The Lagos State Government has announced the launch of an impact challenge with N255 million in funding as part of its plans to encourage participation in accomplishing the goals and objectives of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs.
The grant competition is open to Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), social entrepreneurs, and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) operating within the state.
At the end of the challenge, 51 winning projects addressing SDG goals will be awarded N5 million naira each.
The new initiative was announced on Tuesday by the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Government on Sustainable Development Goals and Investment, Solape Hammond, at a media parley held at the Lagos House, Ikeja.
Mrs. Hammond explained that the “grant competition was conceived as part of the strategies to mobilise collective action to advance progress on the SDGs through social, economic, and environmental initiatives that are positive, transformative, collaborative, and scalable.”
She added that “the challenge is seeking projects that offer smarter, faster ways to make real progress on the 17 Goals and transform our society to a more resilient.”
She also revealed other projects and plans by the SDGs office to launch a franchise system for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), institutionalise SDGs in public secondary schools, the SDGs surprise mentorship round, and the sustainability Christmas programme.
Speaking further on the competition and the application process, Mrs. Hammond noted that the grant seeks to fund 51 projects addressing SDG targets (three projects per SDG) across Lagos State, adding that it will enable the government to create a broader-based collaboration with the CSOs, NGOs and social entrepreneurs on SDGs.
She explained that applicants who have successfully passed eligibility screenings would be required to submit one project idea that addresses one of the 17 Global SDGs and is expected to apply on the Lagos State Volunteer Corp website (www.lsvc.ng)
She said, “The project must reflect a specific Key Performance Indicator (KPI), and an estimate of the total number of people that will be impacted by the project.
“Submitted projects will be reviewed by a project selection committee that will grant interviews to the most promising applicants.”
