Strengthening Local Capacity and Ownership Among CSO in Nigeria

Mercy Corps(MC) and international donors increasingly recognize the importance of creating ownership among local CSOs to maximize long-term impact within target communities. Mercy Corps through one of its Activity is transitioning leadership role to a local organization through a staggered process to allow for grant management responsibilities, developing capacities where required. Contextual understanding and alignment are an essential requirement that is often met with the rigid engagement approach of INGOs, which often have a centralized decision-making structure and a culture of control, has been a significant hinderance to the empowerment of local actors and their decision-making processes. Limited time, resources, expertise at local level implementing localization in North Central Nigeria remains a challenge that hampers INGOs to establish long-term presence and build trust with communities. Anchored on a 5 step CATALYSE approach by MC. The following process was thoroughly followed; a pre-award assessment, joint organizational capacity assessment, joint capacity strengthening transition plan, implementation of capacity strengthening strategy, transition of activities from prime to local partner and assumption of prime role. PARTNER used multiple CLA approaches such as pause and reflections, adaptive management which fostered a culture of continued learning and improvement to enable effective local capacity in addressing peace and conflict in North Central Nigeria. constraints such as power dynamics and resistance of local partner staff to change was persistent, but with the openness, capacity building and creating an enabling environment, this has led to trust and social cohesion between the prime and the local organization