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From “Innovation for Localization” to “Local Philanthropy, Localization and Power”
November 17, 2022n 2021, five organizations – Save the Children Denmark, Network for Empowered Aid Response (NEAR), West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI), STAR Ghana Foundation (SGF) and the Global Fund for Community Foundations (GFCF) participated in an ambitious and experimental joint project.The aim of the project was to "test durable, locally rooted funding mechanisms" in Somalia and Ghana, with the broader purpose of contributing – by demonstration – to efforts within the international humanitarian aid and development sector to transform and localize aid. The purpose of this learning report, curated by the GFCF, is to capture some of the main insights and reflections ofthe participating organizations and to consider the broader implications of and lessons from the project. It focuses on the experiences of those involved and the larger question of how unorthodox configurations of actors and new and different kinds of partnerships might contribute towards transformative change within the international aid system.
The Philanthropy & Collaboration in Nigeria Report
August 1, 2022The Philanthropy and Collaboration Report in Nigeria by Philanthropy Circuit seeks to present the importance of collaboration, partnerships, and philanthropy, in the growth of development practice in Nigeria. The achievement of sustainable philanthropy and a thriving civil society, are indicators for national prosperity within any nation.The report takes an in-depth look at the activities of the Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID), which was positioned as the frontline defense apparatus against the pandemic's effects in Nigeria.
The NGO Tax Regime & the Enabling Environment for Philanthropy in Ghana
December 13, 2018Ghana has a vibrant culture of personal giving and charitable contributions, which offers hope for increased domestic resourcing and more effective and sustainable civil society organizations (CSOs) in this time of declining global support. However, the policy and legal frameworks for organized forms of giving/philanthropy in Ghana are lacking. It is difficult to find consistent and regularly-produced information on the nature and extend of organized giving and corporate social responsibility (CSR) engagement to facilitate collaboration and ascertain impact.In May 2018, the International Center for Non-For-Profit Law supported a research to identify and document current regulatory provisions that influence philanthropy; and to identify and develop specific positive policy reform recommendations.The rationale for this study was to help improve understanding amongst non-profits, government and other stakeholders on philanthropy in Ghana. It is also aimed at suggesting legal and administrative framework required to strengthen the philanthropy space.
The Role of Awqaf in the 21st Century: An Update on the Development of Islamic Foundations
December 1, 2013Awqaf is an important economic sector. Its importance is gleaned from the massive assets it controls, its substantial social expenditure, the large number of people it employs, and its significant contribution to the economy which adds between 10 to 14 per cent to the GDP of some countries.1 With such a significant economic output, and growth in the number, size and diversity of organisations entrusted with awqaf properties, awqaf as a faith-based charitable institution has generated interest beyond philanthropists and Shariah scholars, and the sector is no longer seen as exclusively religious. With a broader business focus, it became clear that the sector is in fact an industry and is being subjected to increased scrutiny by governments and regulatory authorities.The size of the sector and its growing economic importance qualify it for serious attention by legislators and standards setters of the Islamic financial industry. In order to rejuvenate the institution of waqf and reverse the trend of neglect and to enhance its role in social and economic development, a number of issues must be addressed: How should the regulatory framework operate? Would the regulations help or hinder the development of awqaf and the creation of new waqfs? Is uniformity needed? And how will this help? What is an ideal model for corporate governance? Is that model workable within the parameters imposed by other features of the business and political environment? What about sustainability and profitability and shouldn't awqaf be profitable in order to be sustainable? Do we see a conflict between awqaf as a not-for profit sector and the pursuit of growth and profitability? Is it acceptable to combine awqaf and business? Is this ethical, and how would it affect stakeholders? The awqaf sector and its management often remain not well understood. While a full answer to these questions is beyond the scope of this paper, there are a number of issues that appear important for our concern. The paper will focus on issues that are relevant for the integration of awqaf into the mainstream of the Islamic financial industry. It will also address matters that are of concern to regulatory authorities, awqaf foundations and to all awqaf stakeholders. For other publications in English and German, see www.maecenata.eu.
The Legislative Environment for Civil Society In Africa A Synthesis Report
January 1, 2009This paper is therefore a discussion of the legislative environment under which civil society, in particular organized formations, operate in Africa. It is based on twelve African countries (Angola, DRC, Ethiopia, Liberia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe). In all these countries we studied civil/state relations, existing NGO laws and NGO policies, including other laws that have an impact on NGOs, national constitutions, processes and the general political economy of the third sector. The merging findings point to some interesting conclusions. More studies are underway in Botswana, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, and Swaziland. The findings from these will be integrated into the current paper. This paper is therefore work in progress -- nevertheless the countries studied already are significant to begin a discourse on state/civil society relations, public spaces, and the general legislative environment for citizens and their formations. One of the emerging findings is that the political context determined the emergence of these legal instruments.
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