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The European Union (EU) has launched a €13.5m (N5 billion) project to improve the capacity and efficiency of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Nigeria.
Tagged, “Agents for Citizen-driven Transformation (ACT) programme,” the project would be funded by the EU under its European Development Fund (EDF) and implemented by the British Council.
Head of EU delegation to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Ketil Karlsen, said at the launch of the programme in Abuja yesterday that the ACT was meant to strengthen selected CSO networks and coalitions working in the three EU focal sectors.
“Today, the EU is supporting CSOs in Nigeria with €13.5m to build their capacities. This is because in spite of their vibrancy in Nigeria, there are gaps and the EU has seen those gaps,” he said.
“We have also seen in the past that important results can be achieved with civil society. We are proud to be associated with the Not Too Young To Run bill and other intervention programmes.
“We know that the constructive engagement of the civil society in collaboration with the political establishment supported by the international community can make transformation decision.
“We hope to add more impetus to the participation of a constructive civil society in Nigeria. This programme would ensure that the right policy decisions are being taken in support of Nigeria citizens.”
Karlsen also disclosed that Nigeria has been a key beneficiary of EU development assistance worldwide, receiving up to €700m under the current framework.
Head of the ACT programme, Damilare Babalola, noted that the project would run for four years while engaging with CSOs across the six geo-political zones of the country.
“We want to ensure that we improve the efficiency of civil society groups in terms of what they do and also strengthen their legitimacy base. We will train them looking at the systematic issues.
“We know that they are doing their best but we believe that on their own they cannot achieve the kind of result needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals,” he stated.
He stressed that only civil society groups found to be active in their respective areas would be selected for training, adding: “We want to ensure that we are not starting from ground zero and that there is something on the table we looking to improve upon.”