Noella Coursaris Musunka

[NEW PODCAST] Trends in direct #fundraising: keeping it real with Erica Waasdorp Erica is President of A Direct Solution and a guru on direct fundraising and especially monthly giving for nonprofits and NGOs. I am on a journey to deepen my understanding of resource mobilization and fundraising - including public fundraising. Erica was the logical person to ask. ﹖How do I know whether my organization has a culture of philanthropy? What do I *see*, when such a culture is in place? (I've seen it lacking in some cases, which makes you wonder where those staff think their salary comes from) A pretty critical question for many social sector orgs that depend significantly on public engagement and fundraising from the broader public.   In this #NGOSoulAndStrategy podcast episode, the arc of my interview with Erica goes something like this: 🎤 How has the field of direct giving by small donors, and monthly giving as a donor practice in particular changed in the last 10-20 years? 🎤 There is much discussion about the need for a shift towards ethical storytelling, with local program participants in the driver's seat, and a focus on local persons' agency. The raison d'etre for this is clear. However, to what extent can we align this with what motivates small donors (at least in traditional fundraising 'markets') to give? And what about fundraising in new middle/high-income countries where public fundraising is growing? 🎤 Is child sponsorship on life support as a fundraising strategy - or not quite? 🎤 At a more practical level, what hurdles do nonprofits need to overcome in persuading donors to shift their practice to monthly giving? Erica, who also happens to be a 'Dutchie' (like myself) and who has lived in the United States for decades (like myself), is keeping it real in our interview! Listen in! Podcast Audio: https://lnkd.in/ebjV2ea3 Podcast Video: https://lnkd.in/esranCYQ   What does your experience with resource mobilization, especially direct public giving, tell you? PS: Misty McLaughlin, another specialist-extraordinaire on resource mobilization, Kim Goldsmith-N'Diaye and I will host two mini-masterclasses as well as two conference sessions on the role of team structures and team operating models in effective nonprofit/NGO fundraising performance at #IFC2024 (International Fundraising Congress, organized by the The Resource Alliance) in October of this year. DM us if you plan to attend and want to learn more about our sessions. #nonprofits #podcast #NGOPodcast #NGOInsights #PodcastInterview #NGOCulture #NonprofitManagement #PodcastDiscussion #NGOStrategies #5OaksConsulting #PodcastEpisode #resourcemobilization #nonprofit #fundraising

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Collaboration among organizations is essential for creating meaningful and sustainable change in the field of mental health. By working together, organizations can leverage their collective strengths to promote mental wellness, support individuals in distress, and advocate for policies that prioritize mental health care. We hosted Girls for Girls Africa Mental Health Foundation for an insightful discussion on how best we can patner and collaborate to advance mental health. #DayoSpeaks #Collaboration #mentalhealthmatters

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Three years ago, right in the middle of #covid19, Kenya Red Cross, ICHA _KRC and 510 - An Initiative of the Netherlands Red Cross piloted the #121 solution that would ensure a more secure and dignified process for #cashtransfer for disaster affected communities. Fast forward to now and the Kenya Red Cross has mainstreamed the #121 solution in #cashprogramming and continues to work closely with 510 - An Initiative of the Netherlands Red Cross to explore scale up of the solution. So proud and excited to be part of this initiative! #humanitarianinnovation #cashprogramming #digitalsolutions

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Willgive Hearts Africa Foundation Uganda, is a dedicated organization committed to transforming the lives of vulnerable children in Uganda. At the heart of our mission is a profound belief in the power of education, particularly for a girl child. Educating a girl child is not just an act of empowerment but a strategic investment in the future of our communities. It is said, “When you educate a girl, you educate a nation,” and this is the ethos that drives our efforts. Why Educate a Girl Child? 👉Breaking the Cycle of Poverty: Education equips girls with the knowledge and skills to secure better job opportunities, raising them and their families out of poverty. Healthier Families: Educated girls are more likely to make informed health choices, leading to healthier families and reduced child mortality rates. 👉Community Development: When girls are educated, they become catalysts for positive change, contributing to economic growth and community development. Willgive Hearts Africa Foundation’s Role As a legitimate and compassionate organization, we strive to: 🌟Provide access to quality education for girl children, especially those who are orphans, HIV-positive, or abandoned. 🌟Create a safe and nurturing environment where they can learn and grow without fear. Foster community engagement to support and encourage the education of every girl child. The Impact of Your Support Your support can help us: Build and maintain educational facilities tailored to the needs of girl children. Supply essential learning materials and resources. Offer scholarships and financial aid to ensure uninterrupted education. ✍️Conclusion “Train up a child in the way she should go, and when she is old, she will not depart from it.” - Proverbs 22:6. By supporting the education of a girl child, you are not just shaping an individual life but molding a community’s future. #donate a pair of sanitary pads 👇 https://lnkd.in/d6NSph-p #visitourhomeofhope #girlsgeneration #girleducation

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Great opportunity in Uganda

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We must elucidate the 'systems' we engage with, harmonizing our language and conceptual frameworks for greater clarity and effectiveness!

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The biennial report of the #HealthierPopulations cluster at #WHOAFRO is out! I invite you to explore the results & stories that reflect our ongoing efforts with partners towards the goal of promoting #HealthierPopulationsinAfrica More: shorturl.at/eqSV6 #HealthForAll

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Join us at Savana Signatures as we discuss this very important topic on April 17th, 2024. #misinformation #disinformation #Ghana #peacefulelection #Development #NorthernGhana

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We're thrilled that Althaë Strategy took on our most recent CARE #systemschange #impact evaluation! We examined how 30 years of #savingsgroups in #Niger have changed the lives of women and girls. 💡 What did we learn? 🏥 Maternal Health: women are using health centers and aware of contraception methods but the decision to use it is not 100% theirs just yet. 🎒 Girls’ Education: girls and boys tend to start school at the same age (7 years old), but girls still suffer from being stigmatized. Many parents believe that girls are less dedicated to their studies than boys, or that they will become sexually active earlier if they go to school. 🥕 Nutrition: More women own land because they're part of a #savings group and using that savings to buy land. Communities have noted that the land owned by women MMD members tend to be more fertile thanks to the training they have received to produce and use compost. 💒 Early and Forced Marriage: Niger has the highest and most stubborn rate of early and forced marriage in the world with 77% of girls being married before they reach 18 years old. Reduction in child marriage is slow, despite strong understanding from the participants of the study of the consequence for girls. This was a herculean effort by Sophie Romana, Julia Arnold, Mamadou Moussa, and Mariam Diakité. A big, big thanks to my current and former CARE comrades Anne Sprinkel, Bhumika Piya, PhD, Hilawit Gebrehanna, and Dawalak Ahmet for all they did to make this study happen! Read all of CARE's Systems-Level Impact studies here: https://lnkd.in/ePvXMWXH

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As part of my philanthropic efforts, every summer I choose a charitable organization to support as a way of giving back to the community. My efforts have primarily focused on the areas of health, education, and safety for women and girls. I have been fortunate to support organizations both locally and abroad, not only through financial contributions but also by sharing my time and expertise. Although my philanthropic endeavors have remained private, this summer I chose to publicly support a startup non-profit organization called Empowerhealth for Community Development, based in Kenya, in the hope that others like you will join me in this very important and valuable work. As an American Association of University Women (AAUW) fellow and a leader in the Human Services industry, I have a deep passion for working with vulnerable populations and supporting charities and organizations that make a meaningful difference in underserved communities, particularly in the lives of women and girls. Empowerhealth for Community Development is one such organization. EHCD has embarked on a project to address the high incidences of teenage pregnancy in West Pokot County. It is noteworthy that West Pokot County ranks second among the counties with the highest occurrence of teenage pregnancies in Kenya, with approximately 800 girls aged 10-19 getting pregnant each month. Due to a mix of societal cultural beliefs, practices, and poverty, these girls often become young mothers and abandon their education. Among some of these practices is a custom called 'postponing periods,' where girls get pregnant to avoid the challenges and costs associated with menstruation. Additionally, societal taboos surrounding menstruation lead to 'period shaming,' where girls are perceived as ‘unclean’ or ‘embarrassing,’ inhibiting open discussion about menstruation at home or among friends. This menstrual stigma causes feelings of shame, embarrassment, fear, and can severely impact their self-esteem. Having grown up in Kenya and spent my early teenage years attending a girls' boarding high school, I understand firsthand the impact of menstrual stigma and its effects on one's mental health. Unlike in the United States, where The Menstrual Dignity Act of 2021 mandates the provision of free menstrual products for all menstruating students in public schools, the girls in West Pokot County heavily rely on well-wishers for these essential products. EHCD aims to provide girls in schools and homes in West Pokot County with menstrual and feminine hygiene kits to preserve their dignity, inspire their hopes and dreams, and encourage them to stay in school and avoid teenage pregnancy. If you share my passion for giving back and would like to make a difference in these girls' lives, please partner with EHCD and support their mission to create a safe space for the girls in West Pokot County, Kenya. Click on the link below for your donations: https://lnkd.in/eHWtpCKh

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It is the #DecadeforAfrica. For the keen-eyed international investor seeking new frontiers, every social service, infrastructure, energy access gap, just about anything we call crisis is a business opportunity. All risks mitigated. The Texas Africa Chamber of Commerce (TXACC), City of Houston, City of Houston Mayor's Office of Trade & International Affairs, Africa Diaspora Advancement Council, Texas Medical Center turns the spotlight to #healthandhumanservices in #Africa by hosting the #AfricaFirstLadiesHealthSummit - https://aflhs.org/ Every 17 seconds, a child is stillborn. In other statistical terms, 1 in 72 total births results in a stillborn baby as captured in the UNICEF State of the World Children’s Report. The Report states that “Women in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia bear the greatest burden of stillbirths in the world.......In sub-Saharan Africa, the estimated stillbirth rate of 21.1 stillbirths per 1,000 total births was eight times higher than the lowest regional average stillbirth rate of 2.6 found in the Western Europe.” WHO-UNICEF Model of Care for Small and/or Sick Newborns has identified 10 core components for scaling up action for Maternal and Child Health and these include: Vision, political commitment, leadership and national plan as well as adequate and sustainable financing. Another classical case of #purposedrivenplatforms. First Ladies are pivotal to driving trade, investments and economic cooperation in #socialinfrastructure just like H.E Senator Oluremi Tinubu, First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Convener of the #AfricanFirstLadiesforDevelopment. #Houston has the largest medical center in the World and is well positioned to drive an international strategy to build business bridges not just for fossil and renewable energy but also #healthandlifesciences The silent emergency in overall health care services delivery especially in maternal and child health care is a clarion call for new capital flows to improve the #qualityoflife index in Africa. Moving away from #aidtotrade, from a tokenistic approach to strategic investments. Surely the #newscrambleforAfrica must go beyond the “scavenging” for cobalt, copper and all the critical minerals. Take your stake. Register for the #AfricaFirstLadiesHealthSummit! For #HealthCareinstitutions, #DiasporanandBlackProfessionals, #HealthTechandinnovation, #financialservices, #nonprofits, #professionalservicesfirms Posso Ganame, Christopher Olson, Mazda Denon, Hon. Dr. Abike Dabiri-ErewaYele Aluko MD, MBA, FACC, FSCAI. Oluyinka Olutoye, MD, PhD. Chinyere Anyaogu MD MPH FACOG, Gertie Chimeka Anyanwoke, MD, MBA, FIDSA, FACP, Njide Okonjo-Udochi MD,MPH,MBA,MS FAAFP, Uzodinma Iweala, Uchechi Iweala, Ihuoma Azuike MPH, Engee Ibe, The Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas (ANPA), Africa Healthcare Network, Ajong Mbapndah, Nana K. Asare, 𝕮𝖍𝖎𝖓𝖊𝖉𝖚 𝕸𝖔𝖌𝖍𝖆𝖑𝖚, Tolu Opeloye, MHCA, Naomi Adjei, MD, MPH, MSEd, Dr.OLUTOLA SOBANDE,Pharm.D, M.P.S.N

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In Africa, cultural norms, lack of awareness, and limited access in remote areas present significant hurdles for #FamilyPlanning. However, through the dedicated efforts of governments, international organizations, and local communities, we are continuing to see significant strides. Rising modern contraceptive prevalence rates and the dissemination of comprehensive information are translating into healthier families and communities. Let's keep up the momentum. #SexualHealth #ReproductiveHealth #WomensRights

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Coming soon: The May issue of The Marketplace magazine. Read about women's empowerment in Guatemala, Safi makes milk safer in East Africa, farmers talk about climate change, reflections of a serial entrepreneur, & looking back on when MEDA became a non-profit. #businesssolutionstopoverty #entrepreneurship #milk #agriculture #climatechange #MEDA

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A roadmap for Care Reform in Kenya is mapping the way forward thanks to a partnership with UNICEF and the government in Kenya. #carereform #childrensrights #liftthechildren #familymatters https://lnkd.in/gWC2ZJ8X

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Objective: To explore the critical role of primary health care in building climate-resilient health systems and identify strategic investments to support climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts. Discussion Topics: The intersection of climate change and health: ShikukuJohn, as a community health worker, can share firsthand experiences on how climate-related events have impacted healthcare services in Kenya. How do climate-related disasters affect health outcomes, and what are the most vulnerable populations? Primary health care's critical role in climate resilience: Why is primary health care crucial for building climate-resilient health systems? How can primary care providers be better equipped to respond to climate-related emergencies and provide essential health services during crises? Strategic investments for climate-resilient health systems: What are some innovative financing mechanisms or investment strategies that can support primary health care infrastructure, equipment, and personnel to prepare for and respond to climate-related events?

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As the founder of Youth Opportunities & Talent Uplifting (YOTU) and co-founder of Vulnerable Ug Communities (VUC), Kamya Martin Oscar has been working to support vulnerable communities in Uganda through various initiatives. Through the updated project, vulnerable Ug communities have received donations on Giveth in the following ways: 1. *Microcredit loans*: Donors on Giveth have contributed to funding microcredit loans for vulnerable individuals, enabling them to start small businesses and improve their economic stability. 2. *Education and skills development*: Donations have supported education and skills development programs for vulnerable youth, empowering them with knowledge and skills to enhance their livelihoods. 3. *Healthcare access*: Giveth donations have helped provide healthcare services and support to vulnerable communities, ensuring they receive necessary medical attention. 4. *Emergency relief*: Donors have contributed to emergency relief funds, supporting vulnerable communities affected by natural disasters, conflicts, or other crises. 5. *Sustainable livelihoods*: Donations have supported initiatives promoting sustainable livelihoods, such as agriculture and entrepreneurship, helping vulnerable communities achieve long-term economic stability. Through Giveth, Kamya Martin Oscar's updated project has enabled vulnerable Ug communities to access vital resources, promoting their economic empowerment, education, healthcare, and overall well-being. https://lnkd.in/dcGTUtjy

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