Strengthening Local Philanthropy Amid Global Uncertainty
In February 2025, CivSource South Africa joined an IPASA convening on philanthropy’s response to the sudden withdrawal of US funding from South Africa’s health sector, including severe cuts to HIV and AIDS initiatives. Chaired by Louise Driver, the discussion surfaced an urgent need for resilience and diversified, locally anchored financing, with insights from Kone Gugushe of FirstRand Foundation and David Harrison on the scale of the funding gap and the importance of coordinated action with government and civil society. The reflection points to this moment as a catalyst for strengthening local philanthropic infrastructure, accelerating collaboration, and shifting from dependency toward long-term local ownership.