The PIC supported the growth of an enabling regulatory condition for inclusive digital transformation at the national level and sub-national level in five states (Lagos, Jigawa, Kano, Edo and Kaduna states) by strengthening the capacity of sector stakeholders, domesticating the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy 2020-2030 at the state level and providing technical support for operationalizing the roadmap.

The PIC conducted extensive policy analysis to identify gaps and opportunities for digital inclusion, engaged 331 public and private sector stakeholders within the digital ecosystem, conducted seven policy dialogues in five states and Abuja, hosted two design/co-creation workshops with stakeholders at the national level to co-create digital cooperation for an enabling policy environment. Using an intersectional approach, the trainings and engagements prioritized women, persons with disability and marginalized groups.

We worked with State Governors for policy domestication at the state level and Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy to champion private and public sector partnerships stakeholders in Nigeria.

Using a human centered design approach and working with government stakeholders, citizens, public and private sector partners, persons with disability, small holder women farmers, MSMEs; the PIC provided technical support to the Edo state government in developing a harmonized digital policy and is implementing a post policy advocacy project to facilitate systems change in the digital ecosystem in the state. Our approach ensured that there were consultations at all levels, we are utilizing storytelling and policy demonstration projects as well as pictorials to communicate the policy to citizens.

The PIC is co-implementing the Policy Support for Economic Growth (PSEG) project in partnership with Michigan State University, USA. The PSEG is designed to improve the enabling environment for inclusive and sustainable agriculture-led economic growth by enhancing the capacity of the Government of Nigeria (GoN), the Private Sector, and Civil Society Organizations in evidence-based policy formulation, implementation, research, and advocacy. To achieve this, the initiative focused on three key objectives:

• Policy Formulation and Implementation

Enhancing the policy process to support evidence-based decision-making on food security and inclusive agriculture-led economic growth.

• Policy Research

Expanding access to rigorous policy analysis, particularly in areas such as women’s agricultural productivity, to inform evidence-based policymaking

• Policy Advocacy

Amplifying the voices of private sector actors, civil society, private associations, academia, and media in shaping public policy. PSEG will also support the policy efforts of other activities designed to operationalize the Feed the Future 2023-2028 Nigeria Country Plan and will support the policy agenda of the Government of Nigeria in collaboration with other development partners.

At the PIC, our social norms-related projects ensure that policies are both evidence-based and contextually relevant. One such initiative is the Social Norms Intersectionality Project, which explored how identity-based norms—specifically gender and faith norms—intersect with broader social norms that drive corrupt practices in Nigeria’s health sector.

Through rigorous research, the project examined how behaviours are shaped by normative and empirical expectations, reference groups, and social sanctions (rewards and punishments). These insights informed culturally appropriate and effective policy recommendations, highlighting how norm-change programming can integrate intersectionality for greater impact.

Beyond research, our work in social norms extends to intervention design, monitoring, and cross-sectoral engagement. Findings from social norms research also contribute to policy monitoring and evaluation, refining programs and scaling successful initiatives.

At the PIC, social norms provide the why—deep insights into human behaviour—while the Policy Unit delivers the how—practical pathways for policy implementation and systemic change.