Our workblog

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.

Ralph Waldo Emerson famously said “Do not go where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” This quote has reverberated with me and proved to be a valuable point of reflection for me for much of the last 25-odd years, as I made decisions that affected various aspects of my life.

When we started our leadership strengthening work at CivSource Africa, one of the areas of support that we identified was that of succession and transition. Through the team’s combined experience working with civil society, we had observed that if not managed well, succession and transition moments tend to cause dire setbacks for organizations.

It was an unforgettable day at Protea Hotel by Marriott Kampala on 3rd June 2023, as we celebrated the remarkable achievements of our GROW¡ graduates. The event was graced by distinguished guests, including the esteemed U.S. Ambassador to Uganda, Natalie E. Brown, as the Guest of Honour, and the inspiring Apostle Moses Mukisa as the Guest Speaker.

On May 24th, 2023, distinguished practitioners, academics, and enthusiastic participants gathered both in person and online to commemorate Africa Day through a hybrid intergenerational discussion.

CivSource Africa has dedicated the past two years to championing the growth of the community foundations movement in Uganda. Community Foundations (CFs) are charitable organizations focused on enhancing the lives of individuals within a specific geographical area.

Strategic conversations have been a core aspect of how we refine the practice of philanthropy in Uganda. It is in these conversations that statistics are reduced to narratives; compelling stories that ignite action and enable us address the challenges premised in the field of philanthropy and civil society.

If you are born and raised in this part of the continent designed and named Africa, you will then know and appreciate that everything starts with a conversation. With the words ‘let’s talk’ or ‘can we talk?’ As a society, and community, conversation drives and leads our lives.

Succession, legacy, and footprint are three important concepts that are often discussed in business and leadership contexts. The GROW¡ mentorship and coaching program is therefore one of those leadership spaces where the three concepts had to be discussed as we experienced and raced our last mile of the program.

One of the things I have pondered a lot recently is how much of ourselves and our upbringing, we bring into the work that we do.

I am a Preacher’s kid. My father served as a prelate in the Church of Uganda for more than 40 years of his life. During that time, we hosted all manner of people and fellowships at our home.

The Trilogue is the premier annual conference in South Africa showcasing important developments across the corporate responsibility sector, with a focus on the ‘S’ in ESG. (Environmental, social, and corporate governance). It took place at the Wanderers Club: Protea Hotel on 10th & 11th May. Read more