A recent article in the Guardian’s UK edition (‘A Colonial Mindset: why global aid agencies need to get out of the way’) has drawn attention to how many local charities and NGOs are perceived to deliver better value for money in creating meaningful change in their local communities. A localised aid system is regarded as a preferential alternative to large international NGOs, as local organisations have a better understanding of how to address the challenges faced by local communities.
Cecily’s Fund works with three long-standing, reliable local partners in Zambia who implement our different programmes and without whom we would not be able to deliver the life-changing interventions that help the poorest and most vulnerable children and families. Our main Zambian partners include Bwafwano Integrated Services Organisation (BISO), the Copperbelt Health Education Project (CHEP) and Care Providers Foundation who work tirelessly to help improve young lives and build a better future.
Through the generous support of our donors, Cecily’s Fund has enabled many locally implemented programmes to be delivered successfully. One example is a feeding programme implemented in partnership with BISO to help provide some of the most vulnerable children in Lusaka have a nutritious meal, which is often their only meal of the day.
We fully believe that establishing meaningful partnerships with local community organisations who implement our programmes locally has been crucial to our continued success and our belief that education can be a route out of poverty and contribute to Zambia’s development.
