Challenging Narratives and Practices
About the Interviewees

Excerpts from interviews with the following grantmaking practitioners are featured in “Challenging Narratives and Practices.” Niamani Mutima, AGAG’s Executive Director, conducted the interviews in the spring of 2022. Our thanks and appreciation to all of them for taking the time to share their experiences as part of the AGAG network and their candid insights. They participated in these interviews as individual grantmaking practitioners and not as representatives of their current or former organization.Their professional affiliations are those held when the interview was conducted and are for informational purposes only.

Dr. Akwasi Aidoo

Dr. Aidoo is a Senior Fellow at Humanity United and former co-chair of the AGAG Steering Committee. He has extensive experience in the academic, foundation, and nonprofit sectors. He was the founding Executive Director of TrustAfrica and among his previous positions are head of the Canadian International Development Research Center’s health and equity program for West and Central Africa and regional director for West Africa of the Ford Foundation.

Dr. Omotade “Tade” Akin Aina

Dr. Omotade “Tade” Akin Aina is the Head of Research at the Mastercard Foundation. He is a noted scholar, leader, and thinker with extensive experience in the academic, foundation, and nonprofit sectors. Among his previous positions are Executive Director of the Partnership for African Social Governance and Research based in Nairobi, Program Director for Higher Education in Africa at the Carnegie Corporation of New York, and Regional Director for East Africa of the Ford Foundation.

Chris Allan

Chris Allan is the Executive Director of Ajabu Advisors, formerly Picher Allan Associates. He has over twenty years of experience in community development and environmental protection.  His previous positions include Chief Operating Officer and Senior Research Associate for the Institute for Social and Environmental Transition-International, International Program Advisor for the Environmental Health Fun, and Program and Development Director for Global Greengrants Fund.

Jennifer Astone

Jennifer Astone is the Principal at Integrated Capital Investing and a former member of the AGAG Steering Committee. She has over 20 years of experience in foundation leadership supporting human rights, gender justice, and health and environmental issues. Before launching Integrated Capital Strategies, she was Executive Director of the Swift and Firelight Foundations.

Karen Colvard

Karen Colvard is the former Program Director of the Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation.

Raoul Davion

Raoul Davion is the Chief of Accountability and Impact at the Malala Fund where he works on girls education and provides strategic leadership for program development and oversees monitoring and evaluation. Raoul was formerly a Program Officer at the MacArthur Foundation where he worked on the Parntership for Higher Education and Girls’ Secondary Education Initiatives. He was also a member of the AGAG Steering Committee.

Steven Lawrence

Steven Lawrence is an independent consultant and serves as a Senior Research Consultant for TCC Group. He is a nationally recognized researcher, author, and expert on philanthropy and has led groundbreaking research and published on a broad range of philanthropic priorities. He was formerly Director of Research for the Foundation Center.

Mamotshidisi “Mamo” Mohapi

Mamotshidisi “Mamo” Mohapi is a Program Officer in the C. S. Mott’s Civil Society Program where she manages the Enhancing Community Philanthropy program and the South Africa philanthropy development portfolio. Before joining Mott she worked as the business development manager for the Charities Aid Foundation Southern Africa and managed a portfolio of corporate social involvement programs for businesses.

Yvonne Moore

Yvonne Moore is the Founder and Managing Director of Moore Philanthropy, and President of its partner organization, Moore impact. Previously she was Chief of Staff to Abigail E. Disney and served as the Executive Director of the Daphne Foundation. Yvonne serves as a trustee of the New York Women’s Foundation, Philanthropy New York, and Faces of Giving. She is also a member of the AGAG Steering Committee.

Sarah Mukasa

Sarah Mukasa is the Division Head of the Women’s Program at Open Society Foundations (OSF) in East Africa. She is a pan-Africa feminist with over fifteen years of experience in senior leadership and management in the not-for-profit sectors in Africa and Europe. Prior to joining OSF, Sarah was the Director of Programs at the African Women’s Development Fund based in Ghana.

Niamani Mutima

Niamani Mutima is the Executive Director of the Africa Grantmakers’ Affinity Group (AGAG) and has lead its work since 2001. Her prior positions included Chief of Field Services for the African Training for Leadership and Advanced Skills (ATLAS), a project of the United States Agency for International Development, and Program Officer for the Africa-America Institute (AAI).

Nicolette Naylor

Nicolette Naylor is the Regional Director of Southern Africa for the Ford Foundation and leads the International Program on Gender, Racial, and Ethnic Justice. Prior to joining Ford she worked as a lawyer at the International Centre for the Legal Protection of Human Rights in London. She was also a member of the AGAG Steering Committee.

Dan Robbins

Dan Robbins is a pediatrician and the Executive Director of the J. F. Kapnek Trust that works to improve the health of children and familites in Zimbabwe.

Vuyiswa Sidzumo

Vuyiswa Sidzumo is a Program Officer in the Ford Foundation South Africa Office. Before joining Ford, she was Director of the C. S Mott Foundation office in South Africa. Her prior positions include director at the National Department of Provincial and Local Government and positions with the Sedibeng Centre for Organizational Effectiveness and the United Nations Development Programme. She is the current Chair of the AGAG Steering Committee.

Africa Grantmakers’ Affinity Group

We believe that a strong network of informed and connected funders is a necessary ingredient for robust, effective and responsive philanthropy to benefit African communities.

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