About the FoundationContact Us
Applying for GrantsRegister for eNews
NewsroomGrantee Login
Recent Grants
 
International Grantmaking
International Grantmaking
United States Grantmaking
United States Grantmaking
General Grantmaking
General Grantmaking
MacArthur Fellows
MacArthur Fellows
Print Page
News Feed

Focus Countries

Nigeria

Nigeria is an economic powerhouse and the most populous nation on the African continent. Its current transition to democracy represents an important oppotunity for contributing to both national and regional stability. MacArthur is committed to helping strengthen Nigeria's intellectual, scientific, and civil society  communities as a means of helping to facilitate the consolidation of democracy and encouraging economic development. To do this, MacArthur makes grants to strengthen the country's universities, improve the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and young people, and to advance human rights. The Foundation has been making grants in Nigeria since 1989 and opened an office in Abuja in 1994. For more information please visit the Foundation's Nigeria website.

FROM THE FIELD

  • MacArthur Grantees Support Nigerian Elections
  • April 28, 2011
  • For many Nigerians, the recent general election was an important turning point in the history of their country. National and international observers said the election built a foundation for consolidating Nigerian democracy. MacArthur grantees played significant and complimentary roles in supporting the election. Enough Is Enough mobilized young people via Facebook and Twitter and organized a presidential debate to address the problems of young people. The Policy and Legal Advocacy Center (PLAC) supported the Independent National Electoral Commission to improve its oversight function of the electoral process. Transition Monitoring Group, a coalition of more than 400 NGOs, co-organized a randomized parallel tabulation of presidential election results to ensure accuracy. The West Africa NGO Network became a reference source for news media on the election and candidates and maintained Google maps of polling units and platforms. Grantees were also active in seeking to reduce the violence that accompanied the announcement of the results of the presidential elections. Leaders of ActionAid, the CLEEN Foundation, and PLAC were on radio and television to explain the situation, held meetings with political party leaders, and reached out to community and religious leaders.

» More From the Field

Follow us on Twitter View us on YouTube

John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
140 S. Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL 60603-5285 USAPhone: (312) 726-8000TDD: (312) 920-6285
4answers@macfound.orgCopyright 2005-2012Privacy PolicyEmploymentFAQs