
Strengthening the ability of individuals and civic actors to participate safely and confidently in digital spaces.
Youth & Inclusion
Youth, Gender & Inclusion
Creating opportunities for young people, women, girls and underserved communities to lead and participate meaningfully.
Civic Technology
Governance & Civic Technology
Using open knowledge, evidence and technology to strengthen transparency, accountability and citizen participation.
Climate
Climate Action & Mobility
Supporting community and youth engagement around climate change, mobility, displacement and resilience.
Emerging Technology
AI & Emerging Technologies
Exploring responsible, rights-respecting applications of AI and emerging technologies through research, advocacy and public-interest innovation.
Our reach
Building impact through partnership
Our work has been strengthened through collaboration with local, national and international organisations, communities and civic actors.
20+
Projects delivered
5M+
Communities reached
5+
International partners
50k+
People impacted
Partner perspective
"I commend the Open Knowledge Development Initiative (OKDI) for its rapid growth as a youth-led organization and the significant impact it has made in the civic space. Starting and sustaining an organization is never easy, but the team at OKDI has shown remarkable perseverance and dedication." — Dr. Yunusa Zakari Yau, Executive Director, CITAD
Work with us
Partner with us on the next project.
Whether you are a community organisation, development partner, institution, researcher or technology partner, we welcome opportunities to collaborate for meaningful impact.