Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using the CSRise platform ("Platform"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use the Platform. These Terms apply to all users, including Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funders, project owners (NGOs/community organisations), regulators, and administrators.

2. Description of Service

CSRise is a digital crowdfunding and impact management platform that connects corporate entities seeking to fulfil CSR obligations with vetted non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and community projects across Nigeria. The Platform facilitates:

• Discovery and vetting of social impact projects
• Secure fund disbursement and escrow management
• KPI tracking and impact reporting
• Regulatory compliance and audit trails
• Dispute resolution between funders and project owners

3. Eligibility and Account Registration

3.1 Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old and legally capable of entering into binding contracts to use the Platform. Corporate users must be duly registered entities in Nigeria or any other jurisdiction recognised by CSRise.

3.2 Account Verification

All users are required to complete identity and/or organisational verification before accessing certain platform features. Providing false or misleading information during verification is grounds for immediate account suspension and may result in legal action.

3.3 Account Security

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials. You agree to notify us immediately at support@csrise.africa if you suspect any unauthorised use of your account.

4. User Roles and Responsibilities

4.1 Corporate Funders

• Must ensure funds committed are legitimately sourced and comply with applicable anti-money laundering laws
• Acknowledge that a 5% platform processing fee applies to all funding contributions
• Must use the Platform's designated payment channels for all transactions
• Agree not to demand or accept private arrangements with project owners outside the Platform

4.2 Project Owners (NGOs / Community Organisations)

• Must submit accurate project details, budgets, and impact targets
• Are obligated to use disbursed funds strictly for the stated project purpose
• Must submit timely KPI updates and evidence as required by the Platform
• Are responsible for ensuring their projects comply with applicable Nigerian laws and regulations

4.3 All Users

• Must not engage in fraudulent, deceptive, or abusive conduct on the Platform
• Must not upload content that is defamatory, obscene, or infringes third-party intellectual property rights
• Must comply with all applicable laws including the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023, the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020, and relevant CBN guidelines

5. Fees and Payments

CSRise charges a 5% processing fee on all corporate funding contributions. This fee covers platform operations, payment processing, escrow management, and compliance activities. The fee is deducted automatically at the time of disbursement. Project owners receive the net amount after deduction of the processing fee.

All payments are processed in Nigerian Naira (NGN) unless otherwise agreed. CSRise uses third-party payment processors and is not liable for errors or delays attributable to those processors.

6. Escrow and Disbursement

Funds contributed by corporate funders are held in escrow until disbursement conditions are met. Disbursement is triggered upon:

• Platform and/or regulator approval of the project milestone or stage
• Submission and acceptance of required evidence by the project owner
• No active dispute raised against the disbursement

CSRise reserves the right to withhold or reverse disbursements in cases of suspected fraud, regulatory directive, or material breach of these Terms.

7. Dispute Resolution

Disputes between funders and project owners must first be submitted through the Platform's built-in dispute resolution module. CSRise administrators will review and adjudicate disputes within a reasonable timeframe. If a dispute cannot be resolved through the Platform, the parties agree to submit to mediation and, if necessary, arbitration in Lagos, Nigeria, in accordance with the Arbitration and Conciliation Act.

8. Intellectual Property

All content, trademarks, logos, and software on the Platform are the property of CSRise or its licensors. You are granted a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable licence to use the Platform for its intended purposes. You may not copy, modify, distribute, or reverse-engineer any part of the Platform without prior written consent from CSRise.

By uploading content to the Platform (including project descriptions, images, and reports), you grant CSRise a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to use, display, and reproduce that content in connection with the Platform's operations and marketing.

9. Privacy

Your use of the Platform is subject to our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference. By using the Platform, you consent to the collection, use, and processing of your personal data as described in the Privacy Policy.

10. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, CSRise and its directors, employees, agents, and partners shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your use of the Platform. CSRise's total aggregate liability for direct damages shall not exceed the amount of fees paid by you to CSRise in the three (3) months preceding the event giving rise to the claim.

CSRise does not guarantee the successful completion of any project listed on the Platform and is not responsible for the actions or omissions of project owners or funders.

11. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless CSRise and its officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from: (a) your use of the Platform; (b) your breach of these Terms; (c) your violation of any applicable law; or (d) any content you submit to the Platform.

12. Platform Availability and Modifications

CSRise strives to maintain continuous availability of the Platform but does not guarantee uninterrupted service. We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue any feature of the Platform at any time with or without notice. We shall not be liable to you for any such modifications, suspension, or discontinuance.

13. Termination

CSRise may suspend or terminate your account at any time for breach of these Terms, suspected fraudulent activity, or for any other reason at our sole discretion. Upon termination, your right to use the Platform ceases immediately. Provisions of these Terms that by their nature should survive termination (including Sections 8, 10, 11, and 15) shall remain in effect.

14. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. We will notify registered users of material changes by email or by posting a prominent notice on the Platform. Your continued use of the Platform after the effective date of revised Terms constitutes your acceptance of those changes.

15. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Any disputes arising under these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Lagos State, Nigeria.

16. Contact Us

If you have any questions about these Terms, please contact us at:

• Email: support@csrise.africa
• Website: www.csrise.africa