Africa Funds Task Force

An Update

Written By: Kathleen Burek
Published: Thursday, June 17, 2010

Over the past several months, the Africa Funds Task Force has discussed how to most effectively use the nearly $10,000 we raised at last year’s Convocation.  The original Task Force included Linda Lu Burciaga, Cathy Cordes, Jill McAllister, Barbara Beach, Laura Nagel, and Kathy Burek (staff).

We began our process with a draft set of criteria based on the documents we submitted last spring in conjunction with our successful grant applications. We then interviewed seven key people with knowledge in international funding and/or administering aid projects, with knowledge of Africa, or knowledge of the many facets of the UUA. We revised the criteria based on the key person interviews, and then recommended the following criteria to the ICUUW Board:
Projects should focus on the priority areas adopted by the ICUUW, namely,
Improving education for women
Improving health care for women and children
Preventing Violence against women and children
Through the lenses of empowering women and reducing poverty

Projects should come from UU organizations in good standing with the ICUU, and preferably ones with whom there is an existing relationship with the International Council of Unitarians and Universalists, the UU Partner Church Council, ICUUW, and/or the UUA;
Projects should involve women in all phases of planning and organizing;

Projects should come from those who will benefit, and be grass-roots developed, rather than initiated from the top or from the outside;

Project should promote connections among women in the recipient community, and between recipients and the ICUUW;

Projects should have some long-term impact, even if the activity is a one-time effort.

We also recommended a funding strategy based on making 2-3 modest awards and learning as we go. The Board asked us to examine the role of microfinance further, so we are continuing the discussion.  We have added Karen LaFrance to the Task Force, so she can provide her expertise in microfinance.

Our initial strategy, it should be noted, is project-focused. Staff recently interviewed another key person who suggested that we start by identifying an effective group, and asking them what they would like to accomplish.  We would then determine what we fund based on the results of their planning process rather than impose microcredit if that was not what they determined to be in their best interests.
The Task Force is interested in ideas from any of you in the Global Sisters/ICUUW community. Please send any suggestions to Kathy Burek at kpburek@comcast.net.