Events

The events below are populated from several external sites that publicize grant events relevant to organizations like yours. We also have internal events from Kuja. Use the filters to explore the events that are interesting to you and apply to those that you want to attend!

Events 3

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Previous Events 16

Events 3 Saved Events 0 Previous Events 16

Jun 3, 2025

Diversifying Funds and Mobilizing Communities for Justice and Progress: The Case of FEM Colombia

As international donors increasingly withdraw from global cooperation, grassroots organizations in the Global South are stepping up with bold, sustainable alternatives. One such organization is FEM Colombia, a community-driven initiative that’s transforming how Afro-Colombian and Indigenous communities reclaim land, assert their rights, and shape their own futures.

On the 3rd of June, 2025, Kuja-hosted a webinar where we sat down with Ana Maria Gonzalez, Co-Founder of FEM, for a rich conversation on FEM’s model of inclusive development and their innovative approach to funding diversification. The webinar was a testament to how localized knowledge and community ownership are not just viable paths forward — they are essential.

Centering Land, Identity, and Rights

FEM’s work is deeply rooted in Colombia’s ethnically diverse and environmentally rich Pacific and Caribbean regions, where systemic inequalities persist. These areas experience higher rates of poverty, limited access to healthcare and education, and historic land dispossession. In response, FEM has helped over 20,000 people secure collective land titles, enabling communities to protect their territories and preserve cultural identity — a principle they call "Land Forever."

But FEM’s vision goes far beyond legal victories. They engage communities through ethno-education, ethno-health, and leadership training, especially targeting women and youth. Their work fuses legal advocacy with participatory planning, making development both inclusive and deeply rooted in local realities.

Turning Obstacles into Opportunities

FEM’s journey hasn’t been easy. Many traditional funders deemed the organization “too local,” financially unviable, or geographically inconvenient (being based in Cartagena rather than the capital, Bogotá). And the private sector wasn’t a likely ally, often due to conflicting interests around land ownership.

Rather than shrinking under this pressure, FEM got creative.

They monetized their own value — calculating the worth of their volunteer contributions, community-owned infrastructure, and unique cultural knowledge.
They launched social businesses, attracting angel investors and creating jobs for local vendors.
They secured a U.S.-based fiscal sponsor, crowdfunded within their networks, and pursued South-South grant partnerships with funders who understood their context.
FEM also transformed its governance, building a tiered support network of honorary members, associates, and friends to sustain community fundraising and outreach.

Lessons for the Global South — and the World

Ana Maria emphasized the importance of lean operations, continuous learning, and mission-aligned entrepreneurship. At FEM, building economic alternatives through community-based enterprises isn’t just about money — it’s about dignity, resilience, and justice.

Watch the recording of the session here.

Speaker

Ana Maria Gonzalez-Forero

Cofounder - FEM Colombia

www.femcolombia.org

Ana Maria is Colombian political scientist & mother of 2. Co-founded FEM (2007), securing land rights for 20,000 Afro-Colombians in 17 years via participatory models & social enterprises. Obama Scholar '18. Served Cartagena Gov't, tackling displacement & exploitation. Now with Voces Nuevas, advocating for Global South inclusion & a new world order.

Community Development

--Kuja--

May 29, 2025

Funding on our terms: Rethinking donor-recipient relationships for sustainable impact

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.

Shifting Power Sustainable Improvements

--Kuja--