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

The Africa Grantmakers’ Affinity Group (AGAG) is a network of funders supporting development efforts in Africa. AGAG members are a diverse group and include funders based in North America, Africa, and Europe, who use different approaches in their work with a range of partners across many sectors. Despite their different approaches, they are part of learning community committed to promoting increased and more effective funding in Africa through building and sharing knowledge.

In addition to providing a “space” where Africa funders can connect, learn, and support each other to be more effective grantmakers, AGAG compiles information on funding trends and conducts projects to explore relevant topics. All of these activities generate an interesting mix of information and conversation.

We launched this blog as a platform to share information about some of the dynamic and exciting approaches being takes to address Africa’s challenges and promise. Coupled with the AGAG website, we are excited to be part of the efforts to elevate Africa’s profile within the philanthropy community and provide a trusted source of information about grantmaking in Africa.

Niamani Mutima
Executive Director
nmutima (at) agag.org