Development Ratings

There is still a financial viability risk for African Initiatives. If sufficient funds cannot be raised in the longer-term to support core costs and programme grants, the charity will need to consider its options. Funds could be used to wind up UK activities with the balance sent to continue partner programmes. Or programmes and partner relationships might be of interest to other charities. Either way, donations would end up with the beneficiaries. The current outlook is of increasing viability and growth.

African Initiatives entered this crisis phase because major institutional donors failed to ‘get’ its approach, the developmental impact of increasing social justice, rights and accountability. Donors may remain wary of a charity that encourages local communities to defy the land claims of major conservation organisations when large-scale conservation remains fashionable and ‘an easy sell’.

Women’s rights may be slow to develop in Africa, given traditions, gender and reproductive roles, poverty, literacy and communication issues, and other significant development problems.