ASATTAHIR International Foundation (AIF) participated in a two-day Civil Society Coordination Workshop convened by the Nigeria INGO Forum (NIF), PLRCAP, and the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), held at Reiz Continental Hotel, Abuja, on the 9th and 10th of April 2025.
The workshop brought together a wide range of stakeholders from the Northeast, Northwest, and North Central regions, including INGOs, national NGOs, and coalitions, with the aim to fostering stronger collaboration, addressing context-specific challenges, and exploring strategies to sustain humanitarian and development efforts amid a shifting global funding landscape. AIF was represented by its Founder Aliyu Sidi Attahiru and Head of Programs & Research, Rufus Yagkong.
The workshop aimed to strengthen partnerships between INGOs and CSOs, identify collective priorities, and build unified strategies for engaging with both the government and donors. It also sought to enhance coordination mechanisms within and across sectors. Emphasis was placed on advancing the Humanitarian-Development-Peace (HDP) Nexus through inclusive dialogue, advocacy and locally driven solutions.
In her opening remarks, the Director Nigeria INGO Forum Camilla Corradin, appreciated the chance to engage with local NGOs and civil society. She acknowledged the ongoing funding crisis and noted that past funding levels may not return soon. Still, she framed this as an opportunity to empower national actors and shift ownership to local partners, affirming INGOs’ commitment to support rather than compete.
In the same vein, the deputy director NIF, Musa Baba welcomed participants and highlighted the need for fresh approaches to address emerging challenges. He emphasized inclusive dialogue across humanitarian, development, and peace efforts, urging collaboration, information-sharing, and joint priority setting as key to success.
Key activities during the workshop included plenary and breakout sessions to identify context-specific advocacy priorities, strengthen regional coordination efforts, and the examination of governance structures tailored to the unique needs of each region. These discussions allowed participants to align on actionable goals while recognizing the diverse challenges and opportunities across different operational contexts.
The workshop concluded with emphasis on localizing strategies and documenting outcomes across all zones to ensure long-term continuity and impact.
