Our strategic intervention and operations must be based on a rigorous and robust research base. We will support organisations and groups who want to carry out research in order to understand the needs of their communities and beneficiaries better. Our intervention has been based on a four-year on-going research in order to understand the needs of the sector in Nigeria and in other African countries. This endeavour will continue. We hope to have a Centre in one of our Universities in the near future where research and studies can be carried out on regular bases for the sector in Africa.

Advocacy is a political process by an individual or a large group which normally aims to influence public-policy and resource allocation decisions within political, economic, and social systems and institutions; it may be motivated from moral, ethical or faith principles or simply to protect an asset of interest. Advocacy can include many activities that a person or organization undertakes including media campaigns, public speaking, commissioning and publishing research or poll or the 'filing of friend of the court briefs'. Lobbying (often by lobby groups) is a form of advocacy where a direct approach is made to legislators on an issue which plays a significant role in modern politics.  For instance,  we have commenced lobbying the National Assembly to consider passing the Act to establish the National Council for Charities and Voluntary Organisations (NCCVO) in Nigeria.  We also hope that in no distant future there will be a government department for the Charity and Voluntary Sector in Nigeria with a Minister in Charge as we have in other countries.  Please visit: www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/news/office-civil-society-appoints-strategic-partners