Background: EMPARC, founded in 1991, is a research and advocacy organization dedicated to the empowerment of groups and communities through action-oriented participatory research. The Centre was established out of a concern for social problems engendered by the marginalization of groups and communities (e.g., women and the urban poor) in the process of social change in Africa. The founders of EMPARC recognized that the growing disparities of access to resources, and therefore to economic and political power, encourages the growth of anti-democratic tendencies and threatens the physical and mental capacity of people to change their lives for the better.



Objectives: The Centre's objective is to empower groups and communities through action-oriented, participatory research, to improve their living conditions and their participation in policies which affect their lives. The Centre seeks to expand human capabilities and choices by encouraging the free flow of information between groups, by the articulation and sharing of experience and perspectives, and by involving the people most affected in the design and implementation of programs.



Activities: Through its Law and Social Justice program the Centre seeks to: develop a research agenda on aspects of law and social justice in Nigeria and internationally; demystify and improve people's access to the law; strengthen and encourage the development of alternative methods of dispute resolution; and work for changes in law to improve the status of women and other disadvantaged groups in society. The aims of the Health Program are to: develop a research agenda on aspects of health in Nigeria which is sensitive to the problems and needs of diverse groups and communities; promote community awareness of health issues and problems, with emphasis on prevention; establish an information link between organizations and individuals working on similar issues and facilitate cooperation and complementary activity in this area.