We have officially launched Kuja! A platform that has been years in the making. This moment marks the realization of a vision that started with Degan Ali’s desire to address the most pressing challenges faced by civil society organizations (CSOs) in the Global South. The journey has been long, requiring extensive planning, reflection, and iteration, but today, Kuja is live, hosting its first users and beginning to create impact.
What is Kuja?
Kuja is designed to be a one-stop platform where organizations can find everything they need to strengthen their work. It facilitates connections, knowledge exchange, training participation, and the formation of communities of practice. Organizations using Kuja gain access to funding opportunities and capacity-building tools while engaging in critical conversations that shape the civil society sector.
Beyond providing resources, Kuja is a space to challenge existing power structures in global aid and development. It aims to make local organizations visible to donors without the need for multiple intermediaries. More than just a funding tool, Kuja is a movement that supports local leadership, autonomy, and long-term sustainability within the aid sector.
Kuja Offerings
Kuja is structured into four core offerings, each designed to meet specific needs of local organizations:
- KujaLink: A hub for funding opportunities, where local organizations can find grants, connect with donors, and enhance their financial sustainability.
- KujaBuild: A suite of administrative, financial, operational, human resources, and grants management services designed to support organizations in meeting donor compliance requirements.
- KujaLearn: E-learning courses and workshops focused on strengthening organizations, decolonizing aid, and empowering local leadership.
- KujaAdvise: A peer-to-peer advising platform where organizations can connect with experts and peer organizations for tailored guidance and mentorship.
What’s Coming Next?
In the coming months, Kuja will roll out new services within these offerings to further support local organizations. Some of the upcoming features include:
- Tailored Organizational Profiles: Local organizations will be able to showcase their work and expertise, making them discoverable to donors, peers, and partners.
- KujaLink Grants Feed: A consolidated list of public grants with an easy-to-use filtering system and zero paywalls, making funding searches more efficient.
- AI-Powered Compliance and Grant Analysis Tool: This tool will assess an organization’s fit for funding opportunities based on programmatic skills and operational capacities.
- Community-Led Events: Kuja members will be able to host their own webinars and training sessions to share expertise and best practices with a wider audience.
- KujaLearn E-Learning & Workshops: Courses and training sessions focused on decolonization, power dynamics, and best practices in aid and development.
Looking Ahead
Kuja is a social enterprise, meaning that while some offerings are free, others will involve costs. In 2025, KujaLearn’s e-learning courses and live workshops will introduce paid access, and by 2026, KujaBuild’s services will also have associated fees. However, we are committed to ensuring that pricing remains fair and that financial barriers do not prevent local organizations from accessing vital resources. We will work with donors, INGOs, and other entities to subsidize costs and invest in accessibility for smaller organizations.
As we move forward, our goal is to make Kuja a trusted, essential platform for organizations across the Global South. We envision a future where local organizations can collaborate, build networks, and gain direct access to resources—without relying on traditional gatekeepers.
A Call to Action
The launch of Kuja is just the beginning. We are in a moment of rapid and sometimes destabilizing shifts in the aid sector, making it more urgent than ever to rethink our systems. Kuja is here to eliminate unnecessary intermediaries and put power back in the hands of local organizations.
We invite you to be part of this movement. Explore Kuja, engage with its offerings, and help us shape a new normal—one where local leadership drives global change.
What does visibility mean to you? How can we work together to create a more equitable aid and development sector? Join the conversation and be part of this transformative journey.
Welcome to Kuja.