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25 November 2022
On Thursday, November 17, 2022, the Health Strategy and Delivery Foundation (HSDF) and other implementing partners; Federation of West African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FEWACCI), American Business Council (ABC), and the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) hosted the kick-off meeting of the USAID-funded Connect and Learn for Sustainable Associations (CLOSA) project in Abuja, Nigeria.
The CLOSA project, which is championed by the USAID West Africa Mission, seeks to increase the sustainability and commercial viability of private sector associations (PSAs) in West Africa by developing a robust multi-country knowledge base on building sustainable PSAs and supporting adaptive learning across multiple associations.
The event began with a project introduction session during which the project goal, objectives, and work plan were presented to the stakeholders. Furthermore, participants contributed to the meeting by sharing ideas on key aspects of the project, which helped to glean preliminary insights regarding the project as well as gain an understanding of some of the challenges impacting the operations of PSAs in West Africa.
Speaking on the background and overarching goal of the project, the Project Director stated:
“It is common knowledge that the private sector is critical to the growth of economies around the world. While USAID has supported several PSAs in many West African countries to implement different programs aimed at boosting their respective economies, one key area the mission is looking to prioritize going forward, is the development of management and organizational capacity of private sector associations in West Africa, helping them to become largely member-driven and financially self-reliant by generating revenues to sustain their core operations.
She concluded her remarks by encouraging the stakeholders to be open to sharing their ideas and knowledge, as well as bringing their expertise and wealth of experience to the conversations, to build a stronger and more sustainable network of PSAs across West Africa.
The project was well received by the different stakeholders, who promised to mobilize their members to get on board with the project. Speaking on this, the President of the Federation of West African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FEWACCI), Ambassador Aminu commended the collaboration and highlighted some similarities between FEWACCI’s mandate and the CLOSA project objectives. He further pledged his support to the success of the project, stating:
“Regarding the project, we assure you of our readiness to support and contribute to achieving its objectives and we will do this in collaboration with our sister associations – the Lagos and Abuja chapters of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, as well as other relevant private sector associations involved in this project. We will also support you wherever you go in Ghana and Senega through our branches in these countries.”
It is hoped that the insights generated from this kick-off event will spur the project towards achieving its core objective of developing sustainable and commercially viable private sector associations in Nigeria and across West Africa.
About the USAID CLOSA Project
The CLOSA Project is a USAID-funded, locally led initiative that helps private sector associations (PSAs) in West Africa to connect with peer associations, evidence of best practices, and private sector experts to support and prepare them to become financially sustainable, commercially viable, and self-reliant.
CLOSA aims to strengthen PSAs by offering a balanced set of activities including (i) increasing the capacity of associations to interact within their local systems, (ii) strengthening local networks that connect local needs with local resources; (iii) generating evidence of best practices around financial sustainability by utilizing rigorous context-specific research methods, which can be adapted for multi-country, transboundary and/or regional associations; and (iv) working with PSAs across West Africa to think critically about strategies for achieving commercial viability and long-term sustainability.
Other key implementing partners on the project include the American Business Council (ABC), the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), and the Federation of West African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FEWACCI)
About HSDF
Health Strategy and Delivery Foundation (HSDF) is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization, working to improve the quality of decision-making and execution in the health and social sectors in Nigeria and across Africa. Established in December 2013, HSDF supports key stakeholders at all levels of government and the private sector to achieve measurable and sustainable impact. Our expertise includes:
- Health Systems Strengthening
- Data Analytics and Performance Management
- Health Financing
- Health Workforce Optimization
- Leadership and Organizational Management Capacity Development,
- Service Delivery and Innovation
- Strengthening Supply Chain
To find out more about HSDF and the work we do, please visit our website at www.hsdf.org.ng/about-us
Project Director, Dr. Yewande Ogundeji, introducing the CLOSA Project to Stakeholders
Group Photograph: Project Stakeholders and some HSDF staff at the event
FEWACCI President pledging support for CLOSA
Ramat Musah, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development giving a goodwill message
