CONSULTATIONREPORT

The Nigeria Network of NGOs together with Palladium and British Council, with the support of USAID SCALE and EU-ACT convened more than 30 leading civil society leaders, experts, thinkers, policy influences and civil society networks to gather insights, findings and experiences on measures that should be taken by civil society organisation to self-regulate. The consultation workshop which was held from the 12th to 13th of October 2021 successfully secured support for a self-regulatory framework as participants had the opportunity to share their views around the rationale behind self-regulatory models aligned with the operational context for civil society organisations in Nigeria.

The consultation also explored which self-regulatory models have the potential for sustainable, transformative impact on the legitimacy, transparency, and accountability of Nigerian nonprofits. In addition to the strategic and practical consideration surrounding self-regulation, participants were encouraged to consider how best to inspire and sustain public trust in the activities of civil society organisations across communities. Participants from across states, regions and thematic focus expressed their views on the numerous levels of engagement and adoption of self-regulatory initiatives around the country and shared various approaches to models that already exist and have experienced. Participants predominantly believed that civil society self-regulation is an “idea whose time has come” and that it would enhance transparency and improve public trust in the sector’s activities.