Overview
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) are crucial to Nigeria’s democratic and developmental progress. Yet, many operate below potential due to leadership gaps, weak internal systems, and poor governance structures. Recognizing this, Centre LSD, with support from Palladium Group and USAID, launched the Building Executive Leadership of Civil Society Across Nigeria project to address one major blind spot: executive leadership development.
This project, which is part of the broader USAID-funded Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement (SCALE) initiative, focused on equipping Executive Directors, Senior Managers, and Resource Partners with the tools, mindset, and strategic acumen required to lead resilient, high-performing organizations capable of delivering impact at scale.
The Challenge
CSO leaders in Nigeria are expected to "learn on the job" without structured training or mentorship. Most lack formal exposure to core areas such as governance, strategic planning, and inclusive leadership. As donor funding becomes more competitive, organizations that lack competent leadership are often sidelined.
The lack of leadership training for CEOs directly contributes to:
- Strategic drift
- Poor fundraising capacity
- Ineffective internal governance
- High staff turnover
Project Goal
To strengthen the technical and institutional capacity of CSOs and Business Membership Organizations (BMOs) by building transformational, sustainable leadership that drives effectiveness, accountability, and resilience across Nigeria’s civil society sector.
Implementation Strategy
The project was implemented over 24 months and structured around key capacity-building phases:
1. Leadership & Strategic Management Training
45 participants from 10 SCALE clusters and 5 Resource Partners received two days of in-person training. Topics included:
- Statutory compliance
- Financial management
- Resource mobilization
- Organizational development best practices
2. Strategic Plan Development
Many CSOs lacked formal strategic plans. Centre LSD provided a comprehensive, step-by-step planning process:
- Virtual kickoff to introduce strategic planning frameworks
- Formation of internal planning committees
- One-day tools & principles training
- Three-day retreats to develop drafts
- Two-day peer review workshop
- Ongoing technical assistance for plan refinement
3. Board Governance Training
Focused on clarifying the role of Boards of Trustees and their distinction from management. Board members and executives learned how to optimize board performance and accountability structures.
4. GESI & Conflict Sensitivity Workshop
A dedicated three-day session (2 days GESI, 1 day conflict sensitivity) helped organizations mainstream:
- Gender equality
- Disability inclusion
- Youth engagement
- Conflict mitigation frameworks in high-risk regions
5. Step-down Trainings
Organizations that had previously completed SCALE Training-of-Trainers (ToT) cascaded learning internally, with Centre LSD providing stipends to support participation.
Results & Impact
Centre LSD tracked the following outcomes across SCALE clusters:
- Enhanced executive leadership capacity among CSOs and BMOs
- Strategic plans developed or updated in numerous organizations
- Strengthened governance systems
- Improved GESI and conflict sensitivity compliance
- Increased organizational resilience and sustainability
Key indicators included:
- Number of CSOs/BMOs with formalized structures and updated systems
- % of organizations reaching at least 80% compliance in GESI/conflict sensitivity audits
- Number of youth-led, women-led, and PLWD-led organizations showing measurable leadership and structural improvements
Commitment to Inclusion & Conflict Sensitivity
Centre LSD placed strong emphasis on inclusive participation, ensuring representation from marginalized groups and underserved regions. Programming was responsive to:
- Gender gaps
- Regional security risks (especially in the northeast, northwest, and southeast)
- Accessibility for people with disabilities
Conflict-sensitive strategies were integrated from the start, using local conflict assessments to guide engagement and program delivery.
Sustainability Approach
The project was not just about training - it was about transformation. Centre LSD embedded sustainability by:
- Fostering demand-driven participation
- Providing mentoring tools, documentation, and templates
- Encouraging organizations to self-monitor, adapt, and sustain progress independently
By empowering leaders, the project ensured that civil society organizations can now take the reins of their development journey, better positioned to thrive in a complex, competitive funding landscape.
Conclusion
Centre LSD’s leadership development work under the SCALE project has laid a critical foundation for a stronger, more accountable, and inclusive civil society in Nigeria. The approach was practical, deeply contextual, and future-facing, providing leaders with the mindset and skillset to build sustainable impact from the inside out.
