Foundation for Civil Society (FCS)

🎉🇹🇿 Celebrating 63 Years of Independence! Happy Independence Day ! 🇹🇿

🚨 OPEN CALL: Consultant Opportunity 🚨 Foundation for Civil Society (FCS) is seeking a Consultant to Conduct a Midterm Review of THE EAST AFRICA (KENYA, TANZANIA & UGANDA) FINANCIAL RESILIENCE RESOURCE HUB About the Partners CIVFUND is an afro feminist fund that seeks to provide flexible, accessible, and responsive funding for effective civic engagement of civil society in Africa.  Foundation for Civil Society (FCS) is an independent Tanzanian non-profit organization that provides grants and capacity building services to civil society organizations (CSOs) to enhance their effectiveness in enabling engagement of citizens in development processes. Kenya Community Development Foundation (KCDF) is a Kenyan development grant-making organization founded in 1997 as a public foundation supporting communities to initiate and drive their development agenda by harnessing and growing their resources and securing their basic rights and services from duty bearers. Project Background #Financialresilience refers to the ability to withstand and recover from financial setbacks impacting income or assets. In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, which significantly decreased donor support to Africa, and the current political environment that is constricting civic space, it is crucial to empower local organizations to sustainably generate and manage their resources.  Financial resilience and vulnerability are interconnected; thus, initiatives to build resilience must start with identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities linked to exposure to risks and limited access to appropriate resources. The Financial Resilience Resource Hub is a regional initiative designed to reduce civil society’s dependency on foreign funding by exploring flexible funding options, financial resilience, and locally rooted business models. CIVFUND, FCS, and KCDF, with support from the FORD Foundation, have collaborated to address this challenge through seed grants, creating learning spaces, knowledge sharing, and technical support for individuals, organizations, and collectives working to advance human rights and sustain their efforts through financial resilience. The Hub has a 5 year strategy that started in 2022 with an aim to provide technical and financial resources and enhance the capacities of civil society, community-based groups, and other formations in fundraising, resource management, compliance with financial requirements, and diversifying funding bases. It is against this background that Financial Resource Resilience Hub invites qualified individuals or firms to undertake Midterm Review of its Hub interventions for the past two years. Read more details and apply >> https://lnkd.in/eK48C_AC

FCS joins the nation in mourning the passing of Dr. Faustine Ndugulile, a dedicated leader, visionary, and advocate for civil society and public health. His unwavering commitment to community development and his partnership with civil society organizations have left an indelible mark on the lives of many. Rest in peace, Dr. Faustine Ndugulile 🕊️

It was a pleasure to make a courtesy visit and meet the Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Evelyn Gitau, and her colleague, Denis Chopera at the Science for Africa Foundation (SFA) earlier today to discuss a potential strategic partnership between SFA and the African Population and Health Research Center. Our conversation primarily focused on a #SouthSouthCooperation narrative within the current #localization agenda that has become very topical in #Africa and the #GlobalSouth development discourse. A central question guiding our discussion was how both institutions can collaborate to implement tangible, meaningful, impactful, and sustainable interventions that enhance #Africa's R&D #ecosystem by leveraging each other's strengths, lived experiences and networks. The future is promising, strong strategic partnership in making...!Watch this space! #TogetherWeCan #AfricaWeWant #Science #Innovation #IamAPHRC #EnhancingAfricanScience Wellcome Trust Carnegie Corporation of New York Tade Aina Catherine Kyobutungi William and Flora Hewlett Foundation Sida African Union International Development Research Centre (IDRC) Mastercard Foundation Luchuo Engelbert Bain Sheena Kayira Florah Karimi Mamadou Diarafa Diallo Alphonsus Neba Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

🎉 Exciting news! Our five winners for #MyGivingStory2024 have been selected! Meet the incredible changemakers: 1️⃣ Khadija Swalehe Ally 2️⃣ Rahma Gharib Mohammed 3️⃣ Pilly Hussein Ndobeji 4️⃣ Godlisten Charles Lwambati 5️⃣ Yohana Matiko Isack The selection process was no easy task; every story submitted was truly inspiring and showcased a remarkable dedication to making a difference. We’re thrilled to celebrate these winners, whose impactful stories stood out. Each of them embodies the spirit of generosity, resilience, and community support that #MyGivingStory aims to highlight. We can’t wait to see how their initiatives unfold and inspire even more people. Stay tuned to follow their journeys as they continue to make a positive impact in their communities! 💫✨ #GivingTuesday

🌍 Day 2 : #2024APNAssembly is about knowledge production and the stories we tell ourselves about African philanthropy. How much do indigenous insights and wisdoms contribute to our research, methods of analysis, decision making and doing? We will also examine the use of language, both our native tongues /vernacular as well as rhetoric in furthering or hindering meaningful participation of community as rightful investors in their development. We will explore key questions : 1️⃣ How can philanthropy counter inequalities and power imbalances? 2️⃣ How can we build solidarity towards narratives that showcase African philanthropy as a relevant driver of community-led transformation? Brian Kagoro, Managing Director of Programs at the Open Society Foundations led a powerful Ignite Talk focused on the importance of African wisdom in philanthropy and development. He emphasized the need to center indigenous knowledge systems in the narrative-building process, particularly when it comes to African philanthropy. Brian pointed out that African communities have long engaged in collective action for mutual benefit. Brian dicussed core principles of Ubuntu and how they have long underpinned African approaches to risk mitigation and social responsibility. He explained that African giving is not charity, but an obligation to the collective well-being of society. This collective force, rooted in mutual care and responsibility, has been essential in African communities for a long time. In his view, the genius of African societies lies in approaches that uphold social resilience and determination . He stressed that the stories we tell about ourselves shape the way we understand our identity and collective strength, and urged the importance of documenting and sharing these stories in the development narrative.

In his opening remarks at the #2024APNAssembly, APN Chair and Foundation for Civil Society (FCS) Executive Director Justice Rutenge highlighted the power of diverse voices, experiences, and dreams coming together—united by a common belief in the transformative strength of African philanthropy. Justice Rutenge emphasized the importance of reclaiming the African philanthropic narrative, drawing from the philosophy of Ubuntu, he highlighted that African philanthropy is rooted in interconnectedness, collective responsibility, and communal welfare—values that have long existed in African societies through practices like pooling resources for weddings, funerals, and community projects. As the Assembly kicks off, Rutenge called on participants to use the platform to redefine the future of philanthropy in Africa—focusing on agency, justice, and identity. He stressed that African philanthropy is not just about wealth redistribution but about empowering communities to drive their own transformation. The he said that #2024APNAssembly provides an opportunity to tackle the complexities of power, history, and culture, and to build lasting partnerships that shape the future of African social justice and sustainable development. #AfricanPhilanthropy #Ubuntu #SocialJustice #Decolonization #CommunityLedChange #2024APNAssembly

At the #2024APNAssembly, the panel discussion Own Your Power: Who is Really in Charge? explored the complexities of power and its role in shaping our communities. The conversation underscored the importance of understanding the forms of power and the contexts in which they operate. Where does power truly lie in our operating context? This is the question we must ask ourselves as we seek to address the power imbalances that influence every aspect of our societies. BundiKabanze emphasized that power is central for communities to function —but how we distribute and interact with that power is what truly makes a difference. Power can be a tool for positive change, but it can also be abused and misused. Shifting the power is necessary for creating more equitable systems. Justice Rutenge highlighted the critical need for communities to be in the driver’s seat of development. He brought attention to people and community centred development in philanthropy & its importance to community-driven priorities in the development agenda. Through initiatives like the East African Financial Resource Hub with Foundation for Civil Society (FCS) CivSource Africa and Kenya Community Development Foundation aim to empower civil society organizations (CSOs) to build their “financial muscles” and gain more control over financial resources. Foundation for Civil Society (FCS) are piloting participatory grant-making, which allows communities to identify their own challenges and decide their priorities. By redistributing power in this way, we can dismantle the traditional hierarchies that have often excluded marginalized voices. He gave a powerful reminder that power is inherently hierarchical , but hierarchies are not fixed—they are built and can be deconstructed. The question now is: How do we reshape these power dynamics to create a more just and inclusive future? Caesar Ngule brought another layer to the discussion by unpacking social, structural, and institutional power. These forms of power are visible in many areas of our lives—whether it’s expert power (the ability to understand and navigate complex issues), indigenous knowledge, or the power tied to positions and titles. Elizabeth Mbabazi highlights the critical role of power mapping emphasizing that the key to solving local challenges lies in the importance of community voices and ensuring they are seen as leaders in driving change. She underscores the importance of understanding the levels and layers of power—how power is distributed and where it resides. Mbabazi advocates for inviting communities into spaces of power, not just as beneficiaries, but as equal partners in shaping solutions. She also stresses the need for systems that allow #communities to be part of the monitoring process , ensuring that their voices are not only heard but are integral to creating sustainable change.

📌 In case you missed it: The #2024APNAssembly kicked off in style with a vibrant welcome reception in the breathtaking Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe! East Africa Philanthropy Network-EAPN The Global Fund for Community Foundations Human Rights Funders Network (HRFN) CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation STAR-Ghana Foundation West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) TILITONSE FOUNDATION Zambian Governance Foundation Southern Africa Trust Masimanyane Women's Rights International Kenya Community Development Foundation Hlanganisa Community Fund for Social & Gender Justice

Day 1 of the inspiring African Philanthropy Forum at Marrakesh! I hosted a dynamic discussion on UN Global Digital Compact (GDC) implementation in Africa with Caroline Burrage TechSoup Wanjiku Jean Munyaka Microsoft Roselyn Odoyo Mozilla, and Justice Rutenge Foundation of Civil Society. Pleased to learn African knowledge from Dr Gbenga Oyebode (Chairman of African Philanthropy Foundation) and other philanthropic champions on education, youth empowerment, gender justice and sustainability.