The COVID-19 pandemic will have implications for nonprofits as well their staff members, volunteers, interns and beneficiaries. We have therefore, put together this practical guidance to help nonprofits cope and think through their operations during the pandemic. This document responds to some of the common challenges we see nonprofits facing.

 Download here Covid 19 Nonprofit Advisory

01 May 2020

Today has a particularly important meaning for us as individuals working or volunteering in the nonprofit sector. As we reflect on our contributions to the country, our efforts in helping to curb the spread of Covid-19 and maintain support to the vulnerable population whom we traditionally serve, I am grateful to the hardworking men and women who work in the sector, earning next to nothing, under very tight working conditions, deadlines and lean resources to give hope to millions of people in communities across the country.

As one who has worked all his life in the sector, starting as a volunteer and gradually moving up the ladder into full staff, I understand first-hand the goodwill that comes with working with nonprofit organisations as well as the downsides. That is why as part of my work in the coming months, I will be convening a nonprofit staff forum to discuss issues you face and create together some fun-filled activities to celebrate our work and the value we bring to the development landscape in Nigeria and across the world.

Certainly, it will take a while for our world to return to normal. More than ever before, we will now need a more dedicated and resilient workforce that will help deliver post-Covid responses across the country alongside our normal programming before the pandemic.

I hope I can count on you to stay safe and committed to bringing development to the doorsteps of the common man.

Thank you for all you do!

Oyebisi, B. Oluseyi
Executive Director, Nigeria Network of NGOs.

Dear Colleagues,

Like many of you, we have spent the last few days and weeks understanding the coronavirus (COVID-19) and how it is impacting the nonprofit sector. For the Nigeria Network of NGOs, that means learning how it affects employees, beneficiaries and communities we serve, including what the necessary adjustments to our work and operations would look like.

As the outbreak escalates, our focus has been on keeping people safe and informed especially nonprofit employees. This going forward will be at the centre of our conversations for days and months to come. We have made several moves in our operations that I would like to share with you.

I have listened to my colleagues individually to understand how the outbreak will affect their productivity and have used this information to decide what measures we need to put in place to support each staff. One of such is the voluntary work from home policy, where I am allowing staff members, especially those with long commute, to work from home should they decide to.

We have ramped up our personal hygiene with hand sanitizers distributed to all staff and hand washing encouraged. We are practicing social distancing while at work and contributing positively to public discourse on the outbreak while serving as a source of calm and sound advice internally and externally.

To do what we can to help stop the spread of the virus, our Lagos and Ibadan offices are closed to visitors from Monday 23, 2020, a strict travel ban for employees is in place and we have cancelled workshops and events with large gatherings in line with government directives. We are closely following the Nigeria Center for Disease Control’s (NCDC) guideline and recommendations on the steps we can take to prevent the spread of the virus.

We also want to help our members everywhere to find help and receive training and support from our team. We are expanding our premium membership benefits to all members and opening up all our electronic channels—email: nnngo@nnngo.org , seyi@nnngo.org , timothy@nnngo.org , adeola.odunsi@nnngo.org , chidinma.okpara@nnngo.org , aramide.oyindamola@nnngo.org ; phone: 0906 946 0107, 0906 948 6207, 0906 946 9197 to pick up your request for support. We are here to help.

We understand the outbreak will have implications for contractual engagement with donors. Please let them know immediately how this is affecting your work as you may have to renegotiate restrictions and timing on grant reporting and explicitly plan for the unexpected.

Whatever happens in the next coming days, weeks and months we will be here to help nonprofits address their challenges. We will continue to closely monitor the situation and do all we can to provide support and guidance to weather the storm.

Thank you.

Oyebisi, B. Oluseyi,
Executive Director, Nigeria Network of NGOs.

Lagos, Nigeria, March 27, 2020

Amid the current COVID-19 outbreak in Nigeria—the Nigeria Network of NGOs is following with appreciation, the efforts of the Nigeria Center for Disease Control, Federal Ministry of Health, Lagos State Government, Private Sector, Philanthropists and Civil Society Organisations to curb the spread of the virus.

The members of the Network welcomes encouraging developments coming from the handling of the outbreak including the measures being taken by governments at the sub-national level and recognises that this represents a significant step towards ending the pandemic. Members also welcomed the measures being considered by the Federal Government as announced by the Minister of Information and Culture on March 26, 2020.

With the current status of the world right now and the unprecedented spread of COVID-19, this is the right time for Nigeria to enforce a total lock-down. We are increasingly concerned about the impact a further delay in locking down the country could have on the spread of the disease considering our weak healthcare system.

Understanding that measures to address the COVID-19 pandemic must be properly weighed and taken seriously, following stakeholder-wide consultations with its members, experts, thought leaders, trends analysis and results of an opinion poll, the Nigeria Network of NGOs encourages the Federal Government of Nigeria to consider a total lock-down of the country for 14 days.

We understand the impact a lock-down would have on the vulnerable and under-served communities. However, this is a decision that prioritizes citizens’ welfare, safety and social responsibility. The resulting scenario from a lack of timely decision to implement a total lock-down could be seen from ongoing spread of the outbreak in the United States and Britain—world powers with better healthcare systems.

In times like this, our resilience as citizens will come to the fore as can be seen from our history. When the spread is curtailed, we must now as a nation prioritise our national identity management and banking system including a robust social protection floor to capture as many citizens as possible and address the fallout from the pandemic.

*— End— *

About the Nigeria Network of NGOs.

The Nigeria Network of NGOs (NNNGO) is the first generic membership body for civil society organizations in Nigeria that facilitates effective advocacy on issues of poverty and other developmental issues.  For 28 years, we have worked to give non-profits in the country the needed support to keep their doors open and to serve millions of communities, families, individuals and variety of causes that critically need their intervention. www.nnngo.org

For further information:

Oyindamola Aramide

oyindamola.aramide@nnngo.org

+234 706 516 0956

Lagos, Nigeria, March 17, 2020/NNNGO/

The 2,719 members of the Nigeria Network of NGOs warmly welcome the resolve of the House of Representatives to reject “A Bill to Establish the Civil Societies Regulatory Commission for Coordinated Regulation of Civil Society Organisations” which happened on Tuesday, March 17, 2020.

This resolution results from the commitment of lawmakers particularly those who stood on the floor of the House to uphold fundamental freedoms associated with civic space. We are pleased that the rejection of this bill drew its strength from constitutional provisions of our dear country, which provides the framework for freedom of association and assembly. We are satisfied with Hon. Tajudeen Abbas’ (sponsor of the bill) interest to step down the bill.

A moment of great importance has been accorded to the work of civil society organisations with this singular act by members of the House of Representatives.

With members of the House of Representatives rejecting this bill, there is now real hope that the journey to protecting civic space in Nigeria has started, one if properly embarked upon will lead to opportunities for more inclusive society.

The Nonprofit Operational Manual is designed to assist Nigerian nonprofits to strengthen their operational and technical capacity in delivering their vision and mission. The manual aims to help nonprofits adopt best organisation practices, clarify requirements, regulations and compliance issues relating to managing a nonprofit.

It is designed as both a capacity-building tool and reference material for successfully running a nonprofit organisation and as a guide for understanding and complying with regulatory frameworks guiding the operation of nonprofits in Nigeria. Through this manual as well as training, skills-building activities and information exchanges, NNNGO hopes to enhance the performance and capacity of organisations to deliver effective services to their beneficiaries and critical stakeholders.

Click here to download 

For many years now, they have been demonstrating the power of positive attitude and by all means rocketing towards their goals since its inception in November 2014.

Since 2014, The Feet of Grace Foundation has been enriching lives by raising funds to provide both upper and lower extremity prosthesis and wheelchairs to amputees; children under 18 years of age, young ladies and women alike. The Foundation has also been facilitating educational scholarship for needy amputee children while supporting catalytic activities to alleviate poverty for women amputees.

By the end of 2019, 41 amputees would have benefited from the support provided by the Foundation. This support includes 42 prosthetic limbs (3 more to be delivered by the end of the month), and two wheelchairs (including one motorized for a double amputee). Three female amputees received seed funds to reestablish their small scale businesses. Six amputees are currently benefiting from educational scholarship with support from partner-organizations.

The Feet Of Grace Foundation also supports replacement of the prosthetic limbs for the children as they grow, and repairs/maintenance of all limbs provided as they wear out from daily use.