Consultancy to Develop Resource Mobilization and Sustainability Strategy at Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN)

Background 

CS-SUNN is the Nigerian Civil Society Alliance (CSA) of the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) global movement, which was founded on the principle that all people have a right to food and good nutrition. Nigeria joined the global movement in 2011, and the CSA arm (CS-SUNN) was birthed in November 2013 at Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. CS-SUNN envisioned a country where every citizen is food and nutrition secure. Its mission is to mobilize non-state actors to generate evidence, build capacity, advocate, and stimulate communities to scale up nutrition in Nigeria.  The Nigerian CSA geographical mandate covers all the 36+1 states of Nigeria. With a strong presence in Nigeria, CS-SUNN has become a key advocate for Nutrition. The organization have gained the knack to influence policy makers in Nigeria and with over 400 registered member organization/partners (even at the grassroots level) spread across the six Geo-political zones; and bring on ideas that are translated into realities for nutrition interventions.

Over the years, CS-SUNN has attracted funding from the global Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) and a few other donors to implement programs both at National and Subnational Levels. With limited resources and scarce funding opportunities within the non-profit space as well as the emergence of competing priorities for most multilateral and bilateral donors, it becomes necessary for CS-SUNN to diversify its revenue sources to make the desired impact on the communities it serves. As the Coalition continues to expand, it is important that it positions itself better to navigate the dynamics of the shrinking funding landscape. Therefore, developing a sustainability roadmap is essential for ensuring that CS-SUNN can continue to fulfill its mission, adapt to changes, and maximize their impact in a sustainable and financially stable manner.  

Based on the above, it becomes imperative to develop a sustainability strategy – resource mobilization plan - to not only further the impact of CS-SUNN within the Nutrition and Food security space but to provide a roadmap for business development and resource mobilization capable of sustaining the Alliance to achieving its vision, mission and goals. The sustainability strategy is targeted at improving the revenue and resource drive for CS-SUNN Nigeria, translating to making more impact in the Nutrition and food security space while also ensuring that the State chapters have sustainable income channels to scale up interventions at sub-national levels.   

Purpose of Assignment

The purpose of this assignment is to outline the scope, objectives, and deliverables for developing a comprehensive sustainability strategy for CS-SUNN and its State chapters. This plan aims to ensure the organization’s long-term viability and impact. It is also to enable CS-SUNN to be financially stable, by identifying and developing multiple streams of income, as well as reducing its dependency on a single source of funding, which mitigates financial risks and enhances stability. The sustainability strategy will also come in handy in terms of strategic planning, providing a clear roadmap for resource allocation, helping the organization to prioritize activities and investments in alignment with its mission, goals and objectives.   

Specific Objectives

The objective of this consultancy is to develop a practical sustainability strategy that will enable CS-SUNN to:

• Achieve sustainable funding through innovative income-generating activities, minimizing reliance on donor grants.
• Identify strengths across national and state chapters that can be transformed into profitable business ventures.
• Outline feasibility studies and phased business plans for investment and long-term returns on investment (ROI).
• Strengthen positioning to secure grants that will effectively support national operations and sub-grant state chapters.

Scope of work

The scope of this assignment is broken down into phases and explained in detail below; 

Phase 1: Reviews, Analysis, and Consultations

Document Review

• Analyze CS-SUNN’s current funding structure, operational model, and state chapter capacities.
• Review existing assets, partnerships, and advocacy/nutrition expertise.

Stakeholder Consultations

• Interview national secretariat staff, state chapter coordinators, donors, and partners to identify strengths and funding gaps.

SWOT Analysis

• Map internal strengths (e.g., technical expertise, networks) and external opportunities (e.g., Nigeria’s nutrition funding landscape).

Phase 2: Feasibility Studies and Business Plan Development

Identify Income-Generating Opportunities

• Propose business ideas aligned with CS-SUNN’s mission (e.g., fee-for-service training programs, consultancy services, policy advocacy toolkits, branded nutrition materials).
• Prioritize opportunities with high feasibility and scalability across state chapters.

Conduct Feasibility Studies

• Assess market demand, competition, operational capacity, and financial viability for 5 shortlisted ideas.
• Recommend risk-mitigation strategies.

Develop Phased Business Plans

• Outline implementation phases, ROI timelines, and resource requirements (e.g., seed funding, staffing).
• Include monitoring frameworks to track business performance.

Phase 3: Grant Strategy Development

Donor Mapping and Alignment

• Identify grant opportunities aligned with CS-SUNN’s advocacy priorities and state chapter needs.

Capacity Building for Grant Success

• Recommend strategies to strengthen CS-SUNN’s grant-writing, reporting, and compliance capabilities.

3.      Sub-Granting Framework:

• Design criteria and processes for equitably sub-granting funds to state chapters.

Phase 4: Strategy Integration and Implementation Plan

Final Sustainability Strategy

• Combine business and grant strategies into a unified 5-year roadmap.
• Define roles for national/state teams and outline phased investments.

Risk Management Plan

• Address risks such as market saturation, donor policy shifts, and operational bottlenecks.

Expected Outputs

By the end of the assignment, the following outputs will be expected:

• A detailed sustainability strategy document, including income-generating opportunities and business plans with ROI Timelines
• Feasibility studies for at least 5 proposed business ventures, with phased implementation plans.
• A framework for strengthening grant acquisition and management capabilities.
• Grant-seeking strategy with a clear sub-granting framework for state chapters.

Type of Consultants Required

• Proven expertise in developing sustainability strategies for CSOs/NGOs.
•  Expertise in business model development, feasibility studies, and grant acquisition.
•  Strong understanding of funding diversification 
•  Familiarity with the Nigerian non-profit and nutrition donor landscape is an advantage.
•  A firm understanding of the development sector and how it works.
•  Strong analytical, facilitation, and report-writing skills.

Interested consultants who meet the qualifications are to send an expression of interest by submitting a formal application with the following: 

• Curriculum Vitae/Company profile
• Technical offer containing work plan/methodology and cost.
• Confirmed availability for the completion of the job 
• Sample of strategy document written by the applicant

Timing of Consultancy

The assignment will be carried out in Abuja and will last 30 consultancy days in May 2025.

Successful consultants will be contacted for a formal meeting