In Nigeria, in addition to funds mobilised by government to fight the pandemic and support citizens, the private sector and the international community has contributed money and materials to support the fight against COVID-19.  However, it is important that democracy is promoted, by ensuring accountability and transparency in the use of the funds, inclusion, equality, human rights and rule of law in the process of managing the pandemic.  

Therefore, on Friday 15^th of May, WFD in partnership with the Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF), convened a webinar to discuss strengthening of democracy in Nigeria, with a focus on accountability and transparency. The event used the platform of the #OurVoteCountsNG project, funded by the European Union, to support democratic governance in Nigeria. 
 
During the webinar, panellists encouraged government and officials managing the COVID-19 funds to publish financial records of donations and expenses regularly, to promote accountability and transparency.

They also emphasised that provision of palliative and medical care should be inclusive of underrepresented groups, leaving no one behind. This means including provisions for gender-sensitive needs, such as sanitary pads and baby foods. Suggestions were also made for COVID-19 funds to be strategically invested in laboratories to include the numbers of tests conducted.