February 26 2025, Africa Meetup: Difference between revisions
From TCU Wiki
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* Egypt: The org is not directly impacted by USG funding, their granters are and that has affected one of their project. | * Egypt: The org is not directly impacted by USG funding, their granters are and that has affected one of their project. | ||
* Big granters like mama cash have been affects | * Big granters like mama cash have been affects | ||
* | * Some orgs 3 years ago they made a strategic decision about some funding orgs they decided to move away from USG money. They only engage when contacted but besides that they do work on equity related work. | ||
* Lots of projects left hanging in Zambia, theres been some new calls from other spaces | * Lots of projects left hanging in Zambia, theres been some new calls from other spaces | ||
* | * While others have not been affected, some of their collaboratory activities and work has been affected because of their partners. Its been an eye opener because funders should not be governments, if its them its not going to be sustainable, and could get worse. They can freeze bank accounts, and we have seen this during times of war. As tech workers we can definitely help people move away from relying on certain systems. | ||
===== '''Actions happening in the space''' ===== | ===== '''Actions happening in the space''' ===== | ||
* | * Some networks created solidarity grants for their orgs to provide a cover during times of crisis, however are in the process of figuring out ways to disburse it. | ||
* As a community it may be more strategic to engage family run | * As a community it may be more strategic to engage family run philantropy to support digital rights org. | ||
* Lets not see it as a blank freeze, some orgs and EU countries want to support the digital rights. With the IGF coming up, some nordic spaces are trying to renew their mandate to the IF space and folks should endeavour to attend the IGF to meet new funders whose money are not already commited. | * Lets not see it as a blank freeze, some orgs and EU countries want to support the digital rights. With the IGF coming up, some nordic spaces are trying to renew their mandate to the IF space and folks should endeavour to attend the IGF to meet new funders whose money are not already commited. | ||
* | * The organizations are trying to figure out how to sustain their partners while they figure out how to move on with the activities and programs. | ||
===== '''Other Perspectives''' ===== | ===== '''Other Perspectives''' ===== | ||
* | * Alot of global north based orgs are the ones making the biggest noise. Most of them think that Africa and the global south orgs may struggle more, but they are wrong. We have figured ways to sustain ourselves without the US. | ||
* We need to continue to align ourselves with the progressives and not waver on our values. | * We need to continue to align ourselves with the progressives and not waver on our values. | ||
* Too much money in bigger orgs are spent on salaries. | * Too much money in bigger orgs are spent on salaries. | ||
| Line 49: | Line 48: | ||
===== '''What can be done next''' ===== | ===== '''What can be done next''' ===== | ||
* Meeting the right stakeholders within the internet governance space who might listen to use better | *Meeting the right stakeholders within the internet governance space who might listen to use better | ||
* We should also build resilience structures | *We should also build resilience structures | ||
* All orgs need to a SWAT analysis, and a session to collectively figure out the resilience what next. | *All orgs need to a SWAT analysis, and a session to collectively figure out the resilience what next. | ||
* Within African countries there has been other funders and people who are willing to support the our work. | *Within African countries there has been other funders and people who are willing to support the our work. | ||
* Thinking about other mechanisms that stem from our own community culture, and the richness on how communities have been supporting each other. Eg. LGBTQ orgs not allowed to register have found creative ways to work | *Thinking about other mechanisms that stem from our own community culture, and the richness on how communities have been supporting each other. Eg. LGBTQ orgs not allowed to register have found creative ways to work | ||
* The Africa community should keep the spirit of collaboration, its time for us to look at opportunities and threats to support each other. Its very important to be sustainable, within the global context everyone will be selfish. | *The Africa community should keep the spirit of collaboration, its time for us to look at opportunities and threats to support each other. Its very important to be sustainable, within the global context everyone will be selfish. | ||
* We need to start having creative thinking sessions, and moving to action. Even if its scribbling and creating things together. | *We need to start having creative thinking sessions, and moving to action. Even if its scribbling and creating things together. | ||
===== '''Other things''' ===== | ===== '''Other things''' ===== | ||
Latest revision as of 14:10, 4 March 2025
The Africa Regional Meetups are bimonthly video calling gatherings that bring together folks from the African region to share, connect, seek help, and release stress by celebrating each other. In addition, it is a time for us to find ways to support each other, and help us understand what is happening in our part of the world. If you cannot attend the monthly meetups, we are taking notes of each gathering and linking to them below.
The African community is connected during the week in different ways. Either through the African channel on the TCU Mattermost or via different events organized on various topics during the year.
Date: Wednesday, February 26
Time: 9am EST / 2pm UTC (What time is it in my city?)
Who: Facilitated by Mardiya
Where: The link will be shared in the Regional Africa channel on the TCU Mattermost one or two hours before the start of the meeting.
- Don't have an account to the TCU Mattermost? you can request one following the directions here.
Notes: Please put notes here: https://pad.riseup.net/p/africa-meetup
Agenda to be announced
Notes
Attendees 7
Challenges
- Egypt: The org is not directly impacted by USG funding, their granters are and that has affected one of their project.
- Big granters like mama cash have been affects
- Some orgs 3 years ago they made a strategic decision about some funding orgs they decided to move away from USG money. They only engage when contacted but besides that they do work on equity related work.
- Lots of projects left hanging in Zambia, theres been some new calls from other spaces
- While others have not been affected, some of their collaboratory activities and work has been affected because of their partners. Its been an eye opener because funders should not be governments, if its them its not going to be sustainable, and could get worse. They can freeze bank accounts, and we have seen this during times of war. As tech workers we can definitely help people move away from relying on certain systems.
Actions happening in the space
- Some networks created solidarity grants for their orgs to provide a cover during times of crisis, however are in the process of figuring out ways to disburse it.
- As a community it may be more strategic to engage family run philantropy to support digital rights org.
- Lets not see it as a blank freeze, some orgs and EU countries want to support the digital rights. With the IGF coming up, some nordic spaces are trying to renew their mandate to the IF space and folks should endeavour to attend the IGF to meet new funders whose money are not already commited.
- The organizations are trying to figure out how to sustain their partners while they figure out how to move on with the activities and programs.
Other Perspectives
- Alot of global north based orgs are the ones making the biggest noise. Most of them think that Africa and the global south orgs may struggle more, but they are wrong. We have figured ways to sustain ourselves without the US.
- We need to continue to align ourselves with the progressives and not waver on our values.
- Too much money in bigger orgs are spent on salaries.
What can be done next
- Meeting the right stakeholders within the internet governance space who might listen to use better
- We should also build resilience structures
- All orgs need to a SWAT analysis, and a session to collectively figure out the resilience what next.
- Within African countries there has been other funders and people who are willing to support the our work.
- Thinking about other mechanisms that stem from our own community culture, and the richness on how communities have been supporting each other. Eg. LGBTQ orgs not allowed to register have found creative ways to work
- The Africa community should keep the spirit of collaboration, its time for us to look at opportunities and threats to support each other. Its very important to be sustainable, within the global context everyone will be selfish.
- We need to start having creative thinking sessions, and moving to action. Even if its scribbling and creating things together.
Other things
- Observing what actions are happening in other spaces.
- More Global Majority spaces are resilient
