African Collaborative - 2024 Annual Report by African Collaborative

REPORTAnnual

TWENTYTWENTYFOUR

Photo: Friendship Bench

LETTERFROM THECO-CEOS

In 2024, we deepened what has always defined the African Collaborative: community-rooted organizations are not peripheral to Africa’s development; they are central to it. The solutions they build and the trust they hold are shaping the continent’s future. Our role is to support their growth on their terms, with the resources and flexibility they need to thrive

We opened the year with the public announcement of 12 new African-led organizations, bringing our network to 35 partners across 13 countries, over half led by women. But the real story of this year wasn’t numbers; it was learning. As we engaged deeply with our funding and portfolio partners, we reflected on our first fund strategy and how the broader ecosystem is shifting. Across every conversation, one message remained clear: local leadership isn’t a trend It is the engine of impact

We’re encouraged by a growing shift in philanthropy toward unrestricted, multi-year funding. Nearly all additional capital leveraged by our partners this year came without conditions evidence that the sector is beginning to invest in local leadership with genuine trust. This momentum is promising. It guides how we evolve and prepare for what comes next.

Looking ahead, we’re building toward our 2030 vision: supporting more than 100 African-led organizations with funding models that match their growth. The strategic clarity we gained in 2024 outlined in greater depth in this report sets the foundation. The work we’ve seeded through a year of listening and learning will come to life as our model and the ecosystem evolve in 2025.

To our partners whose leadership roots us, our supporters who choose trust, our board who stewards our direction, and our team who builds with rigor thank you Together, we are not simply growing an institution; we are shaping a funding landscape that honors community power.

Here’s to growing with clarity, purpose, and shared vision.

$8,490,000

$2,145,235

Total granted to partners as of 2024

35 13 partners countries

52% women-led

Total funding leveraged to our portfolio to date

$8,413,307 in external funding leveraged to our partners in 2024

Malawi

ACADES

Chimpembere Community Development Organization (CCDO)

Njira Impact

Rays of Hope Wandikweza

Tanzania

Msichana Initiative

Shule Direct

The Community Forest Conservation Network of Tanzania (MJUMITA)

WoteSawa Domestic Workers Organization

Uganda

Barefoot Law

Bless a Child Foundation

CIYOTA

Fundi Bots

Uganda National Academy of Sciences (UNAS)

Wezesha Impact

Burundi

Faith in Action SaCoDé

Democratic Republic of Congo

CIYOTA

Ethiopia

Drop of Water Kidame Mart

Ghana

Blossom Academy Regional Advisory Information and Network Systems (RAINS)

Nigeria

Blossom Academy

Kenya

AkiraChix

Clean Start Solutions

Dandelion Africa

Emergency Medicine

Kenya Foundation (EMKF) This Ability

Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh (DRASA) Health Trust

Gender Mobile Initiative HelpMum WAVE

Women’s Health and Equal Rights Initiative (WHER)

Zambia

Primrose Community Health Organization (PRICHO)

Liberia

Kids Educational Engagement Project (KEEP)

Rwanda

Uwezo Youth Empowerment

Zimbabwe

Friendship Bench

meetourlatestcohort

On January 31, 2024, we celebrated a powerful milestone welcoming 12 bold, African-founded and led organizations into our growing community of changemakers. This fourth cohort brings our portfolio to 35 visionary partners across the continent. With $2.7 million committed through this grant cycle, our total funding now stands at $8 4 million Each new partner deepens our collective impact

DRASA Health Trust

Blossom Academy Ghana & Nigeria

Blossom Academy bridges Africa's tech skills gap with tailored 12-week data science Fellowships in data analytics, data science, data engineering and artificial intelligence. Students work on real projects and receive mentorship and internship opportunities.

The Emergency Medicine Kenya Foundation (EMKF) Kenya

The Emergency Medicine Kenya Foundation collaborates closely with the government and local emergency healthcare providers throughout Kenya to strengthen the country’s emergency healthcare system through capacity building, knowledge development, advocacy and research

Drop of Water Ethiopia

Drop of Water is improving access to safe drinking water and sanitation while promoting healthy hygiene practices to communities in rural parts of Ethiopia.

Faith in Action Africa Burundi

Faith in Action Africa empowers at-risk Burundian women to actively engage in their communities through a holistic community and family-based approach This transformative process quips women with the skills and confidence needed to become proactive contributors to their communities

Gender Mobile Initiative

Nigeria

Gender Mobile Initiative leverages technology to provide resources and support services to victims and survivors of gender-based violence GMI’s services include trauma counseling, legal support, psychosocial support, and livelihood assistance

HelpMum Nigeria

HelpMum is a Nigerian social enterprise dedicated to improving maternal health through innovative, low-cost mobile technology solutions

Kids’ Educational Engagement Program

Liberia

KEEP addresses Liberia’s inequality gap by advocating for literacy and equity in education, human rights, and resource access. Their educational programs, which include establishing mini-libraries in public schools, aim to enhance reading proficiency, fluency, and comprehension for underprivileged students.

Njira Impact Malawi

Njira Impact improves access to high-quality sexual and reproductive health as well as general health services for women, children and young adults They bridge the gap between health services and communities by addressing issues related to distance, logistics, and capacity

Primrose Community Health Organization (PRICHO)

Zambia

Primrose Community Health Organization supports HIV prevention and provides comprehensive care for women, youth and children affected by HIV/AIDS in Kafue district

Uganda National Academy of Sciences (UNAS)

Uganda

UNAS brings together scientists across disciplines in Uganda to advance research, influence policy, and provide evidencebased solutions to complex national and global development challenges.

Regional Advisory Information and Network Systems (RAINS)

Ghana

RAINS has spent more than 30 years improving the lives of women, girls, youth, and other vulnerable groups in Northern

WoteSawa Domestic Workers

Organization

Tanzania

combats human trafficking, especially involving children, through rights education, employment contracts, economic empowerment, and advocacy for legal reform.

A CHANGEENDURESWHENIT BELONGSTOTHECOMMUNITY

CROSS AFRICA, LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS ARE SHAPING FUTURES THAT HOLD. SOLUTIONS THAT ENDURE.

At African Collaborative, we know that community-rootedness is the foundation of lasting impact. Our partners lead through insight and a sense of ownership that external models rarely achieve.

Community is not a place, it is a breathing force shaped by identity, responsibility, and collective care.

This year, during site visits across six countries, we had the privilege of connecting on a deeper level with the people who power these organizations

WHY COMMUNITY-ROOTEDNESS MATTERS

Local organizations lead with knowledge only closeness can teach. They navigate challenges with care and hold themselves accountable to the communities they serve Community-rootedness ensures solutions people trust, and impact that endures beyond funding cycles

Our partners embody this They’ve weathered crises, but they’ve also pushed forward despite skepticism and outright “no’s” from traditional funders. With a trust-based model behind them, they’ve been able to scale what already works.

Take Drop of Water in Ethiopia. Nearly 48 million people in the country lack basic sanitation, and Drop of Water tackles that reality head-on. We partnered with them because their approach is comprehensive, grounded, and built for the long term. They construct water wells, co-create planning strategies with communities in water-scarce regions, and mobilize professionals and university students to advance water, sanitation, and hygiene solutions

And yet, globally, funding structures still overlook organizations like this, imposing rigid frameworks out of tune with local realities. This completely misses the mark: when funders trust and invest in leaders deeply rooted in their communities, sustainable solutions follow.

INTHEIRVOICES

The shift toward community-centered development becomes real when we listen to the people living it every day When we asked our partners what community means to them, here’s what they shared:

“FORUS,COMMUNITYISFAMILY—PEOPLEBOUNDNOTJUSTBYPLACE,BUTBYSHARED STRUGGLE,JOY,ANDRESPONSIBILITY.”—AKUDOOGUAGHAMBA,EXECUTIVEDIRECTOR,WHER

There was a quiet strength in the many stories and insight we heard from the WHER team, and a shared understanding that family can be chosen, created, and fiercely protected. In 2024, WHER’s community stood together through moments of triumph and tenderness, from court victories that affirmed their right to exist and love openly, to gatherings like the APA Summit, where more than 150 LBTQI+ leaders came together to dream, strategize, and heal. WHER’s story isn’t just about advocacy It’s about belonging and about a family that keeps showing up for one another, no matter what they are up against

“THECOMMUNITYDOESN’TJUSTUSEOURPLATFORMS THEYSHAPETHEM,ADVOCATEFOR THEM,ANDVALIDATEOURMISSION.”—JENIPHERJACKSON,SHULEDIRECT

In every classroom and learning hub, the community has become co-creators of a movement that believes that education should meet every learner where they are. In 2024, that belief reached over 1.18 million learners across Tanzania through accessible digital and in-person tools. From rural schools to city centers, students found new ways to learn, connect, and thrive The year also brought national recognition: Shule Direct received the Digital Innovation Award in Education at the Tanzania Digital Awards, a testament to how community-led design can transform learning for an entire country

“BECAUSEWESHARETHESAMECULTUREANDCHALLENGES,WEKNOWHOWTOSOLVEOUR PROBLEMSTOGETHER.COMMUNITYISCOLLECTIVEWISDOM.” VIRGINIENIYIZIGAMA, EXECUTIVEDIRECTOR,FAITHINACTIONAFRICA

These words came alive in the laughter of the women gathered around Virginie. Across Burundi, Faith in Action’s collective wisdom fuels small groups that turn shared struggles into shared solutions. In 2024, Faith in Action reached over 57,500 people, mobilizing self-help groups, nurturing children’s leadership, and helping families secure legal identification for their children. Each milestone reflects something deeper: a belief that community is pooling knowledge, resilience, and hope to build something stronger together.

“COMMUNITYISTHEPILLARTHATHOLDSYOUWHENYOUFALLANDCELEBRATESYOUWHEN YOURISE.THAT’SHOWWECONTINUETOTHRIVE.” MOLADEADENIYI,CEO,WAVE

At WAVE, young people gather not only to learn skills but to find belonging. No one succeeds alone, and every job secured lifts an entire network higher. In 2024, WAVE trained 7,853 youth across West Africa, a powerful step toward their goal of upskilling 250,000 young people by 2028 But the true impact lives in the ripple effect, in the graduates who return to mentor others, and in the growing web of confidence, opportunity, and support that keeps the community standing tall

“COMMUNITYISMYSELF.IT’SEVERYONEWEWORKWITHTOREMOVEINJUSTICE,ANDIT’S ALSOTHEPERSONWHOHOLDSUSACCOUNTABLEWHENSOMETHINGMUSTCHANGE.” BAHATI

SATIROMAR,FOUNDER,UWEZOYOUTHEMPOWERMENT

At Uwezo, accountability isn’t abstract. During our visit, it was alive in classrooms where children with disabilities learned and laughed alongside their peers, in the voices of young people lifting the room with song, and in a team whose steady focus makes dignity a daily practice, not just a value. In 2024, Uwezo reached more than 2,000 people through scholarships, health support, therapy, and inclusive programs for children and youth with disabilities. But the numbers only tell part of the story. The heart of Uwezo’s impact is in how it redefines community, making sure everyone feels part of it

MOODBOARD

2024INACTION

Local Voices, Global Impact: Enhancing Collaboration Between Local and International Organizations

July 31 | Devex

Atti joined a dynamic LinkedIn Live panel to discuss how we can bridge the gap between local and international organizations, incorporate innovative collaboration models and policies that support local entities, and explore the role of advocacy in driving systemic change.

Op-Ed: 8 Principles for Power-Sharing Development Funding

March 28, 2024 | Devex

Co-CEOs Atti and Katie reflected on the significance of meaningful localization in international development in an op-ed published by Devex In the article, they introduced a new framework co created with the

WeespeciallyvaluedAfrican Collaborative’swillingnessto listentowhereouragencies “ wereatintheirownE&Ijourneys,andwithout judgment,tohelpthinkthroughconcretesteps towardsmovingE&Iforwardintheirown organizations.

Welookforwardtocontinuingtocollaboratein futureasweadvanceE&IwithinIDIAand beyond.

In 2024, we continued to show up and create spaces for connection. Alongside contributing to major conferences, media features, and global discussions, we brought our partners together throughout the year for shared learning, strategy conversations, and collective action.

Stories of Local Leadership

September 24th | AVFund, Rippleworks, and Food4Education

ThomasFeeny,Director, InternationalDevelopment InnovationAlliance(IDIA)

In partnership with Rippleworks and Food for Education, we hosted an intimate event where inspiring leaders from across the continent shared their insights on investing in local leadership Building on last year’s Fireside Chat, we heard from remarkable African changemakers who shared powerful stories of innovation, triumph, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. Co-CEO Katie provided the welcoming remarks while Co-CEO Atti and Doug Galen, CEO of Rippleworks moderated.

Our esteemed panelists were Wawira Njiru (Food 4 Education, AVFund Board member), Linda Kamau (AkiraChix), Lizzie Kiama (This Ability), Jacques Sebisaho, MD, MPA (Amani Global Works), and Katumba James S (Wezesha Impact)

Collaborative Approaches to Scale Partnerships

May 9 | We Give Summit

Atti participated in a panel session at the We Give Summit, discussing how to activate "Ties" one of the five Ts of philanthropy. During this engaging discussion, Atti provided an in-depth look into AVFund's funding model and our systems change advocacy. Watch the session here.

Philanthropic Collaboratives as a Pathway to Transformation

October 28 | African Philanthropy Forum

Katie (Co-CEO) and Shamira (Senior Strategic Partnerships Manager) attended the African Philanthropy Forum's Conference in Marrakech, Morocco Katie took to the main stage at the African Philanthropy Forum, joining a panel to spotlight the transformative power of philanthropic collaboration across the continent

Alongside fellow collaborative leaders, she shared actionable insights and reflections on building and managing philanthropic collaboratives in Africa.

Atti was featured in a video produced by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Philanthropy Together. While it was released in August, it was first publicly screened at the African Philanthropy Forum in Morocco.

From Pledges to Practice: Shifting Conservation

Funding Approaches to Better Support Local African Organizations

September 24 | UNGA Week

During UNGA Week, Co-CEO Katie and Systems Change

Strategist Sibabalwe took the stage at Maliasili’s Pledges to Practice event This session spotlighted funding models and practices that prioritize local communities, with a focus on African conservation and climate organizations leading community-driven solutions

Drawing from AVFund’s model, Katie and Sibabalwe shared actionable insights on transforming funding practices to channel greater investment directly to local communities.

Local Leaders Have the Solutions: Why Aren’t We Funding Them?

April 21| Alliance Magazine

We’re featured in this piece, which provides key recommendations for strengthening funding and support for local leaders and their organizations to drive lasting, sustainable change. The article highlights the effectiveness of local solutions and calls for a shift in funding priorities, as well as increased collaboration between funders and local leaders Read the article here

2024 Skoll World Forum

April 12-14 | Oxford, UK

We supported 19 of our partners to attend the Skoll World Forum From offering daily office hours to hosting our second annual partner & funder lunch at Turtle Bay, we created intimate and relaxed settings that fostered new connections--some of which have already blossomed into new funding partnerships.

Atti participated in a panel discussion co-hosted by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and ELMA Philanthropies. The session brought together fund leaders, philanthropists, and experts to share insights on the future of collaborative giving in Africa

OurProcess

AFRICAN COLLABORATIVE HAS CONSISTENTLY STOOD BY THE BELIEF THAT AFRICANS ARE BEST EQUIPPED TO SOLVE AFRICA’S CHALLENGES, AND WE ENVISION A WORLD WHERE THE POWER TO LEAD RESTS FIRMLY IN THEIR HANDS.

Guided by this conviction, 2024 marked a pivotal moment for us, a year of reflection and reimagining. We took deliberate steps to rework our strategy, ensuring it not only aligns with our founding principles and values but also serves as a catalytic force for deeper, more sustainable impact. This process was both introspective and forward-looking, rooted in our belief in locally led change and our commitment to shaping a future where African leadership drives lasting transformation.

Since 2020, we’ve tested a bold hypothesis: that flexible, trust-based funding can unlock greater impact and shift power dynamics in philanthropy.

After realizing the depth of impact achieved through our partners, we recognized that a bigger and bolder step was needed to truly make a dent in the funding desert. By 2030, we aim to fund and support over 100 African-led organizations. We are doubling down on driving resources, building trust, shifting power, and encouraging other funders to do the same.

Our strategic planning process was deeply intentional and participatory, designed to reflect the values that guide our work. Our team explored the lessons we have learned in our Fund One journey. This process unfolded through a multi-phase design process that brought together our team, board, and external stakeholders to align on a shared vision for the future. We began by engaging funders through eleven key informant interviews to better understand the evolving landscape and opportunities ahead. Then we turned to our partners, where ten partner advocacy interviews were held, whose insights and experiences grounded the process in their lived reality The team spent over 35 hours in workshops to make carefully considered decisions about the direction of our 2030 strategy, analyzing data from various sources that we utilize in ourorganization

Through these collaborative workshops, we co-created ideas, refined priorities, and explored what the next chapter of our work could look like. The result has been a strategy rooted in collaboration, trust, and reflection. It’s a strategy that truly reflects who we are, both in narrative and in spirit, and captures where we aspire to goaswecontinuetoadvancelocallyledchange.

OurGoals

After reflecting deeply on the lessons we learned in our first fund, we set out to shape a 2030 strategy that builds on what works and pushes us further toward lasting change. At its heart is a commitment to partnering with more diverse African-led organizations, especially those too often overlooked or underfunded and providing the kind of long-term support that enables them to realize their own growth goals We aim to amplify the voices of African leaders as experts and changemakers in development, while building more direct connections between funders and impactful local organizations. Underpinning it all is a strong MEL evidence base, designed to capture and demonstrate the power of African-led solutions and make a datadrivencaseforsystemictransformation.

StayingTrue

As part of our strategic planning process; we have reworked how we define who we are Our mission and vision haven’t changed; we’ve just gotten better at articulating them Our mission is to provide African-led organizations with vital resources to create purposeful, locally rooted change We advocate for structural transformation in philanthropy and development to promote equitable funding practices that shift resources to the frontlines of impact. Fundamentally, we’re staying true to the principles that have guided us from the beginning. Our approach remains rooted in providing flexible, unrestricted, multiyear grants for organizations working across multiple sectors on the African continent, while leveraging funding to connect our portfolio with our broader network of funders We continue to prioritize transparency through open application processes and to expand participation by bringing more voices into decisionmaking via our grantmaking committees At the same time, we offer bespoke portfolio services that respond directly to partners’ requests and needs And our advocacy work continues with equal commitment, pushing to shift philanthropic systems toward more equitable funding practices and ensuring that more resources move directly to African-led organizations.

What’sNew?

While many things are staying the same, we’re also introducing some exciting changes to make our work more impactful at a larger scale. We’re launching a track-based grantmaking system to better support partners at different stages of growth We will support organizations across a broad spectrum of organizational stages through two tracks, Ignite and Fuel We believe that a clear purpose, model, and impact are an important foundation at any stage One lesson we’ve learned is that as organizations grow, their funding needs evolve, and our approach must evolve with them.

That understanding inspired the creation of a new system that allows us to adjust funding levels based on each organization’s stage of growth Our team is now reviewing our eligibility criteria to ensure they align with these new tracks, enabling us to include and fund more “invisible” organizations alongside those that are already more visible. Ultimately, our goal is to meet partners where they are, walking alongside them on their journey toward growth and sustainability.

We will also be introducing a 6-year Partner Journey that begins once we make an initial commitment. Our first fund followed a three-year model, but this time we’re extending partnerships to six years, which is a shift driven by our belief that long-term commitments serve our partners best

MEANINGFUL CHANGE TAKES TIME, AND WE’VE SEEN THAT DEEPER, SUSTAINED SUPPORT ALLOWS ORGANIZATIONS TO GROW STRONGER AND MORE IMPACTFUL.

Under the new model, partners begin with a threeyear grant in either the Ignite or Fuel track, after which a third-year assessment helps determine the best track for continued support. Year-by-year renewals then provide the flexibility to adapt to partners’ evolving needs After six years of support, our engagement doesn’t end; through our alumni network, we continue to foster connection and shared learning well beyond the formal partnership period

Kusasa (Technology & Digital Futures), and Idajo (Human Rights); to deepen collaboration and learning between funders and partners. It was important for us to name our sector portfolios in indigenous African languages in order to reframe the conversation around sectoral expertise: viewing partners as proximate experts, not ourselves. Together, these innovations are designed to strengthen the ecosystem and better serve both our partners and funders.

All of this strategic visioning has culminated in a name change and rebrand, a natural and necessary evolution to ensure that how we present ourselves truly reflects who we are and the impact we aim to create

OURNEWVISUALIDENTITYWASDESIGNEDTO BETTERCAPTURETHEENERGYANDAMBITION OFOURMISSION,WHILEOURREFINED LANGUAGEMORECLEARLYARTICULATESTHE WORKWEDOANDTHEVALUESTHATDRIVEUS.

The rebrand was a vital step in aligning how we show up with what we stand for: a commitment to African leadership and solutions that are grounded in local realities It marks a new chapter that honours our past while amplifying our purpose and vision for the future.

WHAT’SNEXT FORUS?

Photo: ACADES

Launching our open application system

This new system, shaped by our updated strategy, will give us a clearer view of emerging ideas across Africanled social innovation and help us connect funders with strong organizations doing critical work across the continent.

Strengthening Portfolio Services

We’ll keep deepening support for our partners connecting them with aligned funders, sharing learning and networking opportunities, and elevating their expertise as leaders in their fields