The first quarter of the year has gone by very fast. In just two months’ time, we will be halfway through the year, yet a lot still remains to be done. CAPSI started the year with some exuberance, declaring 2022 our publications year. Over the last four years, we have been conducting research across the continent, focusing on different research areas. These are mainly the High-Net-Worth Individuals and their philanthropy; Foundations and Trusts in Africa; infrastructure Support Organisations; COVID-19 and Philanthropy; the Social Investment Landscape in Africa; Barriers to Civil Society and the Fourth Industrial Revolution, among others. We worked with more than twenty research associates spread across Africa. We have finalised the production of the research reports and starting this April, we will be publishing an article or two per month. This means for the whole year, we are guaranteeing you a well-researched article to read. All articles will be available through open access. You can read the first of these articles here.
On our team developments
Our exuberant spirit was also due to our growth over the last few years. Recently, we added new talent to our team, and we have made a few strategic movements. Our colleague, Keratiloe Mogotsi, who recently graduated with her doctoral degree on philanthropic studies, transitioned from being CAPSI’s Programmes Manager to a Lecturer position. We started our postdoctoral programme, and we are happy to announce that two candidates joined CAPSI, Dr Melody Mandevere and Dr Roselyne Cheruiyot, one of whom is a former CAPSI affiliated student and research associate. The good news does not end there – we are most fortunate to have Professor Jacob Mati who joined us at the beginning of the year. Prof Mati is a seasoned academic and researcher with experience working in India, Fiji, and Africa. He is not new to CAPSI – he previously served as an associate researcher for CAPSI. Prof Mati assumed his duties at the beginning of the year as CAPSI’s Deputy Director, responsible for academic programmes.
On Kisima African Giving Platform
COVID-19 had its bad outcomes, but as with several crises, there is always a silver lining. For us, the silver lining was the development of an initiative to showcase African giving. The pandemic demonstrated the various local mechanisms of giving that exist in Africa and the fact that these are not always made visible. We decided to showcase several stories through an initiative called Kisima African Giving (www.kisimagiving.org). Please donate your story in any language of your choice through the site or contact our colleague Mapaseka Mokwele. Mapaseka joined us late last year and has vast experience in broadcasting and communications.
As far as I know, Kisima portal is the only site in the world that uses so many languages. We are looking forward to activating the Fund dimension in Kisima, where we will raise resources from the public for selected beneficiaries. Please visit the site and our social media platforms for new developments and updates. The first of a series of Kisima Quarterly Dialogues was hosted in a hybrid event format; you can watch the recording of this inaugural event and enjoy the keynote address from the Chancellor of the University, Dr Judy Dlamini.
On Academic Programmes
You can imagine our excitement at the news of the approval and accreditation of our Master of Management in African Philanthropy Degree, in early 2021. We have worked hard to put systems in place to offer the programme in 2022. Applications for the MM in African Philanthropy are open until the end of May. We are also offering a Postgraduate Diploma in African Philanthropy and Resource Mobilisation. The first cohort will be completing the programme in June and a second cohort will commence thereafter. These two programmes are very important for CAPSI and its positioning in the continent and beyond. These are the first offerings of this type in Africa, and we are very proud to be behind them. This is a dream come true for us, but we know very well that the real work is only just beginning. We know that this is a very intimate and niche area – we have to nurture it, build it, and sustain it over time through several collaborations and partnerships.
On partnerships
We are excited to have signed working agreements with the Centre on Strategic Philanthropy at Cambridge University, Strathmore University in Kenya, the Africa Philanthropy Forum, Africa Philanthropy Network, TrustAfrica, East Africa Philanthropy Network and several other partners from Africa and beyond. We continue to be members of several networks that include the International Society for Third Sector Research (ISTR), Association for Research on Non-profit Organisations and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA) and Independent Philanthropy Association of South Africa (IPASA), among others.
In addition to our academic offerings, CAPSI has made strides in providing professional training. We are hosting the Innocent Chukwuma NGO Transitional Leadership Fellowship. Innocent was instrumental in establishing the Association for Research on Civil Society in Africa, whose flagship initiative is the Fellowship. This Fellowship used to be hosted by ARNOVA and the Lilly School of Philanthropy in Indianapolis. CAPSI will host the Fellowship for three years. Furthermore, CAPSI and WBS will offer training to SADC Member States’ civil servants on resource mobilisation in May and June 2022. This is a project funded by GiZ under its SADC National Regional Linkages project.
Looking ahead
We are beginning to have concerns about our successes and impact: what are we achieving, how well are we executing our mandate? Towards the end of last year, we initiated an independent evaluation of our work. We anticipate having the final report in the next month, and we look forward to the report and its recommendations. This will be our first evaluation and we will, of course, share its contents with our partners.
As you can tell, I am filled with excitement and could go on and on writing about CAPSI in 2022. The bottom line is that there is a lot to be done this year and we are already approaching midyear. I invite you to enjoy reading this edition of the Newsletter.
Till then, CAPSI it.
Bhekinkosi Moyo
PS: Click here to access the the full May 2022 newsletter
