Local Resource Mobilisation Requires More Than Just New Donors
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Local resource mobilisation has become a defining theme across African civil society, driven by a deepening funding crisis and shrinking global aid. With widespread funding losses reported in 2025 and further cuts projected, the urgency for sustainability is clear. Yet, as conversations at the recent “Rethink Civil Society” convening in Accra highlighted, the challenge goes beyond replacing foreign aid with local funding. In this op-ed, the paper argues that the real issue is not simply a funding gap, but a deeper need to rethink how African nonprofits are structured to engage with existing cultures of giving and social solidarity—and ultimately, what they are seeking to localise into.
Click here to access the full op-ed
About the author
Oladayo Olaide
Oladayo Olaide is the Co-Founder of IdeaPlus and a seasoned development professional with over two decades of experience spanning civil society, philanthropy and strategic engagement with governments, the private sector and regional institutions. He previously served as Business Development International Lead at World Vision Canada and as Deputy Director at the MacArthur Foundation. He currently serves as the Board Chair of the WACSI Node, Nigeria. Mr Olaide holds a Master’s degree in Development Studies and an MBA in Accounting and Finance.
