Effective community development requires active participation and ownership from local stakeholders. In Nigeria, Ward Development Committees (WDCs) have the potential to drive sustainable community development and social impact. However, these committees often face various challenges in terms of capacity, resources, and effectiveness. This study aims to empower WDCs in Nigeria, enhancing their ability to promote sustainable community development and social impact. By strengthening community governance and promoting participatory development, this initiative seeks to improve the lives of citizens and contribute to Nigeria's sustainable development goals. Ward Development Committees are critical to improving health outcomes and fostering sustainable community development in Nigeria. This study evaluates an intervention aimed at strengthening WDCs to enhance maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) outcomes and fortify community health systems. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study was conducted across five states: Bauchi, Ebonyi, Sokoto, Kebbi, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The interventions comprised capacity-building, resource mobilization, community engagement, and implementation of optimized MNCH Week activities. Key achievements included the training of 510 WDC members, transportation of 33,508 pregnant women for antenatal care, and mobilization of over 44 million NGN for health initiatives. Additionally, 606 sensitization activities that reached 24,860 individuals, significantly increasing community participation. However, challenges such as disparities in WDC performance, resource constraints, and weak coordination mechanisms were identified, alongside limitations in state-level support and follow-up mechanisms. To address these issues, the study recommends tailored capacity-strengthening programs, enhanced collaboration with local governments, and increased funding for WDC activities. The findings underscore the transformative potentialities of empowering WDCs to strengthen health systems, reduce maternal and child mortality, and achieve sustainable, community-driven development in Nigeria.
