Ehsaas Program’s Post

When a government lacks its own means to provide basic services (health, education, R&D etc), or chooses to prioritise areas such as defence (imagine the savings if we stopped killing each other!), civil society funding and action fill the gap. As this is universal, even if the needs and priorities vary, the government's role should presumably be to conduct risk-based assessments. In India, the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) "dates from 1976, a time of national emergency declared by Indira Gandhi, the prime minister then, who was seen as using the law to target critics of a civil rights clampdown. "In 2020, the regulations were tightened to include a ban on nonprofits transferring money from overseas contributions to other nonprofits with similar licences and imposed a spending limit of 20% on administrative costs such as staff and offices. "“Many grassroots organisations, that had the FCRA licence but didn’t have fundraising capabilities, would depend on larger organisations for their funding,” said Avinash Kumar, the former head of Amnesty India, who left after the organisation shut down operations in India in 2020 after the government alleged it had committed FCRA violations. "Kumar said the 2020 amendment meant funding for grassroots organisations was completely “choked”." Read the Thomson Reuters Foundation piece for names of some other well-known international NGOs that have been impacted. We shall see what the new government does: will it accept evidence like this, replicated across the country, and concede to foreign funds and assistance?

DONORS AND INTERMEDIARIES: Critical self-awareness and a conversation guide This is our second briefing and reflection paper on intermediaries. It contributes to an ongoing critical reflection in the aid sector.The behaviours of notably international aid agencies, acting as ‘intermediaries’ for the funding to local and national actors (LNA), have come under scrutiny, given the international commitments to better support and reinforce national and local actors. Several INGOs have also been developing their ‘localisation’, ‘partnering’ and at times ‘anti-racism’ and ‘decolonisation’ policies. The first paper ‘Intermediary organisations under the spotlight. Why?'  looks at what we mean with ‘intermediary’ and why ‘back-donors’ or ‘funding partners’ use them. Given that aid donors will continue to use intermediaries, this second paper focuses on what donors can and must do to ensure that intermediaries use their power responsibly, strive towards equitable partnership with national and local subgrantees, and intentionally work towards role changes, with the national-local actor taking on more and more leadership. The paper consists of three components: 1. A practical conversation guide for donors to use, proactively, with organisations they intend to fund which in turn will subgrant to (other) national and local actors. 2.  An invitation for back-donors to be self-critical about how their behaviours influence how an intermediary organisation plays that role: sometimes donor requirements are such that it becomes difficult for an intermediary organisation to play a truly supportive and enabling role for its local and national subgrantees/partners. 3. An answer to the question whether a direct communication is appropriate between a back-donor and a LNA which receives its funds through an intermediary.

NGOs in Africa play a significant role in providing health care and education, but they are also criticized for their focus on technical solutions to poverty and their dependence on donor funding. Critics argue that NGOs may not be the most suitable actors for improving people's lives due to their limited accountability and potential reinforcement of power imbalances. However, some argue that NGOs can still contribute to social justice by operating in ways that challenge injustice and open the door to new possibilities. https://lnkd.in/gsdY793R

Donors say that they want to send more money to the global south, but most still have rules in place that favor their own NGOs. Why does this happen, and does anything need to change? Burton Bollag takes a look at the phenomenon. #NGO #globaldevelopment

In the first half of 2024, Antigua and Barbuda received 739 applications for citizenship by investment: https://lnkd.in/gvNADm87 Since the launch of the programme, the country has received a total of 5,203 applications. These figures were published by the Citizenship by Investment Programme Department. The most popular option remains the non-refundable contribution to the National Development Fund. As of August 1st, 2024, the contribution amount is set at $230,000, regardless of the family composition. In the first half of this year, 611 out of 739 applicants chose the contribution option. During this same period, the country issued 622 passports. The majority of new citizens were investors from China, the USA, and Nigeria. Antigua and Barbuda consistently ranks among the best countries where investors can obtain passports by economic contributions. In the 2024 CBI Index, the country ranks 4th and has been recognised as the most suitable for large families. The country offers an option for families of six or more people. Investors can make a donation to a higher education institution starting from $260,000. This contribution is non-refundable. Download the free guide to learn how families can obtain a second passport by investment and how much it costs: https://lnkd.in/dxFFnBiW #Caribbean #AntiguaAndBarbuda #AntiguaAndBarbudaCitizenship #AntiguaAndBarbudaCitizenshipByInvestment #AntiguaAndBarbudaPassport #CitizenshipByInvestment #ImmigrationLaw #ImmigrantInvest

🌟 Welcome to Part 2 of our series on sponsorship! 🌟 Join us as we continue our journey of compassion and support by exploring WHO TO SPONSOR. In this installment, we'll shine a spotlight on sponsoring families through the P4CHNV program, offering a lifeline to those fleeing political oppression, poverty, and violence in Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. Recent expansions to humanitarian sponsorship programs, including P4CHNV, have opened doors for individuals in desperate need to find refuge in the United States. As a sponsor, you have the power to provide a direct pathway to safety and a chance for families to rebuild their lives in a secure environment. ⚠️ Important update: USCIS now approves up to 30,000 I-134A applications per month under P4CHNV. However, due to the overwhelming demand, wait times may vary. USCIS will process half of the applications based on a monthly lottery system to expedite the process. Remember to maintain flexibility in your welcoming plans and stay informed about the challenges facing individuals in these countries. Your sponsorship provides a lifeline to those forced to flee their homes due to violence, political oppression, economic hardship, and other crises. Whether you know someone in need or wish to connect with individuals seeking safety through our Welcome Connect platform, we're here to guide you every step of the way. Ready to learn more? Check out our FAQs for Sponsors Under P4CHNV: https://lnkd.in/ewAQDGUY Have questions or ready to get started? Reach out to us at reactsponsors@reactdc.org. Together, let's make a difference and extend a helping hand to those seeking safety and security. #BecomeASponsor #RefugeesWelcome #SponsorshipChangesLives 🤝✨

#AfricaBrief Daily Good evening! Here are the latest top headlines from across Africa and beyond: 📌 Malawi Government Clarifies Loan Forgiveness Misinformation The Minister of Information in Malawi, Moses Kunkuyu, has clarified that the government has not forgiven all loans from the National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF). The government is taking steps to recover every single kwacha, and the written off loans are regarded as bad debts according to accounting principles. 🔥 Sudan's Conflict Takes Heavy Toll on Women and Girls The ongoing conflict in Sudan, which marks its one-year anniversary this week, is having a devastating impact on the people, particularly women and girls. UN Women calls on the international community to prevent the conflict from becoming a neglected crisis, as Sudan faces a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, internal displacement, and a growing risk of hunger. 💼 African Development Bank Enhances Youth Empowerment Program The African Development Bank (AfDB) successfully concluded a workshop in Nairobi, Kenya, aimed at enhancing its Empowering Novel Agri-Business-Led Employment (ENABLE) Youth Program. The program provides financing to young African entrepreneurs and has been instrumental in fostering entrepreneurship and tackling youth unemployment. 🔒 Amnesty International Urges Nigeria to Secure Release of Abducted School Girls Amnesty International calls on the Nigerian authorities to intensify efforts to ensure the safe release and return of the remaining 82 Chibok school girls abducted by Boko Haram fighters in 2014. The organization also emphasizes the need to protect schools from child abductions, which have become increasingly frequent in northern Nigeria. 🌍 Food Insecurity Increases in West and Central Africa The UN World Food Programme (WFP) reports that almost 55 million people in West and Central Africa are facing further food and nutrition insecurity during the upcoming three-month lean season. This represents a four million increase compared to the current number of people dealing with food insecurity in the region. Mali is particularly affected, with thousands of people experiencing catastrophic hunger. 🇺🇦 Ukraine and Russia Engage in Bridge Destruction Ukrainian officials state that they will attempt to destroy the Crimean bridge by mid-July, according to The Sun. Experts suggest that Ukraine may use missiles to target the bridge's roadbed. Meanwhile, the Russian Air Force has destroyed another bridge behind the AFU lines in the South Donetsk direction. 🇵🇸 Gaza Health Ministry Reports Casualty Figures The Gaza Health Ministry reports that since October 7, a total of 33,729 Palestinians have been killed and 76,371 Palestinians have been injured in Gaza. We hope you found today's news from around the continent informative! Let us know what other types of news stories you would like to see in this daily briefing. #AfricaBrief Stay informed, stay empowered!

Governments are seldom fond of non-profit or non-governmental organisations, especially those which receive foreign grants. The Foreign Contribution Regulation Act was formulated in 1976 so that governments could scrutinise the sources of overseas funds and their uses by NGOs to prevent foreign interference in India’s politics and development projects. Registration and licensing procedures were always strict. Yet various NGOs existed in spheres such as health and education, rights and social movements, in justice delivery, research, policy assessment through fieldwork and so on, by which they attempted to reach the deprived and marginalised in society. https://lnkd.in/gAXsTsf8

I do not belong to any political party any where in the world. I subscribe to integrity in leadership and Liston to what leaders say. In 2018 a team of the Heads of State of many African countries went to meet with the then President of the United States of America: Donald Trump. These visits by African Heads of State to the West are aimed at getting aid from Western countries. The then President of the USA Donald Trump in his usual unfiltered language informed the African leaders that he did not understand why Africa is poor because his friends go to Africa to make money. This did not make the news as much as the ‘shithole’ word he used on Africa. The Africans who are rich are in Africa. They loot the resources of the continent and send the gains and their offsprings abroad while continuing to keep the majority of Africans in poverty and deprivation as they continue to loot, loot and loot until they die. Since I relocated to Nigeria, I have been appalled at the daily news of the theft of public funds in the country. I hear of the theft of the public funds from Nigeria’s news media, but I do not hear further news from Nigeria’s news media of the consequences of theft of public funds in Nigeria. I see the possibilities and potential wealth in Nigeria. I note the potential of Nigeria to provide for the welfare of all, yet all I see is empty public services and bogus personal wealth. Nigeria is not poor. Nigeria’s wealth does not transcend to the well being of Nigerians collectively. Many Nigerians boast of their children schooling abroad, but these Nigerians who boast of their children schooling abroad have to live in Nigeria to pay for the fees of their children schooling abroad! Many Nigerians boast of going abroad to get medical services but they have to be in Nigeria and deprive fellow Nigerians of healthcare and of medical services to get medical services abroad. I relocated to Nigeria in October 2022. I followed closely the discovery of 58 illegal oil pipelines in the Niger Delta of Nigeria and heard Jountalist swear that they will get to the source. They have gone silent. I spent the last hour in deep concern as The Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development was being questioned regarding Billions in Naira unaccounted for. I read three months ago the theft of billions from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs in Nigeria, a Ministry that should not exist in Nigeria in the first place. Naija. Person no dey carry money go grave. Please let’s make our human experience on earth well for us all. Naija no forget “the sins of the father and mama are visited on the children.” Don’t hand over financial gains from stolen public funds to your children. It is ill gotten generational wealth and it will bring consequences. You will leave offspring behind to suffer from your theft of the future and wellbeing of those you deprived of life, wellbeing and future. #nigeria #naija #corruption

Education and Truth Now let's ask the question why? What is the purpose of this? Let's discuss why the UK keeps running campaigns to control water resources in Africa. These adverts often claim that Africans can't wash and lack clean water, urging British people to donate funds. However, many African communities have long managed their water needs with local solutions. While it's true that some areas face water challenges, the portrayal of Africa as entirely helpless is misleading. These campaigns are driven by humanitarian concerns, international development goals, geopolitical interests, and a sense of historical responsibility. Yet, they often oversimplify the situation, failing to recognize the resilience and resourcefulness of African communities. #FITAFRICA #educationandtruth #fitness #health #education