NGOs Call for Creation of National Philanthropic Policy, Association

*Release report on the West African philanthropic ecosystem

Sunday Ehigiator

Non-governmental organisations (NGOs), TrustAfrica and WINGS, have called for the creation of a National Philanthropic Policy in Nigeria and the creation of Nigerian philanthropic associations by organisations and private individuals.
This was made known yesterday during the presentation of the report on the ‘Philanthropic Ecosystem in West Africa’ by the duo at Ford Foundation West African Office, Banana Island, Lagos.

Speaking at the event, the Executive Director, TrustAfrica, Dr. Ebrima Sall, said, the report being presented came out of a study that was carried out in six West African countries on the Philanthropic Support Ecosystem.
“We believe philanthropy is part of our culture and well-being and has kept our societies going for a long time in terms of hardship and dealing with issues that are important to our communities, such as infrastructures, Wells, schools, bridges, roads etc.

“Philanthropy is becoming much more important because we have a lot of foundations being established by communities, religious organisations, and high net worth individuals. People just want to give back to their communities. What is often required is just a much more supportive environment and an enabling environment for the work to scale up in a big way.

“The potential of philanthropy contributing hugely to the transformation and development of our continents is great.
“So we are hoping that through these conversations, the organisations that are supporting the philanthropy ecosystem will connect better with each other and engage in more conversations that will help in figuring out the best way to support the philanthropy ecosystem and also getting an enabling regulatory environment.

“Engaging in constructive dialogue with the private sectors, government, communities, and academic institutions so that we can get the data that is required and the policies that will enable Philanthropy to do right in our continent.

“Nigeria is a place where a lot is happening. It’s very vibrant and dynamic, but if you look at it, we don’t have a Nigerian Philanthropic Association, for example.
“And yet, that would make a huge difference to have the philanthropic community come together to engage with the government and the private sector, and it will be very good to have a National Philanthropic Policy. It will also be very good to have research centres focusing on philanthropy in a much closer look.
“All that will contribute to us making everybody appreciate the huge value of the contributions that Philanthropy is making to our development.”

Speaking on the outcomes of the report, Programme Consultant at TrustAfrica, Ogo Chukwudi, highlighted the lack of adequate legal and regulatory framework, the difficulty of handling cross-border flows, the lack of funding to support the ecosystem, shrinking civic space in many countries, and lack of coordination and collaboration between organisations (both international and local) as part of the challenges affecting philanthropic in West Africa.

Others include, “lack of synergy between the players themselves, inadequate funding and limited capacity of philanthropic organisations, insufficient exploration of the potential of local philanthropic practices, and the absence of a philanthropic structure in French-speaking countries, in contrast to English-speaking countries.”

The report therefore recommended the “creation of a favourable environment for philanthropy in West Africa, effective implementation of incentive structures for philanthropy, strengthened collaborations between local and international organisations supporting philanthropy in West Africa, resourcing of Philanthropy support organisations in West Africa, and the creation of a database and shared narrative knowledge on philanthropy in West Africa.”