Dar es Salaam. African philanthropy and civil society actors are increasingly looking to community and domestic resources as international development funding becomes more uncertain, with participants at the UHISANI Forum 2026 calling for stronger local fundraising, partnerships and community ownership.
The forum, convened by the African Philanthropy Network (APN) in Dar es Salaam, brought together more than 90 philanthropy actors from across Tanzania, as well as participants from Ethiopia, South Africa and Uganda, to discuss ways of strengthening community and domestic philanthropy.
Held under the theme ‘Alternative Resources through Community and Domestic Philanthropy,’ the forum focused on how civil society organisations can diversify their resources while strengthening the role of communities in financing and shaping development initiatives.
APN Executive Director Stigmata Tenga said African-led approaches and local solutions were increasingly important to building resilient communities.
‘Prioritising African-led approaches and local solutions strengthens community resilience,’ Dr Tenga said, adding that indigenous giving practices, innovative approaches and partnerships could help address social challenges while strengthening local ownership.
The discussions came amid changes in the international funding environment that have affected civil society organisations across Tanzania and elsewhere in Africa. Participants said reductions and shifts in external donor funding were creating challenges on implementation of social justice initiatives that have traditionally relied heavily on international grants.
During an Ignite Talk, Eshban Kwesiga of the Global Fund for Community Foundations challenged participants to consider what resources already exist within communities rather than focusing only on declining external funding.
Speakers highlighted a range of approaches, including community contributions, individual giving, social enterprises, partnerships with businesses, savings schemes and other forms of domestic resource mobilisation.
The forum also examined the potential of established community structures such as Village Community Banks (VICOBA), SACCOS and faith-based organisations.
Participants argued that such structures should be viewed not merely as informal arrangements but as existing mechanisms through which communities already save, invest and finance their own priorities. Examples from Tanzania demonstrated the potential of locally driven approaches.
The Zanzibar Youth Forum, following Change the Game Academy training, mobilised more than Sh11 million after staff and members committed portions of their salaries and allowances towards supporting a rehabilitation centre for young people recovering from drug addiction.
The Tanzania League of the Blind also mobilised cash and in-kind support through its Friends of Children with Disabilities campaign, engaging government officials, businesses, teachers, parents and community members.
Contributions included educational materials, wheelchairs, food and clothing, while local government supported accessibility improvements at schools.
Other organisations have explored social enterprise as a way of generating resources. Thubutu Initiative Africa reported generating approximately Sh80 million in profit from its avocado farming activities last year, with part of the income reinvested in community interventions.
Participants stressed, however, that local resource mobilisation should not be understood simply as replacing international donors. Instead, they said it should contribute to a diversified financing ecosystem combining community resources, philanthropy, business partnerships and other sources of support.
Financial literacy was identified as another component of community self-reliance. During an Ignite Talk, Ms Lulu Meero of CRDB Bank said financial education could help communities strengthen their ability to budget, save, invest and manage credit.
The forum also placed emphasis on inclusion. Ms Rose Marandu of the Tanzania Women Fund Trust called for philanthropy and resource mobilisation approaches to address gender inequalities, unpaid care work and barriers that prevent women and marginalised groups from accessing resources and participating in decision-making.
APN also launched the Philanthropy Hub, a movement of more than 19 organisations and foundations intended to strengthen collaboration, learning and domestic philanthropy in Tanzania.
The Change the Game Academy’s Local Fundraising Techniques module was also launched in Kiswahili to broaden access to local fundraising knowledge.
The discussions will continue at the APN Assembly 2026, scheduled for November 2-6 in Accra, Ghana, under the theme ‘African Philanthropy in Action: Adopt, Advance, Amplify.’
The Assembly is expected to bring together philanthropy leaders and practitioners from across Africa and beyond.