Mama Cash’s Post

I can't explain the energy that comes from stepping on African soil and connecting with fellow Africans to help shape our future. There is a buzz I can't explain. I remind myself that we are builders and not victims. Shapers of our own future. An engaging few days at the African Philanthropy Forum to discuss "A New Agenda for African Philanthropy: Catalysing Funding to Accelerate Africa's Transformation. " We must continue to change the narrative about Africa. We are a collaborative, innovative, and resilient people. We succeed through our shared brilliance. Our voice needs to be amplified in addressing our local needs and solutions. Our power lies on the continent and not outside. What then needs to change in philanthropy? 1. Not parachuting global north ideas/solutions into Africa as development 2. Recognising the agency of those on the ground in local communities. They are the experts in their contexts 3. Evaluate the language of development being used..locally led? Decolonisation? Trust based? Etc 4. Address the trust deficit in funder relationships towards Africa. Trust is key to philanthropic partnerships. 5. Remove unnecessary requirements in due diligence processes to reduce further barriers 6. Rethink the definition of philanthropy. it’s not just institutional giving 7. Localise grant /funding decisions close to those who understand the context in their communities. Not far away. 8. Ensure flexible giving with a longer-term view 9. Change our risk appetites and compliance requirements because it really can be simplified. 10. Evaluate what we are imposing on grantees/partners. Is it all necessary? As a participant mentioned, let us not be fooled - nobody is coming to save us! #changingthenarrative #agency #resilience #powerdynamics #creatingwealthnotdependency

Africa has vast resources and a young, growing population. However, many communities face challenges that hinder growth and prosperity. This is where community investment steps in. Community investment isn't just about financial contributions. It's about forming genuine partnerships with local organizations and individuals. Community-led projects succeed over 70%, compared to just 30% for top-down initiatives (according to The African Capacity Building Foundation). So it's all about sharing knowledge, skills, and resources. By working together, we can unlock Africa's potential and create a brighter future for all. You can get involved by: 👉 Supporting organizations working on community development in Africa. 👉 Volunteering your skills and expertise to local initiatives. 👉 Raising awareness about the importance of community investment. . . Do you believe community investment is a development strategy? #SocialImpact #Community #Development #Africa

I'm working through Africa No Filter 's course on ethical storytelling. I recommend it if you do any #humanitarian or #globaldev related communications around Africa. (Or, frankly, any other stereotyped place-- Haiti comes to mind.) It is, however, challenging me as many of the guidelines are contrary to what a typical #grant request or #fundraising campaign relies upon. Most #grantapplications have very limited space for highlighting a community's existing assets or for praising the work of local partners. Most mid- to large NGOs I've worked with are wary of presenting the work of their "subrecipients" as too essential, as it "confuses donors" or reduces the "score" of the grant. I'd be curious to hear which #funders are more open to the more ethical framing of the work. #proposals #proposalwriting #communications #storytelling #ngos #npos #internationaldevelopment #africa

It's Giving Tuesday. Haiti needs a strategic long-term growth plan to sustain its economic development and urbanization strategy. This is why we must go beyond short term goals and start with an Economic Pledge. Haiti Executive Board is a business advocacy organization and works as a nonprofit enterprise to diversify Haiti economy by supporting and advocating for more Haitian business’s growth and development both in Haiti and abroad and to graduate Haiti by 2050 from the LDC list of UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) with a global economic agenda. Here are the 10 funds to diversify the Haiti Economy: 🇭🇹Global Sports Fund 🇭🇹Digital Transformation Fund 🇭🇹Philanthropy Fund 🇭🇹Green Fund 🇭🇹Business Development Fund 🇭🇹Real Estate Fund 🇭🇹National Tourism Fund 🇭🇹Investment Fund 🇭🇹National Security Fund 🇭🇹Humanity Fund These 10 funds in the Economic Pledge are to create positive economic growth for Haitian-led businesses in Haiti and Abroad by creating programs to support their growth’s potential per sector with a sustainable growth and a social and equitable welfare system within a corporate structure or governance. Pledge to fund for the sector which you believe we must advocate to transform Haiti Economy in the next decades.. Take the pledge here : https://lnkd.in/ermdvaaE THANK YOU to all, friends, family, and supporters who are standing with us to empower the Haitian business community. #GivingTuesday l #Haiti l #HaitianAmerican l #HaitianBusinesses l #HaitianProfessionals l #HaitiVision2050 l

How African NGOs grow despite intense resource scarcity and what lessons might funders take from revenue figures of 85 NGOs across South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria. Register here for a webinar

#localgiving #givingpractices looking forward to this webinar - knowledge building on Africa giving practices!

Excited to moderate this webinar on how NGOs can harness strategic planning, thereby approaching donors with confidence! Please join us!

🗞Philanthropy Digest: African Philanthropy’s Growing Role in Local Development The rise of Africa’s wealthy elite and the slowdown in the global economy are setting the stage for locally led African philanthropy to play a crucial role in addressing the continent’s needs. With Africa’s increasing affluence, driven by private investment and a new generation of tech-savvy entrepreneurs, there is significant potential to lift millions out of poverty. However, challenges like government debt crises and cuts in international aid threaten essential services. Local philanthropy is seen as a key solution to bridging this funding gap and supporting sustainable development across the continent. 👀Read more🔗: https://lnkd.in/dBGgHb_R #africanphilanthropy

When we work with local organizations and communities, the topic of funding always comes up. During a recent training, we asked participants about their common budgeting challenges, and guess what? A lot of the blockers were related to donor and funding procedures. Some of the responses included: - Donor conditions - Thinking methods of partners - Imposed exchange rates - Unclear funding directions - Limitations on project flexibility It is quite clear that, too often, local organizations face pressures to conform to donor requirements, which can undermine project efficiency and long-term sustainability. Instead of being empowered through financial support, these conditions can create barriers.❌ So, how do we shift the power dynamics? 🤔 Here’s the paradox: While solutions exist, the blockers are often ideological. The systemic dominance of donors and rigid funding structures hold back local organizations from fully driving change. It’s time to rethink the approach. 💪 📌 When local organizations succeed, communities thrive. Let’s work together to uplift and empower the changemakers on the ground who are already leading with impact. 👀 Curious to see how this can work in practice? Check out how one organization, the Zambian Governance Foundation, is reshaping the partnership model and rebalancing power in Zambia through a Reverse Call for Proposals. This initiative gives an opportunities for INGO partners to "align [their] expertise and resources with local priorities and enhance [their] impact". 🔗 [Learn more about this approach via link in the comments] #LocalOrganizations #CommunityDevelopment #SocialImpact #Nonprofit #Philanthropy #Sustainability #ReimaginePartnerships

While aid in Africa often begins with great intentions, its long-term impact can tell a different story. Dependency on external assistance can undermine local initiatives, weaken community resilience, and perpetuate cycles of poverty. Instead of fostering sustainable growth, aid sometimes breeds reliance, stifling creativity, self-determination, and ownership. Communities lose the motivation to develop their own solutions, waiting for external help that often falls short of addressing root causes. To truly uplift Africa, we must shift from a mindset of charity to one of empowerment, investing in local capacities that unleash innovation and lasting transformation from within.