The Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) is a strategic intervention programme of the Rivers State Government set up under a legal framework to re-focus development actions targeted at poverty alleviation, rural development and youth empowerment.

The RSSDA emerged from the Rivers State Sustainable Development Program (RSSDP), which was an ad-hoc implementation committee set up by the Federal government to accelerate grassroots development in Rivers State. RSSDA was later formally established in 2008 as an autonomous entity under the office of the Executive Governor of Rivers State.

The years 2008 – 2010 were the formative period for the agency. From 2010, the Agency went through transformation and sharpening of  its  strategy for better performance. A new vision was launched, and programme portfolio streamlined to reposition the agency as a truly ‘development organization’ that is professional and performance driven. The outcomes are catalyzed in the form of new approaches to rural and urban development, new avenues to employment and wealth that leave behind sustainable impacts.

Our Vision

Be the reference point for sustainable development, transforming Rivers State rural and urban economies from dependency to self-sufficiency

Our Mission

Partner international and local development agencies and the Government of Rivers State to lift the poor in Rivers State above the poverty line through deliberate and sustainable intervention programmes and projects

Core Values

P – Passion for the Poor

A – Accountability

R – Respect for People

T – Transparency

I – Integrity

Our Mandate

•Evaluate and assess existing and future intervention programmes through the acquisition, warehousing and analysis of development socio-economic and data.

•Formulate and implement plans, initiatives, strategies, intervention models and specific measures to achieve sustainable socio-economic development, capacity-building, skills acquisition, alternative sources of livelihood in an environmentally sustainable manner in Rivers State.

•Collaborate with Government including local councils, the communities, international development agencies and organised private sectors in the pursuit of sustainable development agenda for Rivers State.

Our Philosophy

• SUSTAINABILITY – Ensuring that projects the Agency embarks upon are sustainable and useful to the people
• PARTNERSHIP – Seek out credible partners that will co-invest their expertise and funds in the projects
• SOCIAL ENTERPRISING – Ensuring that each project or programme provides benefits beyond just profit to the greatest number of people, and is able to create wealth and enhance the quality of life of the people
• MARKET ACCESS – ensuring that beneficiaries have access to markets where commercial value is placed on their goods and services

Implementing our philosophy

We are build individuals to be able to empower themselves and meet the basic livelihood needs of their households, thus becoming active socio-economic agents for societal change.

We give support to individuals and the communities that they live in, we invest in human capital, rural infrastructure and social development, which will create the enabling environment for the individual to:

· Empower themselves economically

· Effectively manage their households

· Become active agents for positive socio-economic change in Rivers State.

In light of the above, RSSDA’s operations are to:

· Develop the individuals through formal and on-the-job training, skills acquisition, and formal education.

· Empower the individuals through business incubation and technical support.

· Enable individuals become productively active income earners who can ensure food security for their households, meet their basic needs, have disposable income and pay taxes to the public treasury.

· Provide the infrastructural and social development support that will bring about an enabling environment for the target population to achieve objectives 1 to 3 above.