April 30, 2026 In Newsroom By WACSI
PRESS RELEASE: Nigeria’s Civil Society Sector Caught in a Systemic “Starvation Cycle” as New National Study Reveals Deep Structural and Capacity Crisis
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A nationwide survey of 693 civil society organisations in Nigeria has found that eight out of every ten organisations operate without a written fundraising plan (86 per cent, approximately 596 organisations), while more than three-quarters have not conducted any formal evaluation of their programmes in the last two years (76.3 per cent, about 529 organisations).
Omolara Balogun, Lead for WACSI Node Nigeria, delivering a welcome address at the launch of the report
Taken together, the findings point to a sector that is highly active and widely present across the country, yet structurally constrained in its ability to plan, measure results, and sustain its operations over time.
These findings are contained in a new report titled Trapped in Fragility: An Assessment of Civil Society Landscape in Nigeria, commissioned by the Nigeria Node of the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) and led by the Nigeria Network of NGOs (NNNGO).
The report was launched at a hybrid event in Abuja on Thursday, 30 April 2026 and draws on survey responses from 693 validated organisations, 21 key informant interviews, a literature meta-scan, and case studies of 47 capacity development providers.
At the centre of the report is what researchers describe as a systemic “starvation cycle”. This refers to a reinforcing pattern in which chronic underfunding prevents organisations from investing in core institutional systems such as governance, staffing, financial management, and monitoring and evaluation.
Snapshot of selected findings from the report
As these systems remain weak, organisations struggle to demonstrate impact and manage resources effectively, which in turn reduces their ability to attract funding, reinforcing long-term fragility across the sector.
The survey shows that 86 per cent of organisations (about 596 of 693) do not have a written fundraising plan, meaning the majority operate without structured financial strategies for sustainability.
Sixty point two per cent (60.2% – approximately 417 organisations) report having no dedicated budget for staff training and professional development, pointing to a persistent human capital deficit. In addition, 76.3 per cent (about 529 organisations) have not conducted programme evaluations in the past two years, limiting their ability to demonstrate results beyond activity reporting.
The absence of core organisational systems is also widespread. More than eight in ten organisations report lacking essential internal tools, including communications plans (80.7 per cent), information technology policies (85.4 per cent), board manuals (79.9 per cent), and data protection and privacy frameworks (76.8 per cent).
A random shot during the launch of the report
These gaps suggest that many organisations operate without the foundational systems required for coordination, accountability, and institutional stability.
Governance challenges remain significant. Sixty-four point seven per cent (approximately 449 organisations) report major difficulties in board development, while 61.5 per cent (about 426 organisations) report challenges in strategic planning and board engagement. These findings point to persistent weaknesses in oversight structures, leadership alignment, and organisational direction.
Resource mobilisation emerges as one of the most severe constraints identified in the survey. Sixty-seven point eight per cent (approximately 470 organisations) report difficulties accessing government funding, while more than 60 per cent report challenges in securing funding from foundations, corporate actors, and other sources. The report highlights a heavy dependence on a narrow funding base and limited progress in financial diversification.
The study also identifies growing digital and operational vulnerabilities. Fifty-one point seven per cent (51.7 per cent) report difficulties digitising financial and fundraising processes, while 48.5 per cent report weak preparedness for cyber threats. In addition, 35.6 per cent have experienced phishing attacks and 35.5 per cent ransomware incidents. Notably, all organisations (100 per cent) report no use of automated data analytics tools, and 88.5 per cent do not use donor management or CRM systems, underscoring the absence of data-driven systems across the sector.
Structurally, the sector remains uneven. Civil society organisations are heavily concentrated in southern Nigeria, while northern regions remain significantly underrepresented in formal datasets despite high levels of humanitarian and development need. Faith-based organisations account for approximately 46 per cent (2,245 of 4,881 mapped organisations), while about 15 per cent of organisations do not clearly define their thematic focus, reflecting fragmentation and limited coordination across the ecosystem.
Despite these challenges, the report emphasises that civil society remains a critical pillar of democratic governance, accountability, and service delivery in Nigeria. However, it warns that without urgent and coordinated reforms, many organisations risk remaining trapped in survival mode rather than transitioning into sustainable, institutionalised actors.
The report calls for a coordinated response across stakeholders. Civil society organisations are urged to strengthen governance systems, adopt structured multi-year planning, professionalise fundraising, invest in staff development, and improve digital security and compliance.
Donors and development partners are encouraged to shift towards long-term, flexible, trust-based funding that reflects the true cost of organisational sustainability. Government and regulatory bodies are urged to simplify compliance processes and create a more enabling environment for civil society. Capacity development actors are encouraged to move beyond one-off training interventions towards sustained, blended learning approaches.
The report concludes that while the challenges are deep and systemic, they are not irreversible. With coordinated action, Nigeria’s civil society sector can transition from fragmentation and fragility towards resilience, institutional strength, and sustained impact.
Download the Synthesised version of the report here.
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Signed
WACSI
For Interviews and Media Inquiries:
Contact: West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI Node, Nigeria)
Email: communications@wacsi.org
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