CivSource Kenya

Who we are

CivSource Kenya a Feminist-Afrocentric philanthropy support organization committed to nurturing a more sustainable, effective and connected civil society, that advances the dignity and voices of all people. We do this through promoting reflective, responsive and accountable philanthropic practice

Our Vision: “Philanthropy that Works and Civil Society that Thrives”

Our Mission: “To harness the potential of civil society in Africa through building strength, and influencing the practice of philanthropy”

Our Core Values: Dignity, Audacity, Reliability and Equity

Our People

The  Inaugural Board:

Our interventions span the areas of developing and supporting grantee relationships, conducting due diligence, stewardship of resources, providing spaces for reflection, provision of shared backbone infrastructure, fostering collaboration, facilitating leadership coaching and support for civil society organizations, and technical advice for resourcing models that place a premium on the dignity of both stewards and intended beneficiaries. In so doing, we foster civil society resilience through mentorship of good stewardship of entrusted resources for civil society. We do this through four key Strategic Pillars: 

Pillar 1: Knowledge & Research Hub

Interventions:

1A: Philanthropy advisory and support.

1B: Research: Feminist movement research, philanthropy landscape analysis and Context and eco-system analysis

1C: Grant Making  and Fiscal Hosting

Pillar 2: Ecosystem Connectivity

Interventions:

2A: We facilitate strategic connections and collaborations for funder networking and collaborations,

2B: We convene and facilitate spaces for eco-system reflections and strategizing and Community of practice facilitation on areas and/or issues of interest

2C: We provide skill matching including: expert and consultant deployment and board recruitment.

Pillar 3: Organizational Capacity Support

Interventions:

3A: Leadership Development

We enhance the leadership of Civil Society.  We provide accompaniment to enhance the capacities of Civil Society entities through leadership coaching, mentoring and wellness retreats.

3B: Shared Infrastructure Services

We support the operational efficiency and effectiveness of Civil Society through the provision of  shared back bone management and operational infrastructure  for human resource and payroll management services, communications services and finance to enable organisations maximise efficiency and minimise operational costs.

About the East African Girls and Young Feminist Fund

Girls and young feminists are at the forefront of social change, yet they remain underfunded and underrepresented in global development agendas all while facing immense backlash from conservative forces. Majority of the feminist movements and institutions they are part of also lack visibility and are marginalized due to unfavorable legislative environments, shrinking civic space, and inequality regimes within the social change ecosystem. In addition, less than 1% of gender equality funding reaches young feminist-led organizations. CivFund is working towards closing this gap. By funding girls and young feminists through the East African Girls and Young Feminist Fund (EAGYFF), CivFund amplifies the voices of those most affected by gender inequality, hence driving systemic change through youth-led initiatives.

The East African Girls and Young Feminist Fund (EAGYFF) is a feminist Fund that aims to resource girls and young feminists in East Africa so they can grow and build their initiatives while contributing to feminist movement building. EAGYFF is grounded in movements and aims to listen to and fund girls and young feminists on their own terms.

Core Principles of the Fund

1. Inclusivity and Intersectionality: The fund will recognize and prioritize the importance of creating a non-hierarchical space that includes all young feminists from diverse backgrounds, ages, experiences, and identities. The fund will aim to embrace intersectionality by understanding and addressing how various forms of oppression, such as gender, socio-economic status, sexuality, and ability, intersect and impact young feminists' lives. 

2. Collective, Participatory, and Intergenerational: The fund will aim to encourage and support young feminists in taking leadership roles in their communities and driving their agendas, fostering solidarity and participatory decision-making processes, and supporting skills for intergenerational dialogues and collaboration.

3. Grassroots and Locally Driven: The fund will prioritize grassroots organizing efforts that are led by and centered around the needs and interests of local communities. The fund aims to support initiatives deeply connected to the contexts and realities of young feminists. These institutions may currently be outside the “donor funding system.” 

4. Learning: The fund will prioritize documentation, learning, and knowledge sharing to move toward impact and strengthen learning in the ecosystem.  

5. Sustainability and Long-term Support: The fund will support grassroots young feminist organizing. The fund aims to adopt a long-term perspective by supporting initiatives that offer immediate impact and contribute to lasting and transformative change within local communities and on a larger scale.  

6. Accountability and Transparency: The fund will maintain accountability and transparency in its operations. The fund aims to establish clear and transparent procedures for grant applications, selection processes, and fund allocations.

Expected Outcomes

1. Strengthened young feminist and adolescent girl networks, coalitions, and alliances for diverse young feminist leaders that build their collective power across regions and movements toward impact. 

2. Elevated leadership of diverse young feminists, including adolescents, in various movements and spaces using an intersectional approach.   

3. More narratives that amplify storytelling by diverse young feminists and bridge communications and advocacy strategies for heightened impact.  

4. Increased learning and knowledge in the ecosystem, including the greater exchange of best practices, research, and lessons learned among young feminist organizers and funders.