Abuja: The French Embassy in Nigeria has announced a donation of one million Euros, approximately N1.8 billion, to 19 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Nigeria to foster grassroots development. The initiative, known as the French Embassy Fund for Civil Society Organisation (FEF-OSC), is in its sixth year and aims to strengthen the partnership between the French Embassy and Nigerian CSOs.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Bertrand de Seissan, the Political Counsellor at the French Embassy, highlighted that the initiative is designed to provide both financial and technical support to empower local organisations. The focus is on addressing critical issues such as gender inequality, economic vulnerability, and community resilience. This year, the initiative has scaled up significantly, with 19 CSOs selected through a competitive process to implement impactful projects across various communities.
Each selected project will receive a one-year grant aimed at delivering immediate results and fostering long-term institutional strengthening. The fund’s three key programme priorities are combating gender-based violence and promoting women’s socio-economic integration, fostering sustainable livelihoods for youth and vulnerable groups, and strengthening community resilience through advocacy and partnership.
In collaboration with the Cognito Project-POD Consulting Consortium, the programme includes a comprehensive capacity-building component. Through tailored workshops, coaching, and peer exchange platforms, CSOs will acquire essential tools for strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation, financial accountability, and impact storytelling. The initiative aims to transform the lives of local communities, focusing on the needs of women, men, and youth.
Mrs Ketty Regis, the Cooperation Attach© for the French Embassy, emphasized the importance of sustainability for the programme. The embassy is working closely with the Ministry of Women Affairs to build the capacity of CSOs. She noted that France’s support for feminist diplomacy has promoted equal access to rights and opportunities, addressing structural challenges to equality in both France and Nigeria.
Regis further explained that the initiatives are the result of mutual learning between French and Nigerian change-makers, whether at the institutional level with political commitment or through community-based solutions to collective challenges. She underscored the importance of cultivating the friendship between France and Nigeria, building alliances for mutual benefit and collective progress.