Resource Center Individuals and institutions in East Africa more than ever before are organizing themselves to contribute to a solution on the enormous socio-economic challenges faced in the region. Today, opportunities for philanthropy’s role in supporting these initiatives have called for bigger intervention strategies and innovative new approaches. Apart from effective, efficient and responsive organizational structures there is a growing need for coordinated efforts among Grantmakers.
Additionally, philanthropists operate in an interdependent and complex system. Networking is essential in building funds and coordinating resources for solving the complex problems especially in a region characterized by insufficient information in the field of local giving. By compiling and sharing information with others and engaging wider partnerships, philanthropists have a shared understanding of the context of the environment they operate in.
In a report ‘’WHAT’S NEXT FOR PHILANTHROPY’’ created by the MONITOR Institute, the future of philanthropy is tagged on the ability of stakeholders to form learning groups and forge strategic partnerships that fit different sectors and missions. While this might require individuals or organizations to let go of a certain degree of independence, the leverage accrued is always large enough to have an impact beyond the success of one single actor. The Kenyans for Kenya Initiative is exceptional in that it effectively found a way to leverage resources from different stakeholders at all levels of the society.
The EAAG has launched peer group learning sessions to enable grantmakers learn, reflect and debate on issues relating to their activities. Dubbed The Givers Lounge, topics discussed will be identified from priorities expressed by the networks. Although the EAAG will coordinate the events, autonomy on the agenda will be given to the networks. Topics will be based on issues of mutual interests. Initially, there are 4 sessions scheduled for the next year. These sessions are in addition to other networking platform EAAG offers including our annual East Africa Grantmakers Conference, roundtable meetings and assortments of professional development training.
Grantmakers need to embrace more forums that provide an opportunity to share and exchange ideas in order to generate possible solutions and leverage resources for a bigger impact and effectively adapt to changes.
Further Reading
- Kenyans for Kenya Initiative is a noble initiative dubbed ‘Kenyans for Kenya’ and the biggest public fundraiser in the history of Kenya, created in 2011 by the Kenya Red Cross Society and supported by the Kenya Commercial Bank, Safaricom Foundation and the Media Owners Association. It further provided a platform for all companies, (large and small) and ordinary Kenyans to contribute towards famine relief. The Initiative contributed over half a billion Kenya shillings ( $500,000). www.kenyans4kenya.co.ke
- ‘’There is a strong case and need to strengthen the partnership of the private sector and civil service with government in the region to construct and enabling policy environment’’. Amb. Dr. Richard Sezibera, Keynote Address during the Second East Africa Grantmakers Conference.
- For further reading please download a full report – Acting Bigger and Adapting Better in a Networking world http://monitorinstitute.com/whatsnext.
- The Bellagio Initiative ; Looking at the future of philanthropy and development in the pursuit of wellbeing’’. http://action.bellagioinitiative.org/
