Region: East Africa
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How we are working to improve the socio-economic position of LGBTIQ+ people
Worldwide, a disproportionate number of LGBTIQ+ people are poor, unemployed and economically disadvantaged. Hivos wants to change this. So this year we kicked off our five-year ‘Free to be Me’ program. Together with local organizations from 14 countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia, we will strive to increase the socio-economic rights of the…
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Tabu Osusa and preserving Kenya’s musical heritage
You can easily pass Tabu Osusa on the streets of Nairobi without recognizing this historical figure’s contribution to East Africa’s arts and cultural space. Born 67 years ago in Western Kenya, Tabu has carved out a name for himself in the arts, culture and music scene. He has put on different hats in his 40-year…
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Kenya must safeguard the sexual and reproductive health rights of young girls and women
By the We Lead team Sexual and reproductive health is a fundamental human right as well as a human development issue that countries and states must strive to fulfil. But this is a right that is seemingly at a crossroads of gross violations. The shocking news of the Kenyan government’s complacency in allowing expired family…
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Solar block-chain technology for climate justice
Climate change cannot wait. This is a statement that is not far from the truth. Catastrophic environmental disasters have been on the rise through floods, famine and hunger. And now, the world is facing a pandemic that has decimated lives at a massive scale. At the heart of the climate change debate are also communities…
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Cross-border nomadic communities upholding their civic rights
For Ekal Erupe, a nomadic Turkana pastoralist from Kenya, sovereignty means a sense of authority over his cattle -a source of his livelihood – and sharing resources with his neighbours from the Karamoja community across the border in Uganda. The history of cross-border pastoralist communities has been marred by -clan tensions and resources driven- conflicts…
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Refuge in storytelling: The story of Simma Africa
This is a series of stories from the Resource of Open Minds (R.O.O.M) Program, New Ways of Working focus area. Through this new area we have on boarded 8 grantees in our continued support to defend the waning civic space in East Africa. Contribution by guest blogger- Natasha Simma Fleeing home to seek refuge and settle…
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Data artistry for mental health
This is a series of stories from the Resource of Open Minds (R.O.O.M) Program, New Ways of Working focus area. Through this new area we have on boarded 8 grantees in our continued support to defend the waning civic space in East Africa. By guest blogger- Phillip Ayazika For many years artistry has proven to be…
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Metta: Creative challenge program
This is a series of stories from the Resource of Open Minds (R.O.O.M) Program, New Ways of Working focus area. Through this new area we have on boarded 8 grantees in our continued support to defend the waning civic space in East Africa. The prolonged COVID-19 pandemic has had its fare share of challenges affecting…
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Grant-making requires empathy and building trust with communities
By Sheila Mulli, Regional Program Manager – Voice Kenya & Tanzania Money is always a tough conversation to have in any relationship, whether personal or professional. In my short time as a grant maker, I’ve come to realize that money conversations will never be easy, and they definitely play a large part in the power…
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Hivos: Twitter ban in Nigeria is an affront to freedom of expression
By Mendi Njonjo, Regional Director, Hivos East Africa As the rest of the world continued with information exchanges online, a wall of silence fell on citizens of Nigeria on Friday, June 4, 2021. The federal government announced a ban on Twitter, leading to a full blackout affecting millions of users that is now entering its…
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The promise to young rightsholders: We Lead
2021 marks 40 years since the first case of AIDS was reported in the world, signalling the rise of an epidemic that is not a respecter of geographic location, gender, race, ethnicity or age. In fact, low income countries have been worst hit with extreme impact on vulnerable populations such as women and the youth.…
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The rise of disinformation in post-Trump Africa
By Churchill Ongere, Anthony Wafula and Sally Akinyi The digital era has come of age and now influences or affects multiple aspects of our lives. Most would characterize it as an information explosion that has made knowledge – once the prestigious perk of elite groups – a widely-accessible tool for human development. News production is…