Stop begging for grants. Start selling your impact expertise

The global development sector is witnessing unprecedented instability. Volatility in funding has forced many stakeholders within the sector to restrategize to stay afloat and scale.

Nowhere is this disruption more evident than in sub-Saharan Africa, where numerous nonprofits depend on international donor funding for their core operations. While it is anyone’s guess if — or when — development funding will return to pre-2023 levels, the reality is that the traditional “grant-only” model is no longer sustainable for African nonprofits.

As traditional funding sources such as official development assistance, or ODA, dwindle, an often-overlooked and underutilized strategy can create a pathway for African organizations to gradually adapt and build resilience. Though it may not be the silver bullet that will match the $200 billion-a-year global aid industry, cross-sectoral partnerships between NGOs and private companies can unlock critical multiyear funding that serves as a buffer against unpredictable cycles of donor aid.