New Reports on Community Philanthropy in Zimbabwe
The Sivio Institute based in Harare, Zimbabwe is an independent policy research organization. Its mission is to promote a citizen-focused democracy by catalyzing citizens’ agency to enhance government performance and nurture the mobilization of community. Although it is only two years old, it has already produced an impressive list of informative and useful research on topics ranging from citizen perception of government performance to an inventory of think tanks to profiles of civil society organizations. For funders currently funding in Zimbabwe or those who are interested, both of these reports are valuable resources.
Two recent reports provide insights into the range and types of community philanthropy organizations operating across the country and how they are navigating the impact of COVID-19. “Community Foundations in Zimbabwe: Analysis of Eleven Case Studies” examines how these organizations operate and highlights how communities come together to use their resources and work together. The examples given of the impact of these efforts ranges from influencing policy to income generation to service delivery.
In addition to mapping the landscape of community foundations, the report raises questions about how community philanthropy is defined and understood. As the report notes, the Community Foundation of the Western Region of Zimbabwe and the Uluntu Community Foundation based in Matabeleland are probably the most well-known “community foundations.” Although the other organizations profiled in the report may not represent what the philanthropy sector terms community foundations, they do represent community philanthropy organizations established to pool resources to benefit a specific geographic area. Regardless of the issues they address, size, or resources, they are all the “on the ground” organizations that funders often say they are seeking when looking to leverage their philanthropy directly to those who are working on the front line of social change.
The second report on “Evaluating Impact of COVID-19 on Community-Based Organizations and Foundations” is a great companion resource. It presents the important role they play within the current environment created by COVID-19. The research examines the pandemic’s impact on 17 organizations, including preparedness for continuing their activities and response to the new circumstances the pandemic has created. Although the geographic and thematic focus of the organizations surveyed are diverse, not surprisingly, women, rural development, and youth are the top areas of concentration. For funders wanting to have a better understanding of organizational strengths and challenges, the report examines aspects such as financial sustainability, technology resources, and staff support. The conclusions and prognosis are part of the global outlook for community organizations that in the best of times, operate close to the margins. For many, as the pandemic continues, the likelihood increases that they will not recover.
But as the reports also demonstrate, community-based organization and foundations in Zimbabwe have a long history in harnessing resources and organizing themselves to address the needs of their communities. Those profiled in these reports have gained knowledge and insights about the achievement and challenges of collective action. The work of the Sivio Institute and the research agenda it has implemented will help to fill the gap in knowledge and understanding of community philanthropy in Zimbabwe.
Conversations With podcast
Listen to our Conversations With podcast with Eddah Jowah and Dr. Tendai Murisa of the Sivio Institute discussing their research on community philanthropy in Zimbabwe and key findings from the reports HERE