CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS RAISE CONCERNS OVER FUNDING AT PHILANTHROPY CONFERENCE 2026, LHRC AND FCS SPEAK OUT



The Executive Director of the Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC), Dr. Anna Henga, has urged human rights organisations to establish alternative funding mechanisms through social and domestic philanthropy instead of relying heavily on foreign funding.

Dr. Henga made the remarks in Dar es Salaam while speaking at the International Philanthropy Conference 2026, which brought together various Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to discuss a range of issues affecting philanthropy and the civil society sector.

Leading a panel discussion on the enabling environment, Dr. Henga stressed the need for civil society organisations to prepare for changes in the funding landscape. She urged CSOs to identify and utilise diverse sources of resources, strengthen partnerships, and reduce excessive dependence on international funding.

“LHRC is committed to advancing this discussion through online forums and monitoring developments—where they are happening, when they are happening and who is involved—to facilitate more purposeful and meaningful collaboration,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Acting Executive Director of the Foundation for Civil Society (FCS), Gabriel Bundala, contributed to discussions on social philanthropy, domestic resource mobilisation and financial inclusion.

Drawing on findings and insights from an FCS study titled “Beyond the Buzz,” Bundala emphasised the importance of Civil Society Organisations moving away from transactional funding relationships and instead building meaningful and sustainable partnerships with the private sector based on trust, positive impact and shared value.

The conference addressed several key issues, with the discussion guided by reflections from Dr. Stigmata Ter, Executive Director of APN Africa. The panel brought together Shaun Samuels of SGS Consulting, Madonna Ainembabazi of GivingTuesday Africa, Berhanu Demiss of DEC, and Eshban Kwesiga of GFCF, among others.

Key Issues Discussed

Bridging the gap between CSOs and the private sector:

Civil Society Organisations possess extensive knowledge and understanding of communities. However, stronger partnerships require a common language, credible evidence and a better understanding of how different sectors approach development.

Recognising Africa’s culture of generosity:

Giving, solidarity and collective action are already deeply rooted in African communities. Participants emphasised the need to recognise and build upon this existing culture rather than creating entirely new systems from scratch.

Changing perceptions of community resources:

The conference also called for a broader understanding of the resources available within communities.

Shaun Samuels further highlighted the significant potential within community savings systems. He noted that initiatives such as Village Community Banks (VICOBA) should not merely be viewed as informal groups, but should instead be recognised as important actors in financing and driving community development.

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