My recent move back to my small mostly agricultural home town in Northern Virginia has given me a different perspective on many things. From my office I watch how the seasonal changes affect the woodlands behind my house.

As activists and leaders meet in Copenhagen to try to find common ground on an equitable approach to mitigating the impact of climate change, these talks have much more meaning for me. Like most folks, I guess I don’t really pay attention until things take on a more immediate face. Each time I have to cart my trash to the landfill, I am reminded how waste is poluting the earth. The idea of not buying bottled water because the plastic will be around for much too long makes a lot more sense. What has become much more vivid as well is how all of this affects the lives of so many communities in African countries, which is largely agricultural.

A recent report released by the United Nations Population Fund helps me to better understand the complexity of the situation. The report, “State of World Population 2009:Facing a changing world: women, population and climate” notes that the number of people living on Africa’s vast continent has doubled over the past 25 years. It is now over a billion of the 6.8 billion on the planet.

“While the developed countries have contributed the most to human-induced climate change up to now, people in poor countries—most dramatically in Africa—already are much more likely to die as a result of the climate change that occurred up to 2000″

Maybe big, global issues loom too large for most of us to think we can make a difference. But as this report points out, efforts have to come from all sides. For example, guarding the rights of women and working for reproductive health has an impact on climate change. Supporting civic education in African communities is important in building community awareness and participation. Supporting agricultural practices that respect traditional knowledge is also part of the effort.

There are so many great efforts underway in African communities to combat climate change. I’d like to highlight some of them so if you have links to website or videos about African efforts to combat climate change please drop me a line so I can highlight some of them.

Foundations are a source of funding to support the work of a range of organizations making a difference in their communities. But often, they also help to strengthen a sector by connecting organizations to each other.

The recent AGAG segment of “Conversations With/Dialogues On” highlighted an example of this. The Global Fund for Children (GFC) organized a knowledge exchange workshop to bring together organizations working in english and french-speaking countries in West Africa focusing on children. If you missed it, I encourage you to listen to audio excerpts and read a summary on the AGAG website.

Networking is important and central to building and sharing knowledge. Unfortunately, it is often hard to trace specific results back to the connection of ideas and people made during these types of events. Yet, sharing our stories and what we have learned is at the center of our lives.

The McKnight Foundation Collaboration Crop Research Program is another example of making important connections. This competitive grants program connects researchers from many different countries working to increase food security for resource-poor people in developing countries. The collaborative research projects are grouped in “communities of practice” and includes a range of stakeholders including scientists and farmers. There are communities of practice in west, southern, east and the horn of Africa. The program links experts from countries across the globe.

In 2008, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation make a five year grant to the McKnight Foundation for $26.7 million dollars to support the project. The CCRP website is wealth of information about the projects including progress reports and impact. The leadership team pairs the McKnight International Program Director, Jane Maland Cady with the CCRP Scientific Director, Rebecca Nelson, who is employed by and based at Cornell University.

Two good examples of making connections and building knowledge useful in building strong communities in Africa. If you know of some other interesting examples, I invite you to share them with me. Send them to nmutima [at] agag.org.

I tend to be an “information junkie.” So that means I often get waylaid when doing research. Sometimes my curiosity pays off and I stumble across something exciting such as The Ujima Project which is funded by AGAG members the Open Society Institute and the Ford Foundation.

The Ujima Project describes itself as a “new experiment in journalistic transparency.” It collects and assembles information from sources about spending by governments, NGOs and businesses in African countries. The list of lobbying activities is as fascinating as the list of USAID spending is mundane and list of weapons sobering.

Information overload takes on an entirely new meaning when you realize not everyone has access to it. Despite all of the offerings of the internet, in many African countries access is both uneven and expensive.

The project grew out of the Great Lakes Media Institute that was established to train Rwandan journalists. The site was developed by a software firm based in Uganda. It is still in the beta stage, but worth watching.

In these times of tight resources, the question of what is working is an important one. So is how to measure it. Evaluation is big business. I am often reminded of a colleague who asked at a meeting about evaluation if we value what we measure or measure what we value? Good food for thought.

While big issues such as poverty and injustice loom as large systemic challenges, change is most dramatic when we see how it affects individuals. The Gates Foundation is a familiar name and its mega-grants often dwarf the resources of other foundations. In keeping its manner of doing things in a big way, the Foundation recently launched the Living Proof Project. It is a multi-year campaign designed to show how U.S.-supported initiatives to fight malaria, AIDS, and other diseases are saving and improving the lives of millions of people in developing countries. The web site tag line is “U. S. investments in global health are working.”

Check the videos, infographics and photo gallery and the reports of evidence of success. In addition to the website it has launched a television ad. Check it out. Maybe this will start a trend of foundations doing ads to show their impact. What do you think? Comments are welcome.

Communications can be a powerful tool in advancing human rights. Figuring out the best way to support African development initiatives means being willing to talk about sucesses and failures.

I encourage you to check out the report from Atlantic Philanthropies, What We’ve Learned: Lessons From A Communications Campaign for South Africa’s Rural Poor.” It presents some insights from communiction strategies used by a coalition of NGOs who came together to fight the illegal evication of farm workers.

The photographs in the report are incredible and are part of a photography book that helps to put a face on this issue. It is hard to believe that over a million farmers were evicted over the decade between 1994 to 2004. This reports reminds us that overcoming apartheid in South Africa only marked the beginning of the work to be done to reverse generations of injustice. It also reminds us how important it is share what we have learned about what works and what doesn’t.

The Atlantic Philantrophies was founded by Chuck Feeney, who became a billionaire as the co-founder of Duty Free Shops and secretly transferred all of his wealth to The Atlantic Philanthopies in 1984. In 2008 Atlantic made over $34 million in grants to support development efforts in South Africa.

The need for a better national health care system is a topic of discussion not only in the United States but in African countries as well. Among funders supporting development efforts in Africa, the impact of funding and the consequences of the lack of coordination is an on-going and mostly frustrating conversation.

AGAG has done two reports on the U. S. private funding landscape for health in Africa. The first in 2004, examined support for health continent wide, and the second, in 2007 examined funding for health and basic education programs for children and youth in ten southern Africa countries. Both reports reflect the concentration of disease specific funding and the lack of support for other areas including strengthening health care systems.

Two members of AGAG have recently announced a significant investement in improving health systems in African countries.

The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation (DDCF) launched the African Health Initiative in 2007, to fund partnerships between local governments in selected African countries, researcher, and practioners.

DDCF announced four partnerships. Three of them will be in Mozambique, Rwanda, and Zambia. The fourth will support two countries, Tanzania and Ghana, in sharing their innovative pilot programs in primary health care and hopefully addressing the difficulties both countries have encountered in scaling them up to a national level.

DDCF’s total investment if about $44 million and the programs will last from 5 to 7 years. The grants range from $ 8 million for Rwanda to almost $15 million for Tanzania and Ghana.

Another AGAG member, the Rockefeller Foundation (RF), also has a program to support health systems called the “Transforming Health Systems Initiative (THS).” The THS program launch was announced last month and includes two of the countries where DDCF will be working - Ghana and Rwanda. This program was launched with an initial investment of $100 million over five years for three countries (including Vietnam). The idea is to apply lessons learned to future programs.

In June, two articles in the journal The Lancet, raised some questions about the impact of global health funding in poor countries. The article on ” An assessment of interactions between global health initiatives and country health systems” addressed the charge that disease specific funding has weakened health systems in the poor countries. While inconclusive, it does encourage the opportunity to take advantage of opportunities to strengthen partnerships across areas of the health sector and among a range of actors — which is what both the DDCF and RF programs promote.

Another article in the same issue Financing of global health: tracking development assistance for health from 1990 to 2007 looks at the impact of the mix of old and new actors funding health.

Through the IROKO project, AGAG is seeking to bring together health funders to promote more dialogue and help funders to be more aware of each other’s efforts. I will be talking more about this project as it unfolds over the next few months. We are working on a landscape of health funders. If you fund health in Africa and would like to participate, please send me an email to info at africagrantmakers.org..

Most funders working in Africa might not have head of Fazel Hasan Abed. But then again, those working in poverty alleviation might be very familiar with the former Shell Oil Executive’s organization, BRAC. Started by Abed in 1972 in Bangladesh, it has grown into one of the largest organizations working to reduce poverty. Based upon its impact in Bangladesh, it appears to have a model that works. The question is, will it work in West Africa? Several funders think it will.

BRAC is already working in Tanzania where it has run programs in a range of areas including microfinance, small enterprise, agriculture, health, and youth since 2006 and employs over 800 people. BRAC received $15 millions from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to support this work. In Uganda it has created more then 1,000 jobs and works in similar areas. With an investment of $15 million, the Soros Economic Development Fund, Open Society Initiative for West Africa, Omidyar Network, and Humanity United are betting on BRAC to replicate its success in Bangladesh in Liberia and Sierra Leone. Both the Soros Economic Development Fund and the Open Society Institute for West Africa are part of the philanthropic activities of George Soros. Omiday Network and Humanity United are part of the philantropic interests of ebay founder Pierre Omidyar, and his wife Pam, who is the founder and board chair of Humanity United.

It is no doubt that BRAC and its founder has proven that it’s holistic from the ground up approach have yielded results. It established an “independent in house” research and evaluation division in 1975 that has conducted evaluation of its programs and made them available to the public..

Both Liberia and Sierra Leone are countries emerging from prolonged conflicts that have wrecked their physical infrastructures and strained the endurance of its citizens. And on top of that, like everywhere else, both countries are faced with the impact of the global economic downturn.

Funders supporting development projects in Africa might do well to keep an eye on BRAC’s experiences in these two countries in West Africa. It will be interesting to see if the success in Bangladesh will bring change in these West African countries and the cross fertilization of experiences will yield a more customized approach suited to the realities and context of Liberia and Sierra Leone.

I love movies! They have such a profound impact on me. Their images linger in my head and shape my perceptions of things. Since my relocation from New York to a small town in Northern Virginia that does not have a movie theatre, I have taken more notice of the offerings on DVD. My library of favorites has slowly began to grow. I have fun compiling my wish list. At the top of that list is the California Newsreel Library of African Cinema. It is a collection of 67 films reasonably priced ($25 each) with such a wondrous range of classics and new titles.

In addition to documentaries on political and economic development, this collection also has films that explore common issues of identity and a sense of belonging. One of my favorites is “AINSI MEURENT LES ANGES” (An So Angels Die). I love the moving lyrical personal narrative about a Senegalese poet (played by the filmmaker Moussa Sena Absa) caught up in family drama and cultural expectations.

Another offering is DOLE (Money) from Gabonese Producer/Director Imunga Ivanga. With familiar images of young people, this film examines the intersections of youth, frustration, and hip hop. Turn the sound down and watch a scene that could take place in almost any urban setting. for the romantic, “AFRICA DREAMING” is a collection of four short films on love from Tunisia, Senegal, Namibia and Mozambique.

California Newsreel is such a great source and in addition to the great films they also have resources to enhance your learning. Be sure to check out the article “Six Pointers for Viewing African Films.”

My goal is to work my way down the list — at least to see each of them if I can’t afford to buy them. For those wanting to learn more about the rich and varied continent of Africa, the Library of African Cinema is a place to start — and you don’t even have to leave your living room. For those involved in philanthropy who want to better understand some of the issues, watching one of these films is good way to hear the story from the source. Just remember, there are lots of stories to reflect the diversity and richness of the African continent.

I get calls frequently from people interested in supporting projects in Africa looking for information and advice. A recent caller who was interested in supporting local organizations in Africa, was very concerned about what she called the” lack of technology in Africa” which she viewed as a major problem in working with local groups.

Consequently, she was already of the mindset that the best way to proceed was to fund US groups who had developed ways of working with local groups in Africa. While this is one option, it struck me how important it is for those working in philanthropy (as well as the general public) to have a sense of the growth of technology in Africa.

While communications can be challenging in many parts of Africa, the cell phone and related technologies are being used in very innovative ways. They are becoming a familiar site in the markets in the countryside as well as those in urban areas. The introduction of the 3G broadband means mobile technology will play an increasing role in internet access.

There is a lot of information about the growth of the information industry in Africa. The sources that I recommended to this caller was balancing act news (www.balancingact-africa.com). I have found it to be both interesting and informative. In addition to concise updates on the telecom, Internet, and computer industries, it also includes information on people, events, and money. (Yes, this is a growing market for investors). My other recommendation was allafrica.com, a gem of the latest news from African sources.

Also, check out the interview with Dr. Hamadoun Toure at the 2008 International Telecommunications Union Africa meeting held in Cairo about mobile investments in developing
markets. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujZWeIZRsnI).

While the telecommunications infrastructure in Africa has its challenges, these challenges should not discourage funders from establishing relationships and supporting local groups.

In 2008 AGAG organized a Conference and Annual Retreat in Johannesburg, South Africa. It was a rare opportunity for Africa funders to meet and dialogue with African funders who represented almost a third of those attending the Conference on “Funding Impact:Partnerships, Networks, and Collaborations.”

Below is a list of the African funding organizations that were represented at the 2008 Conference and Annual Retreat with direct links to their websites, as available.

AGAG would like to continue to add to the list. If you are an African funder or know of one, please forward the information to nmutima(at) agag.org with “Philanthropy in Africa” in the subject line.

Adopt-a-School Foundation
Africa Women’s Development Fund
Amy Biehl Foundation
Community Foundation for the Western Region of Zimbabwe
Coxswain Social Investment Plus
DeBeers Fund
DOCKDA Rural Development Agency
Eugene Saldanha Memorial Fund
Foundation for Civil Society
Foundation for Community Development
Fondation Rurale de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (FRAO)/West Africa Rural Foundation(WARF)
Greater Durban Community Foundation
Greater Rustenburg Community Foundation
Ikhala Trust
Kenya Community Development Foundation
Lurdes Mutola Foundation
MaAfrika Tikkun
Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund
Pitseng Trust
South African Ubuntu Foundation
Southern Africa Trust
TrustAfrica
Urgent Action Fund – Africa
Uthungulu Community Foundation
West Coast Community Foundation
WHEAT Trust