The development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC) has opened applications for a second round of its NGO Support Initiative (NSI), offering free executive training to Nigerian civil society organisations, foundations and other social-impact organisations.
The eight-week virtual programme, scheduled to run from 20 October to 19 December 2026, is designed to strengthen organisational management, resilience, philanthropy and sustainable funding among local organisations.
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The initiative is being implemented in collaboration with Leiden University in the Netherlands, Dangote Business School and the Centre for Entrepreneurship Research and Training (CERT), Bayero University, Kano.
The programme comes amid growing concerns about the sustainability of Nigerian civil society organisations following cuts to international development assistance and increasing regulatory demands on non-profit organisations.
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In 2025, PREMIUM TIMES reported that 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.
The projects covered areas including maternal health, girls’ education, digital skills for young people and humanitarian assistance.
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Funding crisis
The funding challenge facing Nigerian NGOs has persisted beyond the initial disruption to USAID-funded programmes.
In a February 2026 opinion article published on PREMIUM TIMES, Judith-Ann Walker, executive director and founding member of the dRPC, wrote that Nigerian NGOs were entering 2026 with fewer grant opportunities and would need to explore new funders, partnerships and alternative funding models.
She noted that the withdrawal of USAID support had affected organisations working in areas including youth entrepreneurship, climate justice, public health advocacy, school safety, zero-dose children and human rights, with some organisations forced to close programmes, offices and disengage staff.
PREMIUM TIMES also reported in June 2025 that 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 at the time argued that Nigeria could not continue to rely indefinitely on government and external donors to finance critical development interventions, particularly as international donors increasingly reconsider their aid commitments.
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.
New regulatory demands
The training also comes as Nigerian non-profit organisations face increased scrutiny of their operations and funding.
In July, PREMIUM TIMES reported that the Nigeria Network of NGOs urged organisations to treat regulatory compliance as a central part of their operations, including keeping registrations, annual returns, tax filings and other legal obligations up to date.
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 bill passed second reading in the Senate in July, prompting debate over transparency, accountability and the potential effect of increased regulation on civic space.
In September, a coalition of civil society organisations called for the withdrawal of the bill, arguing that it could restrict civic space and give government excessive powers over organisations based on their sources of funding.
Against this backdrop, the dRPC said its second-round training would include a module on compliance with the regulatory environment, alongside project management, accountability, talent development, organisational visibility and sustainable funding.
Two training streams
The first stream, an eight-week Senior Executive Training Programme on NGO Management for Project Impact and Organisational Resilience, is targeted at 20 registered and compliant Nigerian CSOs with active grants.
The organisations must be working in areas including technical and vocational education and training and girls’ education, public health, the digital economy, climate action and humanitarian assistance.
Two representatives from each organisation, including founders, project directors or gender leads, are expected to participate.
The second stream focuses on professionalising local philanthropy, strengthening charitable foundations and improving corporate social responsibility.
It is open to 20 Nigerian foundations, charitable associations, old boys’ and girls’ organisations and CSR units of commercial organisations with active charitable portfolios supporting non-profit organisations.
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Participants will be trained on issues including social entrepreneurship, sustainable financing, financial and strategic management, taxation and regulatory compliance, monitoring and impact reporting.
The dRPC said participants who complete either programme will receive certificates signed by the dRPC, Leiden University, Dangote Business School and CERT.
It said the training is free and that successful applicants would not be required to pay any fee or other consideration.
Applications for either stream close on 15 October 2026.
Application link: CLICK HERE
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