Innovative, tenacious and optimistic African leaders are meeting the hopes and aspirations of their communities every day.

Aid spending in Africa must be African-led – it needs a Black Lives Matter reckoning. If we use this pivotal moment to shift funding to grassroots groups we could unlock transformational change.

There is power in proximity. Shifting our giving to prioritise leaders who are African is not only more just – it is more effective. When the global pandemic hit, guess which NGOs pulled staff and fled the continent? Here’s a hint: it wasn’t the locally led organisations. Just as with endless previous crises, African-led organisations have risen to the occasion and delivered to communities when others cannot. This isn’t new. Grassroots organisations are consistently delivering impact at the frontlines – without the benefit of frontline funding.