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BLOG
Commentary, opinion, and stories from across the SIVIO network on governance, civic life, and development in Africa.
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Building Sustainable NGOs – A New Udemy Course
The funding landscape is shifting dramatically, and donor-dependent NGOs across Africa are feeling the impact. The recent closure of USAID is just one example of a broader trend—many funders have already scaled back their official development aid commitments. Now, more than ever, NGOs must explore innovative funding models to remain resilient. This masterclass series, developed by SIVIO Institute and hosted on Udemy, is designed to help fundraisers and nonprofit leaders harness the power of individual giving. It addresses the urgent question: What comes next after the aid cuts? Through this training, you’ll gain insights into: Join us to reimagine resource…
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Building Resilient Communities: The Power of Community Foundations and Network Building in Philanthropy
Reality check- No one is coming to rescue Africa! For decades, Official Development Assistance (ODA) from developed countries has been existing to tackle various challenges in Africa. The Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) system also rose on the continent to address Africa’s challenges and complement government efforts. Throughout all these interventions, community efforts to address their own challenges were seldomly recognised. In fact, certain aid systems reduced communities to merely passive recipients which in most cases created a dependency syndrome. In spite of this, communities still emerge as the first respondents in times of crisis like the floods and disease outbreaks. They are…
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Assessment of the Fulfilment of Election Promises by 5 African Governments- African Citizens Watch Country Briefs-2024
In 2018, SIVIO Institute established the zimcitizenswatch.org Platform, which was a tracking tool to assess the fulfilment of promises made to citizens by the elected Government of Zimbabwe. This platform grew as additional countries were included and became known as the African Citizens Watch platform. The platform was expanded in 2024 to include the newly elected governments of South Africa and Botswana. We are excited to release country insights on the performance of 5 (five) African governments, namely Botswana, Malawi, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe, reflecting on the performance of these governments in terms of their fulfilment of election promises…
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The state of promises fulfilment by the MCP regime four (4) years down the line
INTRODUCTION The Malawi Congress Party (MCP) was elected to office on June 28, 2020. This was after the nullification of the 2019 presidential results based on electoral irregularities. MCP made more than 204 promises through its manifesto[1]. Where are we four (4) years down the line and with elections earmarked for September 2025? Promising is one thing, but delivering on the promises means everything for a country struggling to attain a middle-income status and fighting higher levels of poverty and adverse macroeconomic conditions. Since 2020, SIVIO Institute (www.sivioinstitute.org) has been tracking the progress of the MCP in fulfilling its electoral…
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Citizens’ Perceptions and Expectations in Zimbabwe – The 2024 Assessment
Citizens’ Perceptions and Expectations in Zimbabwe – The 2024 Assessment Our fifth report on Citizens’ Perceptions and Expectations from Zimbabwe has been published. It has been five years of inquiring from citizens to understand their expectations and desires from the people they put into office. Since starting this process, we have dealt with a government led by Emmerson Dambuzo Mnangagwa. His first term was one filled with hope from Zimbabweans after the 2017 protests paved the way for a 2018 election, which saw him enter the Presidential office. His second term has had a vastly different public sentiment. This report…
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Does the UPND have 2026 in the Bag?
A Brief Analysis of the United Party for National Development (UPND) Performance since August 2021 1.0 Introduction The United Party for National Development (UPND), led by Hakainde Hichilema, assumed office in Zambia on August 24, 2021, following a decisive electoral victory that ended the nearly ten-year reign of the Patriotic Front (PF). This transition was met with widespread optimism, as many Zambians viewed it as an opportunity for significant change after years of economic challenges and governance issues. Since taking office, the UPND government has made notable progress in several key areas but has also faced challenges. SIVIO Institute (SI),…
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Navigating Slow Progress: The Government of Zimbabwe’s Performance in 2024
Zimbabwe’s government, led by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, faced numerous challenges in 2024, particularly in navigating economic development, and social progress amidst different struggles, including the El Niño-induced drought. As 2025 starts it is crucial to evaluate the government’s performance in 2024 and its implications for the future. This article reviews Zimbabwe’s government performance in 2024, focusing on four critical themes: the economy, governance, social service delivery, and corruption. By examining these key areas, the article seeks to provide insights into the government’s successes and challenges, as well as the potential opportunities and pitfalls that lie ahead in 2025. This short narrative…
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What If Re-broadcasts on HSTV
What If Re-broadcasts on HSTV We are excited to share that our What if Series is being rebroadcast on the much-loved Heart and Soul TV (HSTV). The episodes are being rebroadcast every Tuesday at 2pm. The What if series is a collection of development focused conversations that seek to reimagine being and life conditions of African citizens. The show curates ideas and thoughts main by Tendai Murisa but also members of the SIVIO Team. Tendai started the podcast as small collections of thought pieces in late 2023. From an audio blog to a video podcast, the conversations evolved to include…
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SIVIO Team Retreat -February 2025
SIVIO Team Retreat -February 2025 The SIVIO team had a strategy retreat from the 2nd to the 6th of February 2025. The retreat was hosted at in Inyanga at Thorntree Lodge. The objective of the retreat was to take time to consider a systems approach in the way we work. As an organisation we have been in existence since 2018. Our approach is integrated in four Centres of work namely the Centre for Philanthropy and Communities, The Centre for Civic Engagement and the Centre for Economic Development and Livelihoods. Supporting these centres are the tools of Communications, Training, Research and Knowledge Generation as…
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South Africa Citizens Watch – Assessment of Actions Implemented by the GNU since July 2024
On the 29th of May 2024, South Africa held its 7th National and Provincial elections, and for the first time, the ruling African National Congress (ANC) could not secure a majority, which would give it an automatic mandate to form government. The elections led to the formation of a Government of National Unity (GNU). The GNU comprising of the ANC, Democratic Alliance (DA), Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), Good Party (Good), Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), Patriotic Alliance (PA), Freedom Front Plus (FF+), United Democratic Movement (UDM), Rise Mzansi (Rise) and Al Jama-ah, was forged as a means of building consensus and…
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