Allen Asiimwe
With urgent reflections like “the house is on fire,” the conversation cut through speculation to focus on action, how to rebuild with intention, equity, and local leadership at the center. From calls for radical solidarity to the importance of language and partnership, the dialogue emphasized one thing: the future of development lies in community-driven, collaborative, and context-aware systems.
Among the leading voices was Jacqueline Asiimwe, CEO of CivSource Africa, who passionately called for a shift from individualism to collective strength. Rooted in the African philosophy of Ubuntu, "I am because we are", Jacqueline emphasized the power of local giving, community-led philanthropy, and re-centering African agency in development. Her insights reminded us that long before external aid, African communities had systems of resilience, generosity, and growth that sustained them, and those systems remain vital today.
Read more about the highlights HERE:
Watch full conversation HERE:
Last week, CivFund joined colleagues from the East Africa Financial Resilience Resource Hub ; Kenya Community Development Foundation (KCDF) and Foundation for Civil Society (FCS) to reflect on the evolving funding landscape for civil society. With shrinking civic space and shifting donor priorities, we explored ways to strengthen financial resilience, foster collaboration, and build sustainable funding models. At the heart of our discussions was one key question: How do we ensure civil society remains strong, independent, and impactful? The journey continues, guided by Ubuntu, "I am because you are."
Read reflections from our CEO, Jacqueline Asiimwe, on the three-day retreat HERE:
The 6th East Africa HR Symposium brought together HR leaders to explore the theme, “HR Reimagined: Building a Future-Proof Workforce with Technology & Human-Centric Practices.” CivSource Africa’s Mathias Nyombi proudly represented us at this transformative event, contributing to conversations on AI integration, inclusive workplaces, and employee wellbeing. Key takeaways included leveraging technology for efficiency, fostering diversity, and prioritizing mental health in the workplace.
Read More about how this event is reshaping HR practices in the region!
Celebrating two transformative years of fostering philanthropy and strengthening civil society across Africa, CivLegacy Foundation has empowered leaders, championed local giving, and refined impactful practices. With its 2025–2029 strategic plan, the foundation is poised to deepen its reach and drive sustainable change.
In a powerful keynote address at Thrive Africa’s inaugural Afrotellers conference, our CEO Jacqueline Asiimwe highlighted CivSource Africa’s journey in reshaping the conversation around African philanthropy through storytelling. Under the theme "Seeing the Unseen, Telling the Untold," she shared how our research, giving reports, gatherings of givers, a book of African proverbs on generosity, the comm-UNITY! podcast, and our photo exhibition all celebrate African generosity. Emphasizing that sharing these stories is a rights issue, she affirmed our commitment to making African philanthropy visible and embracing an Afrocentric perspective rooted in belief in Africa.
Our CEO Jacqueline Asiimwe participated in a prestigious international conference organized by Aegis Trust in Kigali, Rwanda. Titled “Listening and Leading: The Art and Science of Peace, Resilience, and Transformational Justice,” the event marked 30 years since Rwanda endured the genocide against the Tutsis, offering powerful insights into the country’s journey of reconciliation, resilience, and healing.
Through discussions on peace education, trauma recovery, the role of art, and both local and international justice, we at CivSource Africa contributed by emphasizing the power of culturally sensitive and dignified philanthropy, grounded in genuine love for humanity and the importance of active listening in advancing social justice.
CivSource Africa celebrated seven years of impact with a day of reflection, giving, and adventure in Jinja. From supporting the Women Rights Initiative to conquering bungee jumps, the day highlighted empowerment, courage, and community. As we look ahead, we're excited to continue making a difference and taking bold leaps forward.
Today, we celebrate seven remarkable years since we first opened our doors to the world. Summarizing the journey we've taken in this time is no simple task, yet the feeling that occupies my thoughts most is one of profound gratitude.
Local philanthropists gathered at Ndere Centre to share inspiring stories of giving at the 5th annual Gathering of Givers event. Speakers like Esther Kalenzi of 40 Days Over 40 Smiles and Eligu Ronald of Touch the Slum Foundation shared personal journeys that sparked their philanthropic efforts. The event emphasized that giving isn't limited to wealth—it's about making a difference through sacrifice and compassion. Organized by CivSource Africa and Uganda National NGO Forum, the gathering encouraged young givers to continue impacting their communities.
At a recent symposium, NGOs in Uganda urged the government to provide tax exemptions for charitable organizations to stimulate local generosity. Organized by the Uganda National NGO Forum and CivSource Africa, the event highlighted the challenges NGOs face, including bureaucratic hurdles and high operational costs. CivSource Africa CEO, Jacqueline Asiimwe, emphasized the importance of documenting local philanthropic efforts to change the narrative that Uganda relies solely on foreign aid.
The Gathering of Givers began as a vision inspired by community and generosity, evolving into Uganda’s most exciting giving festival. This year’s theme, Our Generous Spirit, highlights the power of young givers. Join us on September 28th at Ndere Center for a day of joy, reflection, and celebration of generosity in action.
We can’t wait to host you!
The Gathering of Givers started with a spark of creativity and has since grown into a movement that redefines African generosity. We are philanthropists, giving abundantly and shaping our future. Join us on September 28th at Ndere Centre as we celebrate Our Generous Spirit. This story is yours. It is ours.
At a recent convening hosted by the Uganda National NGO Forum and CivSource Africa, Jacqueline Asiimwe, CEO of CivSource Africa, stressed the need for policies to promote local giving to strengthen the national economy. She called for government support to encourage sustainable donations, citing the successes seen during the COVID-19 response.
Journalists across Uganda are being encouraged to spotlight untold stories of generosity and community resilience. During the recent Face of Generosity event, media practitioners were urged to amplify narratives that celebrate philanthropy and inspire social change. The platform emphasized the pivotal role of storytelling in shaping perceptions around giving, with a call for journalists to explore deeper, often overlooked, local stories that showcase the power of community-driven generosity.
CSSI 2024: This year’s symposium, hosted by the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business in partnership with The Partnering Initiative, PRME Chapter Africa, and the Embedding Project, focused on addressing racial, social, and economic inequalities through cross-sector collaboration. The event will featured thematic discussions, breakout rooms, and panel discussions, providing a platform for diverse scholars and practitioners to exchange knowledge and experience.
At a deeply meaningful high tea event hosted by Hon Miria Matembe, we honored the legacies of the late Hon Joyce Mpanga and other revered leaders of the women's movement. Organized by CivSource Africa and Femme Forte, the event celebrated the contributions of women from different generations, from 81-year-old Hon Rtd Justice Mary Maitum to an inspiring 19-year-old activist, each sharing their visions for women's rights.
In the spirit of celebrating our birth month at CivSource Africa, we’ve embarked on a beautiful journey of giving, spreading joy and kindness throughout our community. We believe that true celebration is not just about receiving but also about extending our hands and hearts to those who need it the most.
The Liliane Fund’s dream for the future: Children and young people with disabilities participate equally and as fully as possible. At home, in games and sports, at school, at work and in the community in general. Their lives have the highest possible quality. That is the vision of the Liliane Fund, or our dream for the future.
Today, we celebrate the six-year anniversary of CivSource Africa.It is an honor to write to you as the CEO of this remarkable organization, reflecting on our journey and envisioning the path ahead.
On 31 July 2023, the ‘Disability Inclusive GBV Initiative’ (DIGI) constituted by FIDA-U, UGANET and ADD Uganda held a national dialogue, as one of the joint activities since they started their two-year collaborative intervention to respond to Gender Based Violence (GBV) against women and girls with disabilities (WGwDs).
During the months of June and July 2023, CivSource Africa crowned another Value Champion Allen Asiimwe, an associate at Mopane, for embodying Audacity. Audacity, in its essence, involves the boldness to challenge the status quo, question assumptions, and explore uncharted territories. In leadership and organizational dynamics, embodying audacity is a rare quality that can inspire change, incite growth, and pave the way for innovation. Allen Asiimwe stands out as a shining example of audacious leadership.
Heading back home to Uganda, after attending the 4th African Philanthropy Conference, I can’t help but be filled with wonder.
Last week, CivSource Africa had the pleasure of conducting a wellness retreat for NCHRD-U. We started these wellness retreats in 2019 and have since had the honour of conducting both open call retreats (where people apply), and tailored ones for teams and organizations.
The Segal Family Foundation annual meeting took place at the beautiful Kigali Convention Center, nestled in the picturesque hills of Rwanda.
The 2023 International Association for Feminist Economics, (IAFFE) Annual Conference was held under the theme, ‘Envisioning Feminist Economics Strategies for an Equitable and Sustainable World.’
In the past half a century, civil society has rapidly gained recognition for its role in development policy and practice. Following the re-emergence of the New Policy Agenda in the early 1990s, and the consolidation of neoliberal and democratic governance reforms
During our second quarter retreat in June 2023, CivSource Africa proudly bestowed the title of Value Champion upon Barbara Ssematimba, Chief Steward at CivSource South Africa. This esteemed recognition symbolizes Barbara’s exceptional dedication and unwavering reliability in all aspects of her work.
The annual UNITE SmartSimple conference took place in the vibrant city of Barcelona, bringing together industry leaders and SmartSimple users for a transformative learning experience. From May 24th to 26th, 2023, participants immersed themselves in enriching activities, insightful discussions, and the exploration of groundbreaking technologies
Our adventurous journey began in 2022 at the graduation ceremony of GROW¡ Cohort 1. During their initial module, the team of our first-ever class openly discussed their fears and unanimously agreed to confront them by embarking on a transformative journey. This journey involved conquering those fears through a symbolic activity of bungee jumping at the conclusion of the program.
The Human Rights Network for Journalists – Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting media freedom and protecting journalists’ rights and freedom of expression in Uganda. Comprising a network of journalists in the country, HRNJ-Uganda strives to defend human rights and enhance the capacity of media professionals. One of their significant initiatives is the Annual Press Freedom Index Report (PFI), which has been released since 2009 to shed light on the state of press freedom in Uganda.