Context
At a time when funding is increasingly difficult to secure while needs continue to rise, many organisations are under intense pressure. Migrant populations are at record levels due to conflict and climate crises, girls’ completion of primary and secondary education is declining, and access to healthcare remains a struggle. The challenges are overwhelming.

What explored
On Thursday 19 February, we hosted an online conversation moderated by Zoya Siddiqui from Acumen, an organisation that recognised early on the potential of the social enterprise model. Together, we explored how this approach can help organisations build more resilient, financially sustainable models.

We highlighted and heard from three grassroots organisations applying this model in the field: Aavishkaar Centre (India), Project Maji (Africa), and Womengro Initiative (Uganda). We were also be joined by the Elea Foundation for Ethics in Globalisation, which supports social entrepreneurs through its philanthropic giving, to share the funder perspective on what helps these models thrive.

Moderator:
Zoya Siddiqui, Development and Partnerships Manager at Acumen Europe

Expert perspective:
Lisa Jean-Mairet, Executive Director, Elea Foundation for Ethics in Globalisation

Voices from the field (highlighted organisations):
– Prapti Bhasin, CEO, Aavishkaar Centre, India
– Sunil Lalvani, Founder, Project Maji, Africa
– Lilian Nakigozi, Founder, Womengro Initiative Uganda

On December 4th, Giving Women held a panel conversation that brought together practitioners from the field, a researcher, and an expert moderator to demonstrate how teaching digital skills can provide job opportunities for Africa's "Youthquake." Our panelists shared the successes and opportunities they have observed among the youth they have trained. They also acknowledged the challenges faced by young women, as described by Funda, in navigating this new work ecosystem.

While the ability to work from home and on one's own schedule was highlighted as a significant advantage for women balancing household and childcare responsibilities, the workload often proved to be unmanageable. This put them at an unfair disadvantage when seeking work on digital platforms. Similarly, when working directly with companies, the flexibility to work from home was often lacking.

The two practitioners who represented hybrid organisations—combining a not-for-profit arm with a company that provides job opportunities for their graduates—demonstrated how they are addressing these challenges with a strong awareness of gender issues.

The discussion was fascinating, multi-layered, and rich, beautifully moderated, and certainly left us confident in the abundant opportunities available for youth in Africa.

Click on the button above to hear the conversation with the panelists:
•    Valerie Okumu – Development Officer,  Konexio Africa
•    Dr Funda Ustek Spilda – Senior Lecturer and SE Asia Programmes Lead
     at the Department of Digital Humanities, King’s College London
•    Brizan Were – Co-founder and Managing Director, Lion's Strength

Moderated by:
•    Kirsten Schuettler – Economist

On Thursday, 30 October 2025, Giving Women hosted an online panel conversation on “Gender Based Violence; Identification, Prevention and Healing”. The conversation was honest, clear, authentic and instructive. The urgency of the situation was palpable as was the concern around the lack of funding, as stated in a paper by UN Women ”At risk and underfunded: How funding cuts are threatening efforts to end violence against women and girls”

The panel, expertly moderated by Julie Broome, director of the Issues Affecting Women Programme at Oak Foundation, was made up with women with lived experience, practitioners who work with survivors on the ground and a researcher. We are sograteful for the amazing insights and knowledge they shared with us:

➢ Jane Anyango - Founder of Polycom Girls in Nairobi, Kenya
➢ Trizah Gawka - Program Manager at Be That Girl
➢ Alessandra Guedes - Gender & Development Research Manager at UNICEF Innocenti
➢ Daniela Valdivia - President at Huellas & Futuro NGO
➢ Queentah Wambulwa - CEO at Girls For Africa Mental Health Foundation

Most interesting was how the speakers with very varied entry points to the issue were so aligned on the understanding of the issue and the ways forward.The magic of collaboration and knowledge sharing was actively happening throughout the 90 minutes
Here are some key take aways:
• Social norms normalise GBV 
• Stigma and shaming often prevent survivors of GBV from reporting
• Survivors need safe spaces to report
• To change social norms there has to be buy in by all stake holders
• Adolescent a girls are particularly vulnerable to GBV for a variety of reasons intimate partner violence due to misogyny and toxic masculinity, traditional practices such as early marriage and  FGM
• Police need to be sensitised to Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) so survivors of TFGBV  can report - legal reforms, technological solutions, and support systems for victims need to be urgently put in place
• Lack of accountability is a barrier to justice for survivors of GBV
• Children in households where they witness domestic violence and are themselves victims of abuse create a cycle of violence 
• Parenting support needed to help mothers and fathers to bring up their children in a calm non violent environment
• Education is essential so that young children learn non violent conflict resolution, gender equality and to end toxic masculinity
• Healing through survivor-centred approaches, including trauma-informed care, online support spaces, and literacy training.