The MacArthur Foundation has granted the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) $3,142,167 (N5,027,467,200) for legal advocacies in Nigeria from 2008 to 2024.

This was disclosed on its website section that highlights grants and grantee profiles, as seen by Nairametrics.

SERAP, a leading advocacy organization in Nigeria, has been at the forefront of advocacy through statements, civic training, and multiple lawsuits against the government and respective agencies.

Breakdown of the Grants
According to the MacArthur Foundation website, it has approved nine grants to SERAP since 2008, totaling $3,142,167.

One United States dollar is equivalent to N1,600 according to the current official rate from the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The grant for 2021 was $1,100,000 and is set to last for three years, until 2024.

Here is the breakdown of the grants so far:

2021 (3 years): $1,100,000
This award allows SERAP to deepen, consolidate, and institutionalize its anti-corruption and accountability work, strengthen transparency, undertake public interest litigation on asset recovery and procurement practices, and translate reports into short, accessible formats for easier understanding.

2020 (7 months): $50,000
This grant was provided to SERAP to track and report on the use of COVID-19-designated funds, resources, and palliatives at all levels of government in Nigeria while ensuring accountability and transparency.

2019 (3 months): $39,000
This award supports SERAP in reviewing the performance and achievements of Nigeria’s first National Action Plan under the Open Government Partnership to inform advocacy and improve the impact of a second action plan.

2019 (2 years 6 months): $790,000
This award funded SERAP to continue corruption cases against state- and non-state actors in the education and electricity sectors and other areas, ensuring compliance with the annual submission of audited reports of federal appropriations by ministries, departments, and agencies to the Auditor General of the Federation, as provided in the Constitution.

The award also empowered SERAP to leverage media to educate and mobilize citizens on the cost of corruption on their daily lives.

2019 (3 months): $13,167
This award supported three SERAP staff members to attend the 2019 summit of the Open Government Partnership, a multi-stakeholder initiative for openness, inclusion, transparency, and accountability in the public sector.

2016 (2 years 11 months): $300,000
This award was part of a larger package of complementary grants expected to help SERAP increase transparency in education finances in select states, improve accountability in the electricity sector, strengthen local accountability practices, and contribute to a reduction in corruption.

2013 (3 years): $350,000
“The grant to Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) will support the implementation of Nigeria’s Freedom of Information Act of 2011 through the filing of cases, training workshops for lawyers and judges, and a compendium of jurisprudence on FOI cases, “ the foundation stated.

2011 (3 years): $350,000
The grant was intended to help SERAP conduct strategic litigation before national, sub-regional, and regional courts over three years.

2008 (2 years 5 months): $150,000
“In support of activities to generate new strategies to document and litigate internationally recognized economic, social, and cultural rights before national and regional courts over two years,” the foundation stated.

What You Should Know
Established in 2004, SERAP is one of Nigeria’s foremost accountability nonprofit organizations. It relies on litigation to seek court intervention in any alleged infractions by government officials and public institutions.

Checks on the MacArthur Foundation website show that SERAP is one of its longstanding grantees and partners.

On SERAP’s website, the MacArthur Foundation is listed as one of its partners.

SmartPolician:
Source: https://nairametrics.com/2024/08/05/macarthur-foundation-grants-serap-n5-billion-for-nigerian-advocacy-from-2008-to-2024/

LegendHero:
Lol this is why these guys are always at the forefront of any nonsense suing and protest. Not like they’ve successfully sued anyone, they are just using that to build their profile to generate more funds. Sowore too is the same thing.

MacArthur announced today more than $6.3 million in journalism and media funding to advance anti-corruption efforts in Nigeria. The grants are part of the Foundation's On Nigeria grantmaking, which seeks to reduce corruption by supporting Nigerian-led efforts that strengthen accountability, transparency, and civic participation.

The nine grants announced today are a continuation of the Foundation's efforts to strengthen investigative and data-driven journalism in Nigeria and to reinforce the role played by independent media and citizens in revealing and documenting corruption. The grants will support a range of projects, including trainings for journalists on investigative field work and data-driven reporting, assistance for independent media organizations working to develop sustainable business models, and new broadcast platforms to increase the reach and effectiveness of investigative reports.

AntiChristian:


Now we know their sponsor!

You see activism pays in dollars!

SERAP don cash out!

SmartPolician:
It is now beginning to make sense why Shatap is always dragging presidents to court without anyone knowing the outcome of the legal tussle. Shatap dey use oyibo people cash out in the name of social advocacy. 😂😂

Abeg any experienced lawyer wey read this message, contact me make we go start start our own think-tank. Make we sef cash out 😁😁😁😁

Image123:
Don't play. When you see all these Sowore, Falana, Aisha and co always shouting at the top of their voices, no matter what the government does, don't be fooled to think they love you.

seborrhic:
How many cases or policy reversals has serap won?
Always court cases or statements but I have never heard them having won a single case or the goverment forced to reverse a bad policy.
So where is the advocacy?

lexy2014:


does it cash out like being in aso rock?

Image123:
Don't play. When you see all these Sowore, Falana, Aisha and co always shouting at the top of their voices, no matter what the government does, don't be fooled to think they love you.

SmartPolician:
It is now beginning to make sense why Shatap is always dragging presidents to court without anyone knowing the outcome of the legal tussle. Shatap dey use oyibo people cash out in the name of social advocacy. 😂😂

Abeg any experienced lawyer wey read this message, contact me make we go start start our own think-tank. Make we sef cash out 😁😁😁😁

Faposky95:
↪ In this middle...where does the common man with dreams hang on to.....?