Ebonyi CSOs chart course to respond to emerging funding challenges.-From- Paulinus Ogbonna/Abakaliki,
The coalition of Ebonyi Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has called for collaboration, innovation and strengthening internal structures to effectively respond to the emerging global funding challenges.
Mrs Ugo Nnachi, the co-chair of the organization in Ebonyi stated this in an address delivered during the 2025 CSOs summit held in Abakaliki on Wednesday.
Nnachi, while welcoming participants to the 2025 summit emphasized the need for civil society actors to build resilience in the face of dwindling donor supports.
She said that the theme of the 2025 gathering, “Building CSOs Sustainability: Responding to Funding Shifts” reflected the growing realities confronting organizations across Nigeria and beyond.
According to her, civil society organizations are currently grappling with unprecedented funding challenges noting that traditional donor streams were shrinking while new opportunities required innovation, accountability and resilience.
She said that the summit was convened to create a platform for reflection, learning and strategic engagement on how organizations could respond proactively to these global shifts.
“To remain effective, CSOs must not only adapt but also build sustainable structures that can withstand these changes.
“Sustainability requires diversifying funding sources, strengthening internal governance and transparency and building partnerships that endure beyond donor cycles,” Nnachi said.
Nnachi, former Ebonyi Head-of-Service (HoS) noted that civil society has historically played a critical roles in health; democracy, governance, conflict resolution and community development, adding that the challenge in 2025 was sustaining and scaling these gains.
She stressed that the Ebonyi CSO Week aimed to reinforce the role of civil society as both partners and watchdogs in the delivery of public services.
“We seek to position CSOs as partners with government in delivering public good, while remaining vigilant to identify service gaps,” she added.
She said that the summit also aligned with the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, themed “United to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls.”
Nnachi urged participating organizations to use the platform to amplify advocacy and contribute to ongoing national and international conversations on women’s rights.
She described the gathering as a rare opportunity for in-depth dialogue, networking and shared learning, noting that development partners were invited to share insights that would help strengthen organizational resilience across the sector.
She commended speakers, invited guests and participants for identifying with the coalition, expressing confidence that the summit would continue to strengthen CSOs and build lasting partnerships in Ebonyi.
She further called on attendees to participate actively in the sessions and ensure their voices were heard as stakeholders work toward more sustainable civil society interventions.
In his keynote address, Dr Ibiam Agwu, South-East Regional Program Manager of National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), expanded on the strategic implications of global funding shifts.
Agwu warned that CSOs faced a “twin challenge” of shrinking civic space and volatile donor priorities.
He said that Nigeria’s youthful population and rising development demands required stronger, more resilient civil society institutions capable of innovating and mobilizing local resources.
Agwu explained that donors were increasingly redirecting funds to new global crises such as climate emergencies and conflicts, while adopting stricter demands for evidence-based programming.
He outlined four key pillars for building sustainable CSOs: diversified funding, institutional strengthening, adaptive programming and community legitimacy.
According to him, reliance on single grants was no longer sustainable.
He encouraged CSOs to embrace local philanthropy; private sector engagement, community fundraising and social enterprise as viable alternatives to traditional donor funding.
He emphasized the need for organizations to strengthen governance structures, adopt technology-driven monitoring systems and design scalable project models aligned with emerging development priorities.
“Funding shifts are not storms meant to drown us; they are winds pushing us to build stronger ships,” he said.
Agwu also urged the Ebonyi Coalition of CSOs to leverage its collective strength by sharing resources, undertaking joint advocacy and mentoring smaller organisations within the network. ENDS//
