By Shadrack Nyakoe
The East Africa Philanthropy Network (EAPN) and the Kenya Community Development Foundation (KCDF) recently held a two-day dialogue in Nairobi, Kenya, aimed at strengthening community foundations across East Africa.
The event, which brought together philanthropic leaders from Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, focused on creating sustainable solutions to pressing regional challenges such as climate change, social inequality, and economic disparities.
Empowering Communities Through Regional Collaboration.
Purity Mumo, EAPN’s Membership and Stakeholder Engagement Lead, emphasized the transformative vision of the network. Founded 24 years ago as the East Africa Association of Grantmakers and rebranded in 2015, EAPN has evolved into a diverse coalition of community foundations, corporate donors, and philanthropic organizations.
“Our model is designed to empower local actors with the tools and resources they need to drive sustainable development,” Mumo said, highlighting EAPN’s three-tier engagement strategy. This includes sector-specific working groups addressing issues like health and climate change, National Philanthropy Forums in countries such as Kenya and Uganda, and the annual East Africa Philanthropy Conference, which fosters regional collaboration.
Driving Accountability and Financial Innovation
EAPN’s commitment to transparency and accountability was underscored by its Admin, HR, and Finance Manager, Florence Samba. She detailed the organization’s financial oversight mechanisms, including regular audits and donor-specific reporting. “We prioritize financial accountability and are exploring tools like an Enterprise Resource Planning system to enhance efficiency,” Samba said.
These innovations aim to optimize the management of donor funds and ensure that resources are directed toward impactful initiatives.
KCDF: A Model for Community-Led Development
For more than 27 years, KCDF has championed grassroots initiatives, working with over 65 partner organizations to provide grants, capacity building, and support for local resource mobilization.
Programme Coordinator Kennedy Odera highlighted KCDF’s focus on long-term sustainability through building endowment funds and social enterprises.
“Our goal is to enable our partners to generate sustainable resources for their initiatives,” Odera explained, pointing to examples like schools, water projects, and healthcare facilities built through KCDF’s support.
Matching donor contributions with grants has further enhanced the impact of local projects.
Addressing Emerging Challenges
As East Africa grapples with evolving challenges, EAPN and KCDF have called for a more integrated approach to philanthropy. During the forum, participants discussed the role of community foundations in addressing urgent issues such as climate change and economic inequities.
“We must understand the unique needs of each community and work collaboratively to develop sustainable solutions,” Odera emphasized. Cross-border learning during the event enabled participants from Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania to share insights and strengthen collective efforts.
The forum concluded with a shared commitment to enhancing the role of community foundations in driving regional transformation through sustainable philanthropy.