NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY – NIGERIA STRENGTHENING CIVIC ADVOCACY AND LOCAL ENGAGEMENT (SCALE) PROJECT

INTRODUCTION
The Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement (SCALE) project is a five-year project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by Palladium International Development Limited through a cooperative agreement with USAID. The goal of the project is to strengthen good governance by increasing the capacity of civil society networks and coalitions to influence the development and implementation of key democratic reforms at local, state, and national levels. The Project emphasizes leadership and innovation, and explicitly aims to engage marginalized populations, including women, youth, people with disabilities, and other minorities in the process.

The SCALE project has five main components:

• Improve Organizational Capacity; Managerial, Financial, and Institutional Strengthening for Sustainability of targeted CSOs/BMOs for a more effective and efficient public service delivery;
• Enhance Capacity for Improved CSOs/BMOs Advocacy, Collaboration, and Management
• Improve the Policy and Regulatory Enabling Environment for Civil Society
• Countering Trafficking in Persons (CTIP)
• Sector Strengthening and Advocacy

BACKGROUND
The Nigerian civil society (CS) sector has the potential to support transformational change in Africa’s most populous country and largest democracy and improving quality of life for Nigerians. However, the Nigerian CS is fragmented, and most Nigerian civil society organizations (CSOs) work in thematic, ethnic, and regional silos, limiting their ability to influence reforms at scale or in adjacent spaces. CSOs often take a confrontational approach to the state, which can lead to a backlash that damages citizen-government engagement. Also, few CSOs have the political clout to effectively engage government at national, state, and local levels.

The Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement (SCALE) Project is seeking to issue grant(s) to local Nigeria Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) including Business Membership Organizations (BMOs) operating at national and sub-national levels as ‘’Anchor’’ organizations providing sectoral leadership to thematic issue clusters of not less than five organizations on specific advocacy asks that promote transparency, accountability and effective public service delivery. SCALE is keen on promoting the innovative approach of collective impact to engagement and partnership by supporting clusters of Nigeria CSOs/BMOs harnessing their different skills and networks to advocate and effectively engage government and civil society for improved governance and more efficient public service delivery.

KEY SECTORS
SCALE will support democratic reforms to improve public accountability, transparency, and sustainable service delivery across any of the following key priority sectors: Health, Education, Economic Growth, WASH, GESI, Human Rights, Trafficking in Persons, Elections, Sexual and Gender Based Violence, Early Child and Forced Marriage, Enabling Environment/Civic Space, Agriculture, Peace and Justice, Human Rights, Security, Anti-Corruption, Extractives, Religious Tolerance, Trade and Youth Development

GEOGRAPHIC FOCUS
SCALE will support advocacy efforts at the national and/or state levels, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Applicants are encouraged to aim to address common advocacy issues across different States of Nigeria, including the FCT.