Institute of Negotiators, Community and Social Development Experts (INCOS-DE) has certified a new cadre of professional negotiators equipped with the skills to access funding from international development partners to strengthen Nigeria’s participation in global development financing opportunities.
It has also secured partnerships with key international institutions including the Møller Institute, University of Cambridge, Liberty University in the United States, the United Nations and the Merited Institute.
According to the institute, these alliances will help Nigeria build local expertise to attract grants to support social and economic development at all levels.
At the board inauguration, executive training and certificate presentation in Abuja, the executive secretary of INCOS-DE, Kunle Yusuf, said Nigeria’s inability to effectively negotiate and access available global funds had limited its development potential for years.
He listed key potential partners as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, Green Climate Fund, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Climate and Clean Air Coalition, European Union, German Development Cooperation (GIZ), World Bank Group, Asian Development Bank, Google.org and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Yusuf said President Bola Tinubu gave formal consent to the establishment of the institute six months ago, adding that since then, INCOS-DE had expanded its reach globally to secure technical partnerships and training collaborations.
He said, “Globally, there are about 345 development partners willing to disburse funds to community-based organisations to improve lives, however, the challenge has been a lack of negotiation expertise and proper knowledge of access procedures.
“The goal is to provide capacity building for Nigerians to become certified executive experts and development partners, this will enable them to identify, negotiate and manage grants effectively, while we provide the necessary support to monitor and evaluate the entire process.”
He explained that certified negotiators would now be positioned to join international development efforts aimed at achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and addressing climate change challenges.
Earlier, the chairman of INCOS-DE’s Board, Hajiya Zainab Kuchi, said professional negotiators have a vital role to play in unlocking resources for national development, especially at the grassroots.
“Intervention in social development is critical, no matter how skilled we are in negotiations, we must develop people who can attract and manage grants effectively. When combined with local efforts, such interventions can transform our communities and help Nigeria progress tremendously,” she said.
