…Sets aside N255 million grant on competitive projects for winning NGOs
…Introduces franchising for MSMEs funding
By Moses Adeniyi
Lagos State Office of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Investments has disclosed plans to unveil before the end of the year 2023 broadband multidimensional programmes to foster development along SDGs and Investments.
The synthesis of the programmes encompasses four dimensions bordering on Lagos SDGs Grant Competition for Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to facilitate impact projects and Franchising for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to cushion economic strains with access to affordable financial and institutional support that are needed to create wealth and employment opportunities.
Planned by the office is also a programme tagged “SDGs Surprised Mentorship Rounds” a high-impact programme anchored by the Office to create an empowering opportunity to support young people’s aspiration across the state.
In a media parley on Wednesday at the State House, Ikeja, to unveil the Lagos SDGs Grant Competition for NGOs alongside the complementary programmes, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on SDGs and Investments, Mrs. Solape Hammond, said the programmes were lined up to further the ambitions of sustainable development and build a prosperous future putting in view the actualisation of the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led Administration’s policy thrust, the THEMES agenda.
“Given the strong commitment of this current administration to shared prosperity, this Office has and will continue to play a greater role in the actualisation of the T.H.E.M.E.S Development Agenda,” she said.
Hammond disclosed that the latest initiative tagged “the Lagos SDGs Grant Competition” was conceived “as part of the strategy to mobilise collective action to advance progress on the SDGs through social, economic, and environmental initiatives that are positive, transformative, collaborative, and scalable.”
“The challenge is seeking projects that offer smarter, faster ways to make real progress on the 17 Goals and transform our society to be more resilient.
“This grant competition is open to Civil Society Organisations, Social Impact Ventures and Non-Governmental Organisations within Lagos state,” she said.
She disclosed the programme will accommodate the sum of N5 million each to three winning ideas that targets each of the SDGs.
“In total, the grant seeks to fund 51 projects addressing SDG targets (three projects per SDG) across Lagos state,” she disclosed.
According to her, the competition will enable the State Government to create a broader-based collaboration with the CSOs, NGOs and social entrepreneurs who are already implementing solutions to achieve the SDGs.
On the criteria of selection, she said: “Applicants who must have successfully pass eligibility screenings will be required to submit one project idea that addresses one of the 17 Global SDGs. The project must reflect a specific KPI, and an estimate of total people that will be impacted by the project.
“Submitted projects will be reviewed by a project selection committee who will grant interviews to the most promising applicants.
“There are two categories of stakeholders responsible for supervising the competition. The Technical Committee for general supervision and the Project Selection Committee which comprises at least a representative of Development Partner, Private Sector, MDA and the Office of SDGs and Investment.”
According to her, the Project selection committee will choose 51 winning projects that will be eligible for grant prizes of N5,000,000 per project and the proposed duration of the competition is three months.
The said figure in summation translates to a grant bank of N255million, which according to her, has been set aside and will be fully funded by the State Government.
“Government believe this is very critical and we have committed this huge amount of resources to work with the NGOs and CSOs to get the work done.
“We have tested and worked with a lot of CSOs. We’ve seen what they do and everyone knows NGOs do a lot with a little. So, let’s give it to them and see the impacts that this would have and I think they would do even far more than we ourselves expect because they are used to deploying resources hyper efficiently, they are underground, grassroots base, and there is not as much cost with them to get things done. They would be doing the things that the poor and vulnerable amongst us would really need,” she said.
Hammond, however, mentioned that with successive plans, injections from private sector partnership would be accommodated for sustainability of the programme, noting such programme as the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund had their initial capital funded by the Government, but later had broader commitment from private partnership and contributions.
Objectives of the Programme she reeled out include: mainstreaming the SDGs; Amplifying the impact of key actors in the space; Crowdsourcing innovative ideas that can lead to measurable impact on SDGs; Encouraging civic participation of a diverse class of constituents; Increasing the number of active volunteers in Lagos State and Enabling greater visibility of the activities of CSOs and NGOs in Lagos State.
The process, she said, is automated to ensure transparency and increase the chances of selecting winning ideas, stating “applicants are expected to apply on the Lagos State Volunteer Corp website (www.lsvc.ng) to enter the competition.”
On the Franchising For MSMEs initiative, she said the Office is making necessary plan to partner with Franchiser and Distributor Forum for the launch of a franchise system for MSMEs operating within the State.
The programme, according to her, will be targeting MSMEs in products manufacturing, services, food and drinks, health and wellness and other personal care services, investors/commercial banks, cooperative societies, media as well as other MSMEs and individuals within the value chains.
The pilot scheme, she said, is designed to offer 200 MSMEs to the franchise business system by providing digital infrastructure for all Lagos based franchises available for investment, including periodic financing forum for both franchisors and franchisees.
“As it is sometimes referred to as the best ambassador of free enterprise in the world, the scheme will provide value to entrepreneurship in the State by attracting the informal sector businesses into the formal sector.
“The process of application will be made available soon through all the state’s government’s official channel of communication,” she said.
On move to institutionalise SDGs in public secondary schools, Hammond said the institutionalisation of the agenda in schools is premised on the outstanding faculty that young ones possess in identifying peculiar local challenges and subsequently develop their skills that will prepare them to meaningfully engage the society in a responsible manner.
“Over the past two months, the Office has taken the campaign to the Six Education Districts across the State; sharing ideas and experiences with teachers, principals and students on the some of the most profound way of engaging students,” she said.
She disclosed that in few weeks from now, the Office in Partnership with United Nation Information Centre (UNIC) would be launching SDGs Club in Public Secondary Schools to mobilise, motivate and inspire the young ones to explore ways of contributing to a sustainable community.
In addition, she disclosed the Office would be launching the SDGs Secondary Book, the first of its kind in Nigeria.
“The literature will enhance the teaching of SDGs in schools and encourage students to play their roles in building a safe, secure, and prosperous future,” she said.
On the SDGs Surprised Mentorship Rounds, the Special Adviser said the initiative is part of the annual Lagos Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Week programme aimed towards facilitating a remarkable and surprise encounter between young people in Lagos State and some notable and inspiring personalities in the society whose accomplishments and experiences can shape positive perspectives about life and reignite hope for the younger generation.
“This programme is very critical to the state government’s ambition of unlocking value-based thinking and connect the youth to critical assets of leadership in entrepreneurship, public speaking, entertainment, media, politics, agriculture, photography, ICT, Education and other discipline of human endavours.
“While we have so far successfully organised two sessions, there will be more surprises as we continue the round,” she said.
She described the programmes and initiatives the Office is midwifing as critical to attain the Greater Lagos dream.
On his part, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on SDGs and Investments, Mr. Olalekan Fatodu, said the Office has commenced plans to hold its “Sustainability Christmas” programme set for December, which according to him, accommodates the significance of the need to support charity and care.
The event, according to him, as a part of rounding off the Office’s programmes for the year will feature beneficiaries of charity and care to give their testimonies.
“Essentially, it is focused on advancing the culture of charity, care and selfless service, particularly within the period of love.
“A lot of us know that during the period of Christmas, there is a special attention on what we give to people with emphasis on support for vulnerable people and special attention on some of the development gap within the society. We therefore think it is essential as a government to bring some of these elements together,” he said.