NGO Mastery: The Ultimate Guide For Running Sustainable and Impactful Non-Governmental Organisation in Africa

By Dr. Mackson Sheyi Ejejigbe

The African non-profit sector is both unique and challenging. Many people hurriedly venture into establishing NGOs without clarity and end up having results below initial expectations. Against this, the author writes this book to educate you on how to build a sustainable and impactful NGO. As a prospective NGO founder, manager, board member or staff member, your dream of starting and growing a sustainable NGO is now made easy. This book comes in handy because of the limited number of resource materials that highlight the practical approach to effectively run and manage NGOs to meet global requirements. Based on the author's experiences with NGOs locally and internationally, this book is written to help Africans move from mediocre operators to major players in the non-profit niche.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Worital
• Release date: Oct 19, 2021
• ISBN: 9791220862226

Book preview

To all established indigenous and international NGOs, humanitarian workers and NGO staff members.

To all up-and-coming NGOs in Africa that desire to build sustainability and make impact.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I express my heartfelt gratitude to God Almighty for making this long awaited dream to become a reality.

To professor Jill Venus, Dr John-Paul Okeoma and my examiners (Professor Amare Desta, Professor Yong Wang and Dr Gladius Kulothungan), thanks for your tutelage to improve my doctoral thesis which gave me the inspiration and knowledge to write this book.

To all staff of LEAP Africa, FATE Foundation, Africa Leadership Forum (ALF), Morgan Smart Development Foundation, Real Star People Charity Foundation, African Women in Aid (AWA), Alpha O Centre, Dreams Taker Foundation, Shola Mese Foundation, Ugbajo Itsekiri UK (UIUK), Grace Olomiwe (Fmr Social Media and Communications Officer Save the Children), Tuoyo Blessing Omagbitse (PIND Foundation), Itsekiri Congress UK (ICUK) and The Itsekiri Patriots Forum (TIPF), thanks for the privilege to interview, serve, learn and tap into your wealth of knowledge and experience.

I appreciate all staff of Transparency International UK, Coach Eno Sam, Coach Esther Enewerome and Mr Fola Folagbade whose advice and encouragement inspired me to write this book constructively.

To my beloved family (both immediate and extended), friends and well-wishers, I appreciate you all for your support, love and guidance.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Dear reader,

Writing this book is the best decision I've ever made, and I did it just for you.

This is my first published book with the sole aim of helping you to build a sustainable and impactful NGO. Having worked with many NGOs overtime and identified the mistakes made by founders (& staff members) of indigenous NGOs, the need for this book became more obvious. There are a lot to learn about the humanitarian industry.

Would you like your NGO to stand the test of time?

If yes, you're reading the right book.

This book is divided into four main sections which have forty-two(42) simple, short and easy-to-read chapters altogether. Every page counts! By the time you're done reading, you'd have clarity on the most professional processes required to build an impactful Non-Governmental Organisation in Africa.

Have a fantastic read!

Sheyi Mackson,

Author, NGO MASTERY.

TESTIMONIALS

Sheyi has been a huge source of inspiration to my growing NGO. He possesses advanced knowledge in managing NGOs home and abroad. I have seen him help a lot of other growing NGOs out there on different occasions. He is kind, dedicated to humanitarian work and willing to assist anytime he is called to serve. His vast experience in humanitarian work better positions him to teach, and this is visible in this great book 'NGO MASTERY.'

Yung Proff Tracy Forster

Founder, Mother of all Nations Ade Foundation.

I had the opportunity to read Sheyi's manuscript and be interviewed during the writing process. Indeed, NGO MASTERY is a reliable and instructive manual for new and established NGOs.

Toju Ogele

Institutional Capacity Strengthening Lead, Global Fund Optimizing HIV Grant.

This book is written from a standpoint of experience, knowledge and research. Sheyi Mackson is one of the trusted people I do call upon when I need help with managing my NGO because of his excellent NGO management skills. Therefore, I strongly recommend his book to NGO founders, managers, prospective applicants and staff in the humanitarian niche.

Prince MacBojoh Robinson

CEO, Divine Glory Foundation For Unemployed Citizens Of Nigeria.

I met Sheyi during my years as the President of Ugbajo Itsekiri, United Kingdom. Despite his tight academic pursuit, he was able to give his time to develop an emerging socio-cultural group that later transformed into an entity with focus on alleviating poverty and improving access to healthcare in Warri, Nigeria. I am currently the chair of trustees of the organisation, and we provide access to health facilities as part of improving quality of life. We partner with established skill development placements to support skill acquisition for independence of youths. We've done over 50 cataract operations for individuals in rural settings and raised funds for Cancer Research in the UK. Yearly, our fund raising event attracts a lot of cultural display and strengthens ties with Nigeria. We've done much more. Sheyi has been part of our development and we are grateful for his contributions. If you want to build a successful NGO, pay rapt attention to him.

Chief (Dr) Mo Eyeoyibo FRCPsych

The Ogholuwarami of Warri Kingdom

Trust Chair Ugbajo Itsekiri UK Inc.

What an insightful book written by Dr Sheyi Mackson Ejejigbe! It was very difficult in the past because most NGOs were not Africa-based but recently, Africans have started filling the space and bridging the gap by owning small and major NGOs that compete with international NGOs. With this new phase of proactivity in the humanitarian sector, many Africans are now committed to learning, volunteering and taking the lead to educate, create awareness and motivate entrepreneurs in Africa towards peace, human capital and sustainable development. Many Africans now do the talk. However, more work needs to be done by Indigenous and budding NGOs to improve all areas of SDGs such as climate change, environment, community health, technology, artificial intelligence etc. I am proud of this wonderful piece of work by Dr Sheyi because it covers the nitty-gritty of running useful NGOs.

Amb. Young Piero O.

Africa Child Prize and Founder: Jet Age Nation Builders.

Most Africans who are passionate about giving back to society jump into launching foundations which they struggle to sustain. There's hardly any prior tutorial on NGO creation and sustainability. When this manuscript got to my desk, I was impressed that someone was finally here to change the narrative in the humanitarian sector. Dr Sheyi brought in his expertise working in the international space to school new and established NGOs on the requirements for building an impactful NGO. If you've been searching for a guide on your NGO journey, this book gives you the clarity you need to gain mastery.

Eno Sam

President, Brilliant Entrepreneurs and Writers Academy (BEWA).

CONTENTS

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Author's Note

Testimonials

Foreword

Introduction

PART ONE: STARTING AND GROWING A SUSTAINABLE NGO

Chapter One: Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) Versus For-Profits

Chapter Two: Types of Indigenous NGOs

Chapter Three: Operating As a For-Profit Business

Chapter Four: Mistakes NGOs Make

Chapter Five: Setting Up an NGO

Chapter Six: Choosing Your Niche

Chapter Seven: Kick-Starting Your NGO

Chapter Eight: NGO Structure

Chapter Nine: Building a Team

Chapter Ten: Recruiting Volunteers & Staff Members

Chapter Eleven: Maximising Volunteering

Chapter Twelve: Setting Up a Board

Chapter Thirteen: Before Soliciting Support

Chapter Fourteen: Collaborations

Chapter Fifteen: Planning Your NGO Launch Party

Chapter Sixteen: Maximising Fundraising

Chapter Seventeen: Funding Your NGO

Chapter Eighteen: Sustainability of Indigenous NGOs

Chapter Nineteen: Making Impact

Chapter Twenty: Pillars of Indigenous NGO Operations

Chapter Twenty-One: Succession Planning

Chapter Twenty-Two: Avoiding Politics

Chapter Twenty-Three: Setting Up Regulatory Bodies

Chapter Twenty-Four: Storytelling

Chapter Twenty-Five: Media Coverage

PART TWO: NGO INTERVENTIONS

Chapter Twenty-Six: Notable Works in Africa So Far

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Inclusion of Rural Communities

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Promoting Entrepreneurship

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Choosing Beneficiaries 0f NGO Programmes

Chapter Thirty: Challenges Faced by NGOs in Africa

Chapter Thirty-One: Management Strategies For NGOs in the Health Sector

PART THREE: HUMANITARIAN WORKERS AND NGO MEMBERS OF STAFF

Chapter Thirty-Two: The Ideal Humanitarian Worker

Chapter Thirty-Three: Code of Conduct and Ethics

Chapter Thirty-Four: Benefits & Realities of Humanitarian Jobs

Chapter Thirty-Five: Applying for Humanitarian Grants

Chapter Thirty-Six: Becoming Multilingual

Chapter Thirty-Seven: Balancing Your Family and Work

Chapter Thirty-Eight: Your Health, Safety & Security

PART FOUR: GETTING NGO JOBS SEAMLESSLY

Chapter Thirty-Nine Before Applying for Jobs in the Non-Profit Sector

Chapter Forty: Positioning Yourself for NGO Jobs

Chapter Forty-One Attending Interviews

Chapter Forty-Two: Retaining NGO Jobs

Final Word

About the Author

FOREWORD

The rising inequality driven by unemployment is a challenge that has confronted every society in recent times. This has been exacerbated by the uncertainties caused by the recent COVID-19 pandemic that has slowed down the economic progress of countries. This unfortunate situation has increased the gulf of inequality and unemployment rates, thereby creating a bubble of economic and social problems which have brought to the fore, the crucial role of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).

In identifying these problems, the interventions and contributions of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in different spheres of society have driven proactive and practical steps to ensure that their impact is felt in education, health, social services, community development, politics, advocacy, entrepreneurship/business, economy and social justice as they strive to support the vulnerable and build the capacity of young people and adults, which in turn improve the economic fortune of these people.

For sure, NGOs play complimentary roles to the government and, as such, deserve to be managed properly in a sustainable and impactful way.

The inspiration behind this book NGO MASTERY is one driven by the passion to see that NGOs who frequently encounter daunting challenges in executing their support programmes are offered useful insights that will help them make a meaningful impact in society.

Interestingly, this book also serves as a practical guide for individuals looking for jobs in the humanitarian niche and non-profit organisations keen to use their community programmes and projects to engage the youth and support adults in profitable, sustainable and impactful ways. Dedicated application of these steps will enable NGOs to engage in sustainable practices which will have great impact on their supply chain and host communities. By so doing, they become more responsive to the impact of their activities on the economic systems, communities and social order.

Through broad ranging multiplier effects, this further influences policymakers and the civil society in their host communities and countries where they operate at large.

The time to shift to sustainable and impactful NGOs whose impact will reinforce global opportunities and drive collective actions that lead to lasting change, especially with the younger generation and the unborn, is NOW. Thankfully, Dr Sheyi's book has done justice to the topic. Read this book cover to cover to gain new insights on NGOs and their relevance.

Dr. Okeoma John-Paul Okeke

(PhD, MA, BSc, PGCert, ALTHE, FHEA)

Programme Manager, London Campus

University of Wales Trinity St. David's

INTRODUCTION

My passion and love for humanitarian work and community development is known to many. The genuine commitment to touch lives and serve humanity made me pack my bags and move to Abuja in 2007 to attend LEAP Africa’s (a renowned NGO known for training new cadre of Africa leaders) Youths Leadership Programme. I attended the training even when the money I had on me was not enough. I had to beg the manager of Bratim Training Centre who was gracious enough to allow me to stay.

After the programme, I recommended more friends to the LEAP Integrity training. I attended the LEAP Africa award for young leaders with outstanding change projects. Going forward, the experience made me develop interest in humanitarian work. I studied NGOs globally and their modus operandi. I organised programmes on the campus of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State and collaborated with friends using various association platforms to organise training for young people.

When I moved to the UK for my Master's degree, I volunteered for Save the Children UK, became a full member of Transparency International UK and followed most events organised by Amnesty International. I was also part of Career Mentorship Scheme of the University of Greenwich, London.

Over the years, I have been actively involved in most charity programmes organised by Ugbajo Itsekiri UK (an indigenous NGO with special focus on health, youth entrepreneurship, education and promotion of cultural values). I have also consulted for several indigenous NGOs and supported humanitarian interventions in communities across Africa and beyond.

In 2018, when I travelled to Nigeria for my research on an exploratory study of indigenous NGOs’ support for young entrepreneurs in Nigeria, I saw a need for proper education and enlightenment for indigenous NGOs. I discovered that most founders of up-and-coming NGOs needed knowledge that would guide their operations and interventions to meet international standards. Most people just wake up one morning and register their NGOs without planning and getting the right knowledge on how to effectively run and manage their NGOs.

The experiences I have had from years of research, active volunteering and consulting service for international and indigenous NGOs gave me the required knowledge and impetus to come up with this book that guides indigenous NGOs on