______________
BLOG
Commentary, opinion, and stories from across the SIVIO network on governance, civic life, and development in Africa.
-
A Story of Change: From Cold Floors to a Little More Comfort
A Story of Change: From Cold Floors to a Little More Comfort In northern Malawi, Livingstonia Community Secondary School, the girls’ hostel is a place of long, hard nights as girls place their bodies on thin mats laid on concrete floors. With no mattresses, students wake up in pain, their bodies aching and their minds weary before the school day even begins. Rise for Phoka, a community-driven organisation, launched the “Yalula Mphasa”/ “remove your mat” Mattress Campaign to change that reality. With a goal of securing 60 mattresses each costing just $32.50, the campaign set out to restore comfort, dignity,…
|
-
A Story of Change: Honzo’s Mobile Clinic Story
A Story of Change: Honzo’s Mobile Clinic Story Chiedza Community Welfare Trust runs a mobile clinic in the remote Honzo community of Mutasa District. Health facilities lie more than 10 kilometres away and are hard to reach, especially for children, the elderly, and those living with disabilities. Even for those who manage to reach the clinics, consultation may be available, but medication is not. This is where the $25 for 25 May campaign made its mark with a donation US$100 Through the generosity of donors who contributed to Africa Giving’s initiative, Chiedza Community Welfare Trust was able to bring tangible…
|
-
A Story of Change: Dignity, Education, and a Safer Path Forward
A Story of Change: Dignity, Education, and a Safer Path Forward In the western region of Kenya, near the shores of Lake Victoria, Tumaini La Maisha has been quietly transforming lives one packet of sanitary towels at a time. During the month of May, in celebration of Menstrual Hygiene Day, donations of US$50 from the $25 for 25 May campaign were used to purchase 20 packets of sanitary towels. These packets ensured that an additional 10 girls from an existing campaign received sanitary wear. Ten girls each received two packets, ensuring they had the supplies they needed for the month.…
|
-
Reflections from Zambia: Tracking Manifesto Promises Through the Citizens Watch Initiative
Through our African Citizens Watch (ACW) initiative, which is an online platform, we track the performance and effectiveness of African governments through their conversion of electoral promises listed in their electoral manifesto into policy actions. We track in 5 countries – Botswana, Malawi, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. In Zambia, to keep the tracker updated and relevant, we have partnered with Alliance for Accountability Advocates Zambia (AAAZ), an organisation that is dedicated to promoting accountability and transparency in governance. AAAZ promotes the Zambia Citizens Watch tracker, which is part of the broader work done through the ACW initiative. The tracker looks at the 248…
|
-
Recap of the 2025 Southern Africa Trust Partners Meeting
Recap of the 2025 Southern Africa Trust Partners Meeting From the 1st to the 2nd of July, SIVIO Institute was part of the Zimbabwe partner’s workshop that was convened by Southern Africa Trust (SAT) in Harare. The workshop was put together to bring together partners working on issues related to climate justice, gender justice, and economic and care justice to get to understand some of the issues that are arising amidst the shifting in space in terms of funding and other issues. Day 1 kicked off with the SAT team presenting and officially launching their 6-year plan titled SERITI, derived from a…
|
-
MSMEs are Africa’s Backbone — Let’s Strengthen Their Foundation!
From corner market stalls to digital startups, MSMEs power the African economy, creating jobs, sustaining communities, and driving innovation. Yet, too many face financial barriers that limit their potential. This Micro-Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (MSME) Day, let’s go beyond celebration. Let’s push for real financial inclusion. The Impact of MSMEs Did you know that Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) make up 60-70% of global employment and contribute 50-60% to GDP? These dynamic businesses are not just numbers; they are empowering communities, creating jobs, and driving sustainable development. In Sub-Saharan Africa alone, there are 44 million MSMEs, many led by…
|
-
East African Philanthropy Network Conference
East African Philanthropy Network Conference Our Executive Director, Dr. Tendai Murisa, participated in the recently concluded East African Philanthropy Network Conference in Kigali, Rwanda, alongside other philanthropy leaders and professionals from across Africa. The gathering brought together over 500 distinguished professionals from across Africa, all dedicated to advancing the philanthropic landscape. The theme for the conference was “Agile Philanthropy: Adapting to Economic, Social, And Political Shifts”, coming at such a time where drastic shifts in the funding space are occurring. Dr Murisa on Building Coherence in a Fragmented World Dr Murisa joined a panel of experts to contribute to a…
|
-
Engaging civil society in the APRM process: Lessons from Southern Africa
Engaging civil society in the APRM process: Lessons from Southern Africa Attended by Eddah Jowah From the 3 – 4th of June 2025, we participated in a regional meeting organised by the South African Institute for International Affairs (SAIIA). Since 2018, SAIIA has been working closely with civil society organisations (CSOs) in southern Africa to raise awareness about the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) and bring key governance issues to the attention of governments in states that have signed up to the APRM. The conference brought together key partners from each of the APRM Popular Sensitisation Projects supported by SAIIA through…
|
-
$25 for 25 May Campaign: Final Update
$25 for 25 May Campaign: Final Update Dear AfricaGiving community, As we end the $25 for 25 May campaign, we want to express our deep gratitude to everyone who contributed. Our goal was to raise $10,000 to support African non-profits, and thanks to your generosity, we reached $3,437, which is 34.4% of our target. While we didn’t hit our full goal, what we did achieve is still a testament to the power of collective giving. These funds will go directly to locally-led initiatives across Africa, helping organisations continue their vital work in education, healthcare, and community development. Every dollar raised…
|
-
AfricaGiving: 25for25May Campaign
Join the 25for25May campaign and be part of something bigger! We’re rallying 400 individuals to each donate US$25 towards a nonprofit of their choice, making a collective impact across Africa. Giving has never been easier with AfricaGiving—a digital fundraising platform that allows you to support causes using your credit card or mobile money transactions. Plus, you can track the campaign’s progress with our interactive dashboard. Want to stay motivated? Get involved in fun activities like joining the AfricaGiving running club, where you’ll find encouragement and support throughout the month. Together, let’s make generosity a movement. Ready to be one of…
|