RISE FOR PHOKA is a volunteer-powered, youth and community-led development organization in Malawi that focuses on tackling climate change and sustainable development issues and is committed to taking care of the most vulnerable members of their communities, such as children and the elderly. Their support comes from income generated locally by visiting volunteers ’contributions, individual donations, and community-driven economic development initiatives. As Bhavna, one of their supporters stated, they are doing development “the way our ancestors used to do it.”

Join us for a conversation with Kondwani Msyalie, RISE FOR PHOKA Executive Director and two of key supporters to explore this community-centered Global South model built on the strong belief that resources for what we do can come from within communities themselves.

Live translation to French and Spanish will be available

Date and Time : 26th June, 2025

• Kenya - 17h00
• Malawi - 16h00
• UK - 15h00

Speakers 

Kondwani Msyalie is the Founder and Executive Director of RISE FOR PHOKA, a grassroots Community Foundation in Livingstonia, Malawi, dedicated to sustainable community development. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Management and a University Certificate of Education from the University of Livingstonia. Passionate about community empowerment, Kondwani leads projects focused on sustainable agriculture, education, and social support for vulnerable groups. Through his leadership, RISE FOR PHOKA has mobilized local resources and fostered partnerships to drive positive change.

Frank Charles Kasonga is the Executive Director of Mudzi Connect, where he oversees the community development efforts of a local NGO that has improved the health, education, and economic opportunity and social justice for more than 600,000 Malawians to date. Frank is a published author with 20+ years of hands-on experience in project design and proposal development, organizational development, capacity building and training, grants administration, governance, environmental justice, people management, financial tracking, and monitoring and evaluation. Frank holds a Master’s Degree in Transformative Community Development from Mzuzu University, BSc in Social Science, and a Law certificate from Staff Development Institute. Frank is a leader by nature, a team-player, capacity builder, excellent writer, and a charismatic trainer. Frank is widely regarded as a leader in promoting locally-led development and a frequent speaker and panelist on the topic. 

Bhavna Naik is a professionally qualified Finance Manager from the UK. She is employed in the charitable sector, and was born in Zambia, where her parents initially migrated to from India. In 2022, she was seconded to Malawi for three years as Head of Finance for a social enterprise.

Having witnessed an unhealthy dependency culture in Malawi, she collaborated with a Malawian founded charity- Rise for Phoka to progress the idea of sustainable communities by buying farmland with the aim to grow and sell the produce to generate income to fulfill the charitable objectives of the organization.

She is a passionate disrupter, believes in giving with grace and dignity, and embraces grass roots values and nature.

The recent webinar, Funding on Our Terms: Rethinking Donor-Recipient Relationships for Sustainable Impact, held on the 29th of May 2025, was led by the Zambian Governance Foundation (ZGF), and brought powerful insights into the urgent need to transform how development funding works.

In a global context where "shifting the power" is often discussed but rarely practiced meaningfully, ZGF’s CEO Engwase Banda Mwale and CLD/CSO Support Manager, Racheal Mwila made a compelling case for centering community leadership and autonomy. Their presentations challenged conventional donor-led funding models and shared how ZGF is actively dismantling these outdated structures.

What Needs to Change?

Racheal Mwila broke down the structural issues with traditional funding:

• Short-term, donor-driven priorities that limit local innovation

• Excessive administrative burdens on CSOs

• Limited decision-making power for communities doing the actual work

Instead, ZGF is pioneering a new model grounded in community-led development and participatory grantmaking. Their three funds — the Catalyst Fund, Civil Society Strengthening Fund, and Community Resource Match Fund — emphasize trust, flexibility, and local ownership.

Shifting Power in Practice

Engwase Banda Mwale framed ZGF’s journey as a transformation in mindset, not just strategy. With over 400 CSO connections and growing alliances, ZGF asks bold questions like, What if communities made the call and funders responded?

Their "reverse call for proposals" flips the script, enabling communities to define priorities while ZGF acts as a responsive bridge-builder and trust creator. This model challenges the traditional role of intermediaries and invites donors to co-create rather than control.

Why This Matters

In the face of declining trust in institutions and growing inequality, the case for funding differently is not only moral — it's strategic. As Racheal emphasized, “We are not beneficiaries; we are philanthropists.” This powerful reframing invites communities to own their solutions, scale what works, and lead lasting change.

Watch the Recording

Missed the live session? You can watch the full event recording here.

Speakers: 

Engwase Banda Mwale, Chief Executive Officer of the Zambian Governance Foundation (ZGF), is a visionary leader with over 20 years of experience in senior management roles across the private and development sectors. A passionate advocate for women's empowerment, gender equality, good governance, and sustainable development, Engwase has a proven track record of driving transformative change and promoting inclusive growth. With her expertise in gender, leadership, and organizational development, she has been instrumental in shaping policies and programs that support marginalized communities and promote environmental sustainability. 

Racheal Mwila is a seasoned development practitioner and manager of community-led development and civil society organizations at ZGF, with over a decade of experience driving climate action. Her expertise spans climate change advocacy, sustainable development, and shifting power dynamics to empower local communities. Racheal has a proven track record of mobilizing stakeholders, developing climate-resilient projects, and promoting environmental stewardship. Her passion lies in fostering inclusive, community-driven solutions to mitigate the impacts of climate change and ensure a sustainable future.