We believe African leaders are best positioned to solve African challenges.
Umsizi means to help or to assist in Zulu. Our purpose is to support, develop and connect strong local leaders who will create African-led solutions and organizations and drive systems change.
Umsizi works with few organizations and develops trust-based partnerships. As the individuals, teams and organizations we work with strengthen their strategies and capabilities, they will develop, employ and inspire more emerging leaders.
Since 2005, Umsizi Fund has provided financial and professional development resources to support youth, managers and senior leaders who can deliver goods and services to improve the lives of other Africans. We do this through youth fellowships, unrestricted funding to organizations, an employability peer learning network, and impact investments.
IMPACT IN ACTION
Umsizi partners have a bias towards action, and we respond to that initiative and drive with supports that clear the path for their forward motion. Instead of funding a specific set of activities, we approach our partnerships with an open mind and fill gaps in ways that make the most sense to all parties. This means we fund across a diverse set of actions, and measure our success and impact across multiple reflective indicators. See below for examples of our work with partners.
EMPLOYABILITY NETWORK
Youth employment is one of the greatest challenges and opportunities facing the African continent. Given the complexity and scale of the challenge, proximal leaders need a place to share their successes and challenges and learn from each other. Umsizi's Youth Employability Peer Learning Network, formed in 2016, hosts monthly discussions and helps connect leading practitioners to each other. The challenges they are facing today drive the agenda and content for the calls. The network also encourages members to develop stronger relationships across the youth employment ecosystem including the private sector, government and the education system to lead to collaborations to drive increased impact.