AFRIGROWTH FOUNDATION COMPLETES TRAINING ON ADVOCACY AND FUNDRAISING FOR NGOS AND VOLUNTEER MANAGERS The significance of Advocacy and Fundraising to achieving organizational mandates, growth and sustainability cannot be overemphasized. While Advocacy is very critical to any organization’s success story; project implementation and sustainability remains a mere dream in the absence of Fundraising. However, it is erroneous to think that a good number of stakeholders have skills towards identifying issues, designing effective advocacy campaigns and raising funds to support and sustain these campaigns. The implementation of the subject matter by AfriGrowth Foundation was born out of emphasis on education and initiation of empowerment programs geared towards building capacities of NGOs to be self sufficient and sustainable. The training, which spanned the 1st –4th May 2006 at Grange Hill Hotel, Mpape, Abuja- Nigeria, drew participants from NGOs and CBOs all over Nigeria numbering up to 22 (Twenty Two). The list includes participants from: Youth Team in Action Supporting Initiated Development (YOTASCID), Zonkwa, Kaduna State. The Third Choice, Ogoja, Cross Rivers State Diamond Development Initiatives (DDI), Kano. Justice Development and Peace Commission, Akure. Kids & Teens Concerns, Akure. Society for the Preservation & Restoration of Women Honour & Dignity (SPRAD), Kaduna. Yes to Life for Women and Children, Abuja. African Citizens Development Foundation (ACDF), Ikeja, Lagos. Network on Ethics, Law, HIV/Aids (NELA), Ibadan. Family Health and Population Action Committee (FAHPAC), Ibadan. Youth Empowerment & Health Development Initiative, Kano. Rural Youth Advocacy Network, Abuja. Nigeria National Volunteer Service, Abuja. Year of Ultimate Talents Harvest (YOUTH), New Haven, Enugu State. AfriGrowth Foundation, Abuja. The workshop content centered on Advocacy and Fundraising. The Advocacy part of the workshop focused on designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluation for policy change campaign, the Fundraising aspect focused on identifying organizational assets, setting fundraising goals, identifying funders and building a fundraising team. It is pertinent to note that the training was specially designed for: Program and Project managers o Community Advocates Staff of Government Department and Agencies Staff of NGOs Professional Institutions, Associations and Networks involved in advocacy. Advocacy officer Research officers Trainers on advocacy Community mobilization and sensitization officers Public awareness officers. Board members The training was formally opened by a ceremony on the 2nd of May 2006 at Grange Hill Hotel, Mpape, Abuja Nigeria. Dr. Ibrahim Oloriegbe, Executive Secretary of the Health Reform Foundation of Nigeria (HERFON) chaired the occasion amidst other dignitaries. The National Coordinator of the Nigeria National Volunteer Service (NNVS) Amb. Joe Keshi also witnessed the unique event. Mrs Sadie Flucas and Mrs Tessy Effa were the amiable resource persons on Fundraising and Advocacy respectively. While the former retired from Du Page University in Chicago USA being vast and highly experienced in fundraising workshops in Nigeria and abroad, the latter is arguably the best on advocacy issues in Nigeria in contemporary times. In plain–speak, AfriGrowth Foundation has gradually started contributing to the empowerment of the third sector by structuring the program towards ‘Training the Trainer’ i.e. training the managers who in turn are expected to train staffs in their organizations or network. The unique quality of this training, networking opportunities utilized by participants and its ultimate success is worthy of applause. All participants shared their joy throughout and after the workshop and undertook to train other staffs in their respective organizations and network. It is expected that all participants would have trained someone or a group in four months time. With total gratitude to God, this could only be the beginning of intensified efforts to ensure that the third sector is efficiently empowered to achieve success in their program implementation in the communities they serve. By John ’Jide Fatoki Senior Program Officer, AfriGrowth Foundation. Back to Top     Recent News/Reports   July 2006 AfriGrowth Foundation's Visit to Orphan and Vulnerable Children (OVC) in Karshi.   May 2006 AfriGrowth Foundation Completes the First Batch of its Youth Mentoring Programme in Grand Style   May 2006 AfriGrowth Foundation Completes Training on Advocacy and Fundraising for NGOs and Volunteer Managers   Archived Newsletters