Mama Hope

19/08/2026

BULLSH!T WITHOUT BORDERS

We’re incredibly proud of Susan Davis, who has just released Bullsh!t without Borders. A book with more honesty and better jokes than anything else on the shelf.

Susan draws from 30 years of watching good intentions go sideways in international development, and she asks a difficult but necessary question: What if some of the systems designed to end poverty are actually helping to perpetuate it?

It’s a question that resonates deeply with MAMA HOPE.

For years, we've advocated for . Challenging global development narratives to stop portraying communities as helpless, grassroots leaders as beneficiaries waiting to be saved, and outsiders as the heroes with the answers.

We have pushed back against and a model of development that too often overlooks the power, agency, knowledge, and solutions that already exist within communities.

As Marla Smith-Nilson, Founder and Executive Director of Water1st International, writes: “Complex problems aren’t solved by outsiders with prescriptions; they’re solved by people living them every day.”

That thinking sits at the heart of our Advocacy work:

✴️ Grassroots organizations don't need outsiders to arrive with solutions.
✴️ Grassroots organizations are already solving problems, mobilizing communities, building institutions, and creating change.
✴️ Grassroots organizations need a development ecosystem willing to recognize their expertise, invest in their leadership, strengthen the systems, shift resources and decision-making power closer to where change is actually happening.

Bullsh!t Without Borders is provocative by design. But behind the title is a serious challenge to our sector: good intentions are not enough.

We have to be willing to question who holds power, who gets to define success, whose expertise we value, and whether our interventions actually work.

Congratulations, Susan! We’re proud to have a voice on our Board that continues to challenge our sector to do better.

If you or someone wants to 'make a difference,' grab your copy today >>

For global changemakers who care too much to settle for just good intentions.

12/08/2026

LDA Program | Midterm Report

Strategic planning is the most consistently named transformative module.

Before the program:
✴️ 23% (5 of 22 organisations) had a comprehensive, documented strategic plan.
✴️ 50% were operating with either an informal, incomplete plan or no plan at all.

Now at the halfway point:
✴️ 100% of the organisations are now actively building or have completed a multi-year strategic plan; and it is, by a wide margin, the module partners describe as most transformative.

“The Strategic Planning module has been the most transformative because it helped us clarify our why. Having that clarity has made it easier to make decisions and stay focused on our goals.” LDA 2026 Partner Feedback.

“It helped us move from being activity-driven to becoming more intentional and systems-focused. Through the module, we developed a clearer understanding of our mission, target populations, strategic pillars, and Theory of Change.” LDA 2026 Partner Feedback.

Partners describe a shift from doing many activities to making clearer decisions about mission, target population, strategic pillars, outcomes, and long-term positioning. This is especially important because most did not begin with a comprehensive strategic plan.

📷 LDA 2026 Cohort partners during an in-person workshop in March | Nairobi, Kenya. Image by Sobukwe Nonkwe.

07/08/2026

LDA Program | Partner Visits

Two recent partner visits to Simba's Footprints Foundation and Training for Life in Moshi, Tanzania, reminded us of something we see time and again at MAMA HOPE: That lasting community impact starts with strong organisations.

Although their missions are different, both organisations are intentionally investing in the foundations that support sustainable growth, strengthening their internal systems, improving how they learn and communicate, and nurturing organisational cultures that will serve them well into the future.

These are the kinds of investments that often go unnoticed, but they enable locally led organisations to grow with purpose and sustain their impact over time.

What stood out most was that organisational development doesn't stop when a programme ends. Both organisations spoke about the continued value of mentorship, peer learning, alumni connections, and practical support in areas like fundraising, storytelling, and program development.

Their reflections reinforced something we deeply believe: localisation is about far more than funding projects. It's about walking alongside local leaders as they build strong institutions with the confidence, systems, and networks to lead lasting change.

Conversations like these continue to shape how we strengthen The Collective and our commitment to supporting resilient, locally-led organisations across East Africa.

05/08/2026

LDA Program | Midterm Report

We recently conducted an LDA program mid-term evaluation, which offered useful insights into the outcomes of the program so far. In just five (5) months into the program:

✴️ 82% of Participating Organisations Reported Stronger Organisational Capacity
✴️ 91% Reported Increased Leadership Confidence
✴️ 95% Reported the Program had Fundamentally Shifted how they think about Leadership.

Partner organisations reported Clearer staff roles (82%), updated or created policies (77%), Improved internal communication and decision-making (73%), Improved documentation and storage of organisational information (77%), and better workload planning (64%).

“Before the LDA, my organisation was operating without a clear strategic direction, and now we are becoming a more structured, strategic, and confident organisation with a clearer path for growth and sustainability.” Feedback from an LDA 2026 Partner.

These changes are more than administrative improvements. They signal a shift from organisations that depend on individual knowledge to organisations that rely on institutional systems.

Are you a donor who is interested in learning more about how we can support your grantee organizations to strengthen their systems? Email us: [email protected].

29/07/2026

The Collective Spotlight

One of the greatest strengths of The Collective is that the relationships built during the LDA program continue long after the final session.

In April, two of our alumni partners, Violeth Julius and Gasasira Irakoze Constantin, attended the Women Deliver Conference in Australia. They quickly become anchors for each other in a new environment.

"I found a familiar face and someone I could trust to navigate the space, which was grounding for me as the conference was large and busy. Our connection was strengthened, and we were able to introduce each other to different people in our networks. This experience reminds me of how valuable the relationships built through the LDA program are, as they extend way beyond the program itself." Violeth Julius.

"Violeth introduced me to some people as she was more open to connecting, which allowed us to walk together. I connected with people I wouldn't have reached out to." Constantin Gasasira.

Their feedback is an exciting reminder that one of the most valuable assets during networking is knowing there's someone in the room who will help you find your footing, make introductions, and ensure you don't have to navigate new spaces alone.

📸 Violeth Julius Executive Director Tanzanian Feminist Network and Constantin Gasasira Founder of The Tech Guardians at the Women Deliver Conference | April 2026

21/07/2026

East Africa Connect | Segal 2026 Side Event

On the sidelines of The Next Beat convening happening in Nairobi this week, we co-hosted a cocktail on Monday evening. East Africa Connect is an informal gathering that brings together doers, donors, and ecosystem actors who are part of the OC family and beyond.

It was a pleasure to host everyone who attended, reconnecting with our alumni partners Watoto Wasome, Stand Out 4 Mental Health, and Faces Up Uganda. As well as hanging out with our current LDA partners KNESWO, Start A Library Trust, Health Alert Rwanda, and Diversified Kenya.

Feedback from one of the attendees: "It was great! It was nice to be in a room without the pressure of trying to fundraise.”

This edition was brought to you by: Opportunity Collaboration, Segal Family Foundation, The Kilgoris Project, The Action Foundation, Good Kenyan Foundation, RELI Africa, and MAMA HOPE.

15/07/2026

LDA Program | Stay for Tea

Stay for Tea is a partner-led space created to support leaders in discussing the real challenges and opportunities they face beyond the formal learning sessions. We observed a strong desire during our in-person gathering and training sessions for more candid peer-to-peer discussions.

Our first session brought partners together for an open conversation on How to Handle External Pressure that leaders navigate every day. Through shared experiences and practical discussion, three key themes emerged:

✴️ Recognizing the difference between pressure and stress: Understanding when external demands begin affecting personal and organizational well-being is the first step toward preventing burnout.
✴️ Leading with communication and boundaries: Honest conversations with donors, partners, and teams, coupled with realistic expectations, create healthier and more sustainable working environments.
✴️ Protecting people while delivering impact: Psychological safety, regular team check-ins, and prioritizing staff well-being are leadership practices that strengthen resilience during challenging times.

With Stay for Tea, envision a space that will be a safe and supportive environment where partners choose the topics, volunteer to facilitate, and learn from one another's experiences.

📸 LDA 2026 Partners taking part in an introduction game during the in-person workshop in March 2026.

26/06/2026

Invest in the Anchor, Not Just the Boat

Last week, Vincent and Wambui joined 600 delegates at the gathering held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Convenings like these are vital to our work for several key reasons: relationship building, networking, , and learning.

Wambui JL was deeply involved in the heart of building the conversation, within Workstream 3: The Domestic Capital Paradox. Alongside Ann Kungu of Blood:Water. she co-facilitated an Organizational & Community Asset Building.

Furthermore, the conference conversations were an affirmation that the path we as MAMA HOPE have walked for the last 3-years is the right path.

Read more insights in our latest article: Anchoring Systems: Reflections from the 10th East Africa Philanthropy Conference >> https://hubs.la/Q04mCYVV0

As we head back to our work, we carry these conversations & connections with us, ready to continue acting as the architects of systems that truly belong to the partners we serve.

24/06/2026

The Collective Spotlight

One of the outcomes we are most proud of from our LDA program is seeing partners continue to collaborate and support one another after the 9-month program.

Two (2) organizations from our 2025 DEAL Program - Youth Africa Alliance Solidarity (YASS) and Tanzania Feminist Network (TFN) - have continued to work together beyond the program.

Together, they are advancing feminist movements and strengthening community resilience through joint efforts such as economic empowerment initiatives, supporting members in building sustainable livelihoods and financial independence.

In times of urgent need, this collaboration has also extended to rapid support for activists and community members facing immediate challenges, reflecting the strength of a network designed not only for learning but for mutual care and action.

What began as shared learning during the program has grown into lasting, community-led relationships grounded in trust, solidarity, and a shared commitment to sustainable change.

📸 Angela Charles, Executive Director of Youth Alliance Solidarity (YASS) attending the Tanzania Feminist Network (TFN) Annual Gathering in Mombasa, Kenya.

17/06/2026

We're at the East African Philanthropy Conference!

If you're in attendance come say hi.