Jude Ilo has written a book that doesn't waste your time. It's called Building on Solid Ground: Primer on Resilience and Sustainability of CSOs in Africa, and it's the kind of practical, honest guide that Africa's civil society space has been needing. Ijeoma Dove-Oforka, who reviewed the book, says it feels like sitting across from a professor who breaks things down the way they actually work on the ground.
The book opens with a question many founders skip: why did you start this organisation in the first place? Ilo uses case studies to show how that founding reason shapes everything else. From there, he moves into strategy — the who, how, and what of building one. He doesn't sugarcoat the challenges. One point that stuck with Dove-Oforka is how many African organisations struggle to set specific objectives because they want to keep their positioning broad enough to attract funding from different donors.
The second part of the book focuses on holding an organisation together once it's running. Ilo writes about accountability and oversight, and he stresses the need for guardrails that keep leaders' power in check. He also treats the board as a real pillar of good governance, not just a rubber stamp. Dove-Oforka, who has been called bureaucratic before, found reassurance in Ilo's defence of structure — as long as it's balanced with flexibility.
The third part is built around the idea that the employee is king. Ilo argues that organisations thrive when they invest in the growth of their people. Dove-Oforka says this chapter affirmed what she already believes: when you take care of the people doing the work, they take care of everything else.
The fourth part is the one Dove-Oforka calls her favourite. At a time when civic space is shrinking across Africa and many CSOs are struggling with limited resources, Ilo offers practical lessons. He calls on organisations to focus on real results instead of polished social media packaging. He also writes about the importance of strong management controls.
The final part turns to branding and communication. Ilo emphasises that a CSO's reputation is built on substance, not spin.
"It felt like sitting across from a professor who breaks things down the way they actually work on the ground."
Dove-Oforka, who is responsible for strategy in her own organisation, says she has already started using some of the lessons to strengthen governance. She describes the book as both a foundation to build on and a mirror to grow by.
Building on Solid Ground is published at a moment when many African CSOs are fighting for survival. Funding is tighter, civic space is narrower, and the pressure to show impact is higher than ever. Ilo's book doesn't offer magic solutions. It offers something rarer: clear thinking and practical steps.