Lagos, Nigeria – June 14, 2025
Civil society leaders from 22 countries across West, Central Africa and the Islands (Comoros and Madagascar) (WCAI) came together last week in Lagos, Nigeria for the SUN Civil Society Network’s annual regional meeting — a week of dialogue, learning, and bold action toward nutrition justice.
Under the theme “A stronger civil society to accelerate progress in nutrition”, representatives debated some of the most pressing challenges facing their region: deepening inequalities, climate shocks, budget cuts, and barriers to collaboration across languages and borders. Despite these challenges, the tone was one of solidarity and shared purpose.
The highlight of the gathering was the adoption of the Lagos Declaration — a unifying statement and action plan committing the region’s civil society alliances to:
- Strengthen peer learning and shared advocacy,
- Promote inclusive, rights-based food and nutrition policies,
- Uplift the voices of communities — especially women, youth, and marginalised groups,
- Hold themselves and other stakeholders accountable for commitments made,
- Call on governments, donors, and regional institutions to increase support and funding for nutrition.
📄 Read the full Lagos Declaration:
The meeting also featured:
- A powerful opening with support from senior Nigerian government officials, including the Office of the Vice President, the Ministry of Health, and the National Assembly.
- Interactive capacity-building sessions on resource mobilisation, AI for advocacy, governance, and youth engagement.
- Peer-to-peer learning between countries around good practices on closing the gender nutrition gap, advocacy and accountability.
- Reflections from the young leaders in Nigeria, Finian Ali and Tarilate Tarinabo-Debo, who both shared how youth-led community dialogues are being championed and supported by the whole SUN Multi-stakeholder Platform in Nigeria.
A major breakthrough came in the form of honest, solutions-focused dialogue around the language divide between Anglophone and Francophone Civil Society Alliances — a persistent challenge in the region. Participants recommitted to working across language barriers, not just despite them, but because of the strength that diversity brings.
With thanks to the Civil Society Alliance of Nigeria (CS-SUNN) for their excellent coordination, the SUN Movement Secretariat, and all partners who contributed to this moment. The next regional meeting will likely be held in Benin in 2026.
The energy in Lagos was clear: Civil society in the region is not only standing strong, it is striding forwards together.
