Jan - June 2024
Photo: Foi en Action
Letter from the Co-CEOs
Dear Friends of the Fund,
As we reflect on the past six months, we’re excited about the progress we’ve made and the milestones we've achieved. And we are eager to continue building on this momentum.
First, we are proud to announce the publication of our Equity Principles and Metrics Framework for Meaningful Localization. This framework emerged from our role as the lead learning partner for the International Development Innovation Alliance’s (IDIA) equity and innovation work The resulting principles reinforce our commitment to advancing equity and localization in development funding.
Our team has been actively engaged and on the move! In April, we had the pleasure of facilitating the attendance of 19 partners at the Skoll World Forum, connecting with them throughout the week. Over the past few months, we have conducted site visits with 13 partners across Burundi, Ethiopia, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe These visits were invaluable, providing firsthand insights into partners’ impact and allowing us to deepen our understanding of their strengths and challenges.
Looking ahead, our team is set to grow and innovate even further. By the end of this year, we will have doubled in size! We've also been refining our new fund strategy - building on the insights and lessons we've gained to amplify our impact both as an organization and within the philanthropic sector We can't wait to share it with you at the end of the year
As we enter conference season and prepare for a busy second half of the year, we want to thank you for your continued partnership and support. If you spot us at upcoming events, please say hi we’d love to connect! We look forward to continuing this journey together.
With gratitude
Atti Worku
Katie Bunten-Wamaru
Our Portfolio of Visionary Partners
Since 2021, we have committed $8 4M in unrestricted funding to 35 Africanled organizations working across 13 countries
Photo: Foi en Action
Partners
Countries
51% PARTNERS WOMEN-LED
Photo: RAINS
Directory of Partners
Burundi
Foi en Action
SaCoDé
Democratic Republic of Congo
COBURWAS International Youth Organisation to Transform Africa (CIYOTA)
Ethiopia
Drop of Water
Kidame Mart
Ghana
Blossom Academy
Regional Advisory Information and Network Systems (RAINS)
Kenya
AkiraChix
Clean Start Solutions
Dandelion Africa
Emergency Medicine Kenya Foundation (EMKF)
This Ability
Liberia
Kids Educational Engagement Project (KEEP)
Malawi
ACADES
Chimpembere Community Development Organizations (CCDO) Foundation for Community and Capacity Development (FOCCAD)
Rays of Hope Wandikweza
Nigeria
Blossom Academy
Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh (DRASA)
Health Trust
Gender Mobile Initiative
HelpMum WAVE
Women’s Health and Equal Rights Initiative
Rwanda
Uwezo Youth Empowerment
Tanzania
Msichana Initiative
Shule Direct
The Community Forest Conservation Network of Tanzania (MJUMITA)
WoteSawa Domestic Workers
Organization
Uganda
Barefoot Law
Bless a Child Foundation
COBURWAS International Youth Organisation to Transform Africa (CIYOTA)
Fundi Bots
Wezesha Impact
Uganda National Academy of Sciences (UNAS)
Zambia
Primrose Community Health Organization (PRICHO)
Zimbabwe
Friendship Bench
Photo: WAVE
Our Fourth Cohort of Visionary Partners
On January 31, 2024, our community joined us in welcoming our fourth cohort of Visionary Partners. Through this grant cycle, we have committed $2.7M to support 12 organizations, expanding our portfolio to 35 remarkable Africanfounded and led organizations.
Our total commitments to African-led organizations has now reached $8.4M.
Learn more about our new partners here.
Photo: Msichana Initiative
Inspirational Impact
Partner Wins
Asnapshotofmilestonesandachievementsfromsomeofourremarkablepartnersoverthepastsixmonths.
Milestone Anniversaries, Milestone Impact
This year marks 10 years of legal innovation for BarefootLaw The organization has had many achievements, including serving over 1,001,297 people across four countries. Notably, 78% of those served were empowered to address their own legal issues, and 17,858 people had their legal problems resolved with BarefootLaw’s support. Just a decade in, they have successfully advocated for the adoption of technology and innovation in the legal sector, driving significant transformation in the field.
Celebrating 15 years, Bless a Child Foundation (BCF) remains a beacon of support, facilitating access to cancer treatment for over 9,000 children and their families. Their facilities, including Africa's first pediatric palliative care home for children with cancer, offer a safe haven for both children and their families.
Impact that Earns Recognition
On May 25, 2024, the Shule Direct team was honored with the 2023 Digital Innovation in Education Award Presented by the Tanzania Digital Awards, this accolade recognizes those who are driving change and creating lasting impact through digital innovation. For the Shule Direct team, it is a testament to their work and dedication, highlighting their commitment to leveraging technology to enhance learning experiences for students.
Dr. Abiodun Adereni, CEO of HelpMum, was announced as the inaugural joint Ashoka and Lenovo Fellow in May 2024 This recognition means that Dr Adereni and HelpMum’s impactful work will be supported by Ashoka’s global network of changemakers and will receive backing from Lenovo, including funding, collaboration opportunities, and consultation with AI and technology experts worldwide.
Photo: HelpMum
Photo: Bless a Child Foundation
Inspirational Impact
Partner Wins
Support and Resilience in Challenging Times
In May, following catastrophic floods and mudslides that displaced over 200,000 people in Kenya, Dandelion Africa quickly mobilized to raise funds and deliver critical emergency support. Their efforts included providing health services, non-food items, and dignity kits to assist affected individuals and families.
Foi en Action/Faith in Action responded quickly to the devastating floods and landslides in Burundi, which severely impacted local communities. They provided essential relief including drinking water, healthcare, food and non-food items, dignity kits, and shelter to support individuals and families
Today's Support, Tomorrow's Success
Primrose Community Health Organization upgraded a hand pump borehole to a tap water system, providing clean, safe water to over 40 households and 200 community members In Zambia, inadequate water supply and sanitation, especially in rural areas, contribute to high rates of waterborne diseases like diarrhea and cholera. Solutions like this tap water system significantly improve access to safe water for households.
Through Wezesha Impact’s social innovation and entrepreneurship skillsbuilding program, Upshift, more than 1,200 youth from refugee settlements and host communities received seed capital of $5,000 each. The funding will support the growth of their enterprises and enable them to contribute to the development of their communities.
Photo: Foi en Action
Photo: PRICHO
Inspirational Impact
Partner Wins
Women and Girls Leading the Way
AkiraChix's codeHive program continues to be a proven catalyst unlocking and supporting young women’s potential Just 60 days after graduation, the 2023 codeHive class achieved impressive results with a 76% placement rate, 6% higher than the previous three cohorts.
Msichana Initiative has directly served over 4,000 girls and young women through programs such as Msichana Amani Clubs, One Girl +, One Girl, One Bike, and initiatives supporting teen mothers re-entering the formal education system. Their work is transforming the lives of women and girls, helping them create a future filled with opportunity.
Building on Success
Blossom Academy implemented and completed a fellowship program for 25 exceptional Ghanaian women in Data Science and AI. The fellowship serves as a gateway for women to acquire valuable skill sets, enhancing their employability. Following the program, all 25 participants have found employment as data analysts, scientists, and engineers –achieving a 100% placement success rate!
WAVE’s Online Academy graduated 96 executive assistants following a threemonth training across six locations. Participants gained in-demand tech skills, including web development, Python programming, and UI/UX design, equipping them with essential and employable skills.
Photo: WAVE
Photo: Msichana Initiative
Photo: Drop of Water
AVFund Behind the Scenes
Growing Our Team
Nafissatou Sene
In Q1, Nafissatou Sene joined our team as Portfolio Manager in Senegal. Nafi has quickly become an invaluable asset, bringing innovative ideas, attention to detail, and a strong eagerness to build relationships with our portfolio partners, often serving as their first point of contact.
core values. Thandile will support our new fund strategy development and other aspects of our advocacy work.
Learn more about Nafi here.
Learn more about Thandile here
Welcoming New Faces to our Team Soon
In the second half of the year, we'll welcome five new team members: a Portfolio Manager, Monitoring Evaluation and Learning Manager, Technical Project Manager, Technical Project Associate, and a Strategic Partnerships Coordinator. They will be introduced in our next Insider Report!
Advocacy & Ecosystem Building
Trust is Crucial for Sustainable Impact
February 21 | Imaginable Futures
In a conversation with Teresa Mbagaya, Principal at Imaginable Futures, Atti discusse how funders can build two-way trust-based relationships and how this approach aligns with AVFund's mission Watch their conversation here
Community & Conversations
March 7 | Nairobi, Kenya
We partnered with the Schooner Foundation t host an event that brought together our Kenyan portfolio partners alongside funding partners, our team members, and Board Chair, Melizsa Mugyenyi. The gathering sparked meaningful connections and inspiring conversations
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 International Development Innovation Alliance (IDIA), that highlights eight principles prioritized by changemakers for effective power-sharing. The framework also offers actionable recommendations for donors and tangible accountability metrics. Read the article here.
[Localization] must be mainstreamed as a fieldwide practice, instead of being dismissed as a hot topic that will fizzle with time … The field's ability to maximize lasting, impactful change depends on it. “ ”
Quote from Op-Ed: 8 Principles for Power-Sharing Development Funding
Advocacy & Ecosystem Building
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.
Local Leaders Have the Solutions: Why Aren’t We Funding Them?
April 21| Alliance Magazine
AVFund is 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.
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.
Photo: Gender Mobile Initiative
Financials
raised towards our $10M goal by end of 2023 $10.9M
$1.7M committed in unrestricted multiyear funding to 35 African-led organizations since 2021 $8.2M
raised towards our new fund strategy
of funding raised is multiyear 83% of funding raised is unrestricted 87%
Photo: KEEP
Photo: DRASA Health Trust
For questions and insights, contact:
Shamira Lukomwa Senior Strategic Partnerships Manager
shamira@africanvisionary org
www.africanvisionary.org
