CivSource-Africa
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Copy of Where Philanthropy meets civil society

Business + Intellectual Property Attorneys

Our Identity

CivSource–Africa is an independent non-profit advisory organization that seeks to refine the practice and footprint of philanthropy in Africa, for authentic civic engagement. We are pioneers in the space where philanthropy and civil society meet and seek to foster an environment that nurtures mutually beneficial relationships and stewardship of entrusted resources. We provide thought leadership on strategic financing models for effective philanthropy and civic engagement. We also facilitate open and informed conversations pertaining to philanthropic giving and civil society organizations.

Civ

Is short for civil society. Funding civil society strengthens their human rights work as critical partners in advancing good governance and development. Civ also ensures that our focus and that of funders remains the people and not the money.

Source

We are a source of information and advice to funders on a spectrum of issues such as human rights, socio-political context, and other areas. To civil society we are a source of support to advance their potential.   

Africa  

Is the way we define the geographical, cultural and ideological space within which we operate, and it also speaks to our roots and grounding in our continent. 

Our work

Featured
Higher Education and Philanthropy in South Africa: A Civic Lens on Unequal Access, Collective Responsibility, and Youth Futures
Higher Education and Philanthropy in South Africa: A Civic Lens on Unequal Access, Collective Responsibility, and Youth Futures

As South Africa’s academic year settles into motion, a familiar reality returns: students who meet entry requirements still struggle to register, secure housing, or continue their studies because of financial pressure, historic debt, and uneven institutional support. These annual waves of protest and disruption point to a deeper truth, higher education access remains shaped by long-standing structural inequality.

From a youth and civic lens, this piece explores why barriers persist, how they intersect with unemployment and social mobility, and where philanthropy can play a catalytic role. It reflects on what works, what falls short, and what it will take to build stronger, youth-informed alliances that expand opportunity and dignity across the sector.

Read more: Higher Education and Philanthropy in South Africa: A Civic Lens on Unequal Access, Collective Responsibility, and Youth Futures

Image Credit: University of Fort Hare, a historical institution in of African history and education in South Africa

Financial Resilience Hub: From Burn Rate to Resilience
Financial Resilience Hub: From Burn Rate to Resilience

Over five years in the Financial Resilience Hub, we moved from “knowing little about financial resilience” to building practical support for civil society across East Africa, alongside partners like KCDF and the Foundation for Civil Society. We strengthened this work through financial fitness boot camps, pairing partners with financial coaches, and creating honest money conversations through “Let’s Talk Ssente.”
Read more: Read the full reflections from our CEO, Jacqueline Asiimwe, on how this journey strengthened and shaped our approach to resilience.

Mission

Refining the practice and footprint of philanthropy for effective civic engagement in Africa

News

Featured
The East African Girls and Young Feminist Fund 2026–2027 Call Is Open
The East African Girls and Young Feminist Fund 2026–2027 Call Is Open

ARE YOU A GIRL LED OR YOUNG FEMINIST LED GROUP IN UGANDA, KENYA, OR TANZANIA?

The East African Girls and Young Feminist Fund 2026–2027 Call for Applications is open to support community responsive ideas toward feminist futures and grassroots movement building. Grants are unrestricted, and may be multi year depending on funding availability.

For more information CLICK HERE:

DEADLINE: Apply by 28 February 2026, 11:59 PM East African Time.

HOW TO APPLY
Visit https://CIVFUND.smartsimple.com, select “The East African Girls and Young Feminist Fund 2026–2027 Call”, and follow the prompts.

Alternative: download the form and email it to info@civsourcea.com. Submit only one application.

Download form HERE:

NEW CALL: Kuonyesha Art Fund Grants (2026–2027)
NEW CALL: Kuonyesha Art Fund Grants (2026–2027)

Applications are now open for projects to be implemented in the 2026–2027 cycle. Apply from 23 Jan–28 Feb 2026 (deadline: 28 Feb 2026). Grants are available up to UGX 20,000,000 for partners in Uganda, and under USD 5,000 for partners outside Uganda. No application fee. Apply online via the CIVFUND SmartSimple portal and submit 3–10 images or short video clips as part of your portfolio.

Click here to learn more about how you can apply:

Autonomous Resourcing for Civil Society | Mapping Alternative Funding Models for CSOs in Uganda
Autonomous Resourcing for Civil Society | Mapping Alternative Funding Models for CSOs in Uganda

CivSource Africa is commissioning a comprehensive national mapping of alternative funding models used by Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Uganda under the Autonomous Resourcing of Civil Society Community of Practice (ARC-CoP). The study will identify and classify existing resourcing models, analyse how they work and who is using them, assess sustainability and risks, and document 8–12 case studies of promising approaches. Findings will inform model selection for testing under ARC-CoP, stakeholder engagement, partner selection criteria, and practical recommendations for strengthening CSO financial autonomy.

The assignment will use mixed methods (desk review, surveys, interviews, focus groups, financial analysis, and a validation workshop) and will run for 10–12 weeks. Interested consultants/teams should submit technical and financial proposals to info@civsourcea.com by January 26, 2026.

Click Here To View Terms Of Reference:

Africa Impact Fundraising Grant opens applications for African organizations
Africa Impact Fundraising Grant opens applications for African organizations

The New Africa Fund has launched the Africa Impact Fundraising Grant (AIFG) to help African NGOs, CBOs, and social enterprises strengthen their fundraising muscles. Through online training, a 30-day small-donor fundraising challenge with up to $5,000 in matching funds, and an advanced in-person workshop in Kigali for top performers, the program blends skills-building with real-time practice and catalytic support. With up to 70 organizations set to benefit and applications open until 16 December 2025, the AIFG is designed to grow locally rooted, sustainable fundraising across the continent.

Read more:

$61 billion in one room: rare gathering of 8 African billionaires in Dubai
$61 billion in one room: rare gathering of 8 African billionaires in Dubai

A rare UAE–Africa Business Leaders meeting in Dubai brought together eight of Africa’s richest investors not just as business giants, but as major philanthropists shaping the continent’s future. With a combined net worth of over $61 billion, leaders like Aliko Dangote, Tony Elumelu, Strive Masiyiwa, Patrice Motsepe, and others discussed how their capital and philanthropy can drive long-term impact in health, education, infrastructure, agriculture, and tech, especially through bold initiatives like AI for development and youth-focused opportunities.

Read more:

Africa Unites in Unprecedented Acts of Generosity for GivingTuesday 2025
Africa Unites in Unprecedented Acts of Generosity for GivingTuesday 2025

Africa showed up boldly for GivingTuesday 2025, turning a global day of generosity into a distinctly African celebration of care and community. From the Giving Festival in Nigeria and the Mozambique Generosity Forum to Ghana Philanthropy Week and the Periods Are Power exhibition in Uganda, country leaders, creatives, youth, and grassroots groups led campaigns that honoured long-standing traditions of giving. Through the GivingTuesday Africa Hub and its Sankofa conversations, the movement is elevating indigenous systems like Ubuntu and Harambee, proving that Africa’s own models of solidarity can inspire community-driven change across the world.

Read more:

Reframing Power, Financing Futures
Reframing Power, Financing Futures

The 6th African Philanthropy Conference (AUC, Cairo) delivered a clear signal: Africa isn’t waiting to lead its development agenda; it already is. Over five days, 300+ funders, researchers, movement leaders, policymakers, and investors explored “Sustainable financing for development in the majority world,” advancing decolonized, feminist, climate-responsive, and participatory approaches, from youth and diaspora finance to technology-enabled inclusion.

For recordings, resources, and more from the 6th APC, CLICK HERE:

#PhilanthropyDigest #GivingWhileLiving #GlobalImpact

Philanthropy’s Role in Reimagining Global Aid
Philanthropy’s Role in Reimagining Global Aid

Philanthropy has a critical role to play in development, but not as a substitute for traditional aid, says Gargee Ghosh of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Read the full piece:

#Philanthropy #GlobalAid #BlendedFinance #SystemsChange #GatesFoundation #DevelopmentNews

Dangote Pledges Greater Investment In Philanthropy, Attends TIME100 Impact Dinner
Dangote Pledges Greater Investment In Philanthropy, Attends TIME100 Impact Dinner

Aliko Dangote, recently honored as one of TIME Magazine’s top 100 global philanthropists, has pledged to expand his already impressive philanthropic investments through the Aliko Dangote Foundation, which spends around $35 million annually to uplift communities across Africa. Speaking at the TIME100 Impact Dinner in New York, Dangote emphasized investing in nutrition, health, education, and economic empowerment to build a brighter future for Africans, citing initiatives from fighting malnutrition to supporting higher education and eradicating polio.

Image: L-R: Chief Executive Officer, TIME, Jessica Sibley, President/CE, Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), Aliko Dangote, Group Executive Director, Commercial Operations (DIL), Fatima Aliko Dangote and Managing Director/CEO, Aliko Dangote Foundation, Zouera Youssoufou, attending TIME100 Impact Dinner, at One World Observatory in New York City.

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Do you want to see how African philanthropy is scaling impact?

Read more and be inspired to give back.

#Dangote #AfricanPhilanthropy #ImpactInvesting #GivingBack #SocialChange #AfricaRising #TIME100 #AlikoDangoteFoundation #PhilanthropyLeadership

Africa, Funded by Africans: Reclaiming African Philanthropy
Africa, Funded by Africans: Reclaiming African Philanthropy

Image: Dr. Samora Otieno.

As foreign aid to Africa continues to shrink, Dr. Samora Otieno of CorpsAfrica argues that it is time for Africans to reclaim African philanthropy and invest directly in their own communities. Highlighting how external donor priorities often miss the mark, he calls for local resource mobilization as a moral and practical imperative to drive long-term, community-owned solutions. With the upcoming CorpsAfrica All-Country Conference in Nairobi bringing together 1,000 stakeholders, there is a clear momentum to empower African citizens to fund and lead their own development journeys.

Are you curious about how this shift is unfolding?

Read more and get involved in supporting African-led change.

#ReclaimPhilanthropy #AfricaByAfricans #HomegrownSolutions #LocalGiving #SustainableDevelopment #CorpsAfrica #AfricanPhilanthropy #ShiftTheNarrative

With US aid dwindling, African diaspora turns to philanthropic investment model
With US aid dwindling, African diaspora turns to philanthropic investment model

Image: Almaz Negash, founder and executive director of African Diaspora Network. (Photo: ADN)

As US aid declines, African diaspora leaders are pioneering a new philanthropic investment model unveiled this week in Washington, DC. The approach aims to move beyond traditional remittances, instead directing funds toward African and African diaspora social entrepreneurs to drive long-term social sector growth and sustainable development.

Are you curious how this bold shift could reshape giving?

Read more.

#AfricanDiaspora #Philanthropy #ImpactInvestment #SocialEntrepreneurs #SustainableDevelopment #Remittances #DiasporaGiving #InnovationInGiving #AfricaRising #FutureOfPhilanthropy