The development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC) has launched a call for applications for the second round of its NGO Support Initiative (NSI). This initiative provides free executive training to Nigerian civil society organisations, foundations, and other social-impact organisations. The eight-week virtual programme is scheduled to run from 20 October to 19 December 2026. It aims to strengthen organisational management, resilience, philanthropy, and sustainable funding among local organisations.
The dRPC is implementing the initiative in collaboration with Leiden University in the Netherlands, Dangote Business School, and the Centre for Entrepreneurship Research and Training (CERT), Bayero University, Kano. This programme comes at a time when Nigerian civil society organisations are facing growing concerns about sustainability due to cuts in international development assistance and increasing regulatory demands on non-profit organisations.
In 2025, the dRPC launched the first round of the NSI to support Nigerian NGOs affected by international funding cuts, particularly the disruption caused by the United States government's decision to halt several foreign assistance programmes. The first round attracted 495 applications, with 17 organisations eventually receiving N5 million each to implement projects affected by the funding disruption. These projects covered areas including maternal health, girls' education, digital skills for young people, and humanitarian assistance.
The funding challenge facing Nigerian NGOs has persisted beyond the initial disruption to USAID-funded programmes. Judith-Ann Walker, executive director and founding member of the dRPC, wrote in a February 2026 opinion article that Nigerian NGOs were entering 2026 with fewer grant opportunities and would need to explore new funders, partnerships, and alternative funding models. The withdrawal of USAID support affected organisations working in areas including youth entrepreneurship, climate justice, public health advocacy, and human rights.
Nigerian civil society organisations working on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria were calling for stronger domestic resource mobilisation to reduce dependence on foreign donors. Stakeholders argued that Nigeria could not continue to rely indefinitely on government and external donors to finance critical development interventions. The dRPC's second-round programme reflects some of these concerns, with one of its training streams focusing on organisational resilience, sustainable funding strategies, and working with government to scale programmes.
The training also comes as Nigerian non-profit organisations face increased scrutiny of their operations and funding. The Nigeria Network of NGOs urged organisations to treat regulatory compliance as a central part of their operations. The issue has become more prominent following the introduction of a proposed Foreign Aid (Regulation, Transparency and Disclosure) Bill, which seeks to require NGOs to register foreign aid and donor-funded projects with the government.
The dRPC's second-round training will include a module on compliance with the regulatory environment, alongside project management, accountability, talent development, organisational visibility, and sustainable funding. Two training streams are available: the Senior Executive Training Programme on NGO Management for Project Impact and Organisational Resilience, and a stream focusing on professionalising local philanthropy, strengthening charitable foundations, and improving corporate social responsibility. Participants who complete either programme will receive certificates signed by the dRPC, Leiden University, Dangote Business School, and CERT.
Key points
- The dRPC's NGO Support Initiative offers free executive training to Nigerian civil society organisations and foundations.
- The programme aims to strengthen organisational management, resilience, philanthropy, and sustainable funding among local organisations.
- Applications for the programme close on 15 October 2026.
