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October 31, 2025Peace Connect 2025 was a global peacebuilding convening bringing together over 90 countries, primarily from the Global South, to share experiences, learn, and co-create strategies for sustainable peacebuilding. The five-day gathering focused on decolonising aid, mental wellbeing, reimagining development, and strengthening local peacebuilding ecosystems. During the convening, KCDF, in partnership with the Global Fund for Community Foundations (GFCF), co-hosted sessions aligned with our mission of promoting local philanthropy, community ownership, and sustainability.
KCDF participated in several key sessions that amplified the voices and practices of locally rooted development actors:
- Decolonising Aid—KCDF joined a discussion led by Adeso Kenya on dismantling colonial aid models. The session explored the need to shift power and resources to local actors and highlighted examples of ongoing decolonisation efforts in Africa.
- After Aid – Reimagining the Material Base for Civil Society – KCDF, represented by Hellen Kuria, our Programme Coordinator, presented the KCDF experience on local fundraising, endowment building, and community philanthropy as sustainable alternatives to foreign aid. KCDF shared practical insights on building trust-based systems where communities are co-investors and co-owners of their development processes.
- Alternative Resourcing – KCDF contributed to the dialogue on how community foundations and grassroots philanthropy are redefining funding models. The discussion emphasized local giving cultures, rotating savings groups, and solidarity economies as key enablers of autonomy and resilience.
- Measuring What Matters – KCDF showcased its approach to co-creating measurement systems that reflect community priorities, building on its experience in participatory M&E and endowment-driven grant making. The session underscored the importance of flexible funding and measuring outcomes that truly matter to local communities.
- Future of Civil Society and Prototypes in Practice – KCDF joined in discussions exploring new models for decolonised development, including the Reverse Call for Proposals and the Pledge for Change Accountability Learning Mechanism (PALM) These sessions was spearheaded by West African Civil Society Institute (WACSI) and Re-imagining INGOs (RINGO) partner organizations KCDF is working with at different level in influencing the CSA space and promoting locally led development. These sessions inspired how KCDF can further localise decision-making and enhance accountability within its networks.
Key Lessons Learnt
- Decolonisation Requires Structural Change: True transformation in the aid sector demands reimagining funding systems, not just reforming processes. Locally rooted organisations like KCDF must lead in demonstrating self-sustaining models.
- Local Philanthropy as a Driver of Sustainability: Community endowments, mutual aid, and local giving are viable pathways to independence and resilience amidst shrinking donor funding.
- Measuring What Matters Strengthens Legitimacy: Co-created monitoring systems that reflect community priorities enhance ownership, trust, and accountability.
- Collaboration and Solidarity Are the Future of Civil Society: Building alliances among local actors across regions fosters shared learning, amplifies collective power, and sustains civic space.
- Innovation in Resourcing Models: Prototypes such as PALM and Reverse Call for Proposals offer actionable insights for designing more equitable and participatory grant systems.
Through its active engagement at Peace Connect 2025, KCDF reinforced its leadership in advancing local philanthropy and community-led development. The convening provided valuable lessons informing KCDF’s ongoing efforts to strengthen financial resilience, decolonise aid, and enhance locally driven impact measurement. The experience also positioned KCDF as a thought leader in Kenya on locally led development, especially on community philanthropy and leading on alternative development models and their contribution to peacebuilding through community-led development.
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