From Contours to Foundation: Laying the Groundwork for a Continent Redefined in 2025
As the year draws to a close, we greet you not just with seasonal wishes but with a deep, resonating gratitude. Thank you for walking with us through a year of relentless inquiry, bold dialogue, and actionable insight. This final newsletter of 2025 is a testament to our shared journey toward a more inclusive society. We have not just observed the landscape, we have contributed to mapping its contours, challenged many assumptions, and amplified the voices of citizens. This is the work we do, together.
In our last edition, we introduced you to Africa’s Path, a report probing the continent’s complex trajectories. The core theme remains urgent, navigating the tension between immense potential and systemic constraints.
We took this dialogue deeper in a two-part “What If We Think Differently?” podcast series, dissecting these issues for our friends who prefer listening. If you missed it, you can catch the insights on our YouTube page.
Our commitment to inclusion compels us to trace both financial flows and their tangible outcomes. For years, one essential question has guided our reflection: Given the substantial revenues amassed by mining companies in Zimbabwe and across Africa, we kept on trying to understand the proportion of revenue that is ultimately channelled back to foster the development and well-being of those communities Our first report on this work Mining and the Development Agenda: An Overview of Revenue Reporting in the Mining Sector focuses on Zimbabwe and cuts at the heart of corporate citizenship. When extractive industries prosper, do the surrounding communities share in that prosperity?
We partnered with 23 Community Foundations in Malawi and Zimbabwe, working at the frontline of change to help strengthen their systems and visibility. In an era of dwindling external aid, these organisations are redefining resilience. They show up, day after day, mobilising local resources with ingenuity. They are not waiting for change; they are building it from the ground up. In an online discussion that we convened, leaders in these organisations broke down the data, bringing the philanthropy ecosystem to life through human stories. A key takeaway? Collaboration is already thriving, driving missions forward on a small scale. The next step is to harness this power on a larger, macro level.
- Channelling diaspora & elite potential into formal structures.
- Fusing private-sector strategy with academic rigor for deeper grassroots impact.
Imagine the ecosystem strengthened when every tier of society locks arms. These foundations are already doing the work; our role is to help magnify it. Learn more in the full report.
In our Centre for Economic Development & Livelihoods, we launched Tendai Murisa’s new book, “Shifts in the Land and Agrarian Question in Africa,” at the Sam Moyo Memorial Workshop. This book is a bold intervention. It cuts through the fatigue around addressing what is arguably Africa’s biggest question and lays bare the new challenges, from global economic shifts to the climate crisis, that are redefining the agrarian question across Africa.
What you will find inside:
- A clear-eyed look at the constraints holding Africa back.
- A challenge to outdated assumptions about rural development.
- An essential primer for anyone invested in Africa’s inclusive future.
Don’t just witness the shift, understand it.
One Community. One Response to Gender-Based Violence.
Our work is also about creating direct pathways for impact. From the brainchild of SIVIO Institute, AfricaGiving, our digital platform connecting African non-profits with givers has grown. This growth led to a partnership with the British Embassy to tackle a pervasive crisis: Gender-Based Violence in Zimbabwe where one in three women experience some form of violence in their lifetime.
Embracing the truth that charity begins at home, we launched the We Are One Fund. This initiative seeks individuals and corporations to support organisations providing critical GBV responses to survivors including legal, shelter, medical, and psychosocial services.
We have been actively translating our vision into tangible action through a series of strategic engagements designed to build solidarity, mobilise resources, and expand our community of givers.
We convened a business high tea at the British Ambassador’s Residence, bringing together women in business for meaningful dialogue, shared purpose, and collective action. The gathering fostered solidarity and strategic collaboration, resulting in both financial and in-kind pledges in support of the We Are One Fund.
To strengthen sustainability across the ecosystem, we facilitated a four-day capacity-building training for partner organisations featured on the We Are One Fund platform. The training focused on strengthening fundraising through individual giving and supporting organisations to transition from traditional NGO models towards social enterprise approaches.
During the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, we hosted a strategic media briefing with 13 media houses to position GBV as a national emergency. The briefing amplified the voices of partner organisations, unpacked the depth and impact of their work, and highlighted the critical role of the Fund in enabling coordinated, locally driven responses.
We also hosted a dynamic Quiz Night that engaged new demographics in an interactive and community-centred space, combining education with fundraising and expanding awareness of the cause.
In addition, we participated in the Amnesty International Zimbabwe Run4Rights marathon, leveraging the platform to network, raise visibility, and connect with new audiences, always in pursuit of growing our community of committed givers.
Internally, a friendly organisational giving challenge inspired collective participation among staff, reinforcing a culture of shared responsibility and demonstrating that meaningful change begins from within.
This fund is a direct attempt to resource three critical areas:
- Shelters – Safe spaces for survivors to rest, recover, and rebuild.
- Legal Aid – Community-based access to justice and advocacy.
- First Response Services – Dignity-centred medical and psychosocial support.
We invite you to support survivors of gender-based violence through the We Are One Fund by giving a once off donation or regular commitment at www.weareonefund.org. Your donation can start with as little as $20. Thanks to an anonymous donor, when you give today, your contribution will be matched, doubling your impact.
What to Watch Out For in 2026
- Botswana Barometer Report: An analysis of the first-year performance of the Botswana government under Umbrella for Democratic Change, measured against its pledges to the Batswana people.
- South African Citizens’ Perceptions & Expectations (CPE): Our survey is now expanding to South Africa. At a pivotal moment with a new Government of National Unity, we capture citizens’ views on government performance. Here’s a snippet of the findings, but look out for the full report in January 2026.
- African Journal of Inclusive Societies (AJIS): Our 5th edition will continue to publish research exploring patterns and trends of inclusiveness across Africa, aligning with continental agendas for social development and equity.
- 2025 Zimbabwe Citizens Perceptions and Expectations (CPE) report: This report captures the views of citizens, providing insights into their levels of satisfaction and dissatisfaction.
- Zambia Barometer Report: Recently launched in partnership with the Alliance for Accountability Advocates Zambia, this report is a culmination of four years of tracking, providing a sector-by-sector update on progress and priorities for action. We’ll be unpacking the findings further next year.
As we sign off for 2025, we carry forward the momentum you have helped build. Thank you for your trust, your engagement, and your shared belief in an inclusive future. Let’s step into the new year ready to deepen the work and build together.