A pan-African foundation, TrustAfrica, that seeks to strengthen African agency and initiatives that address the pressing challenges confronting the continent, has rebranded its pan-African and Feminist Philanthropies Initiative to bear a proper African identity, Harambee-Ubuntu.
The name change, the foundation said, emanated from its “recent insightful and collaborative strategising meeting in Kenya in early March.
A statement by the communications office of TrustAfrica reads: “We have always aspired to have an African name that reclaims the internationalist and intersectional agendas of pan-Africanism and feminism in philanthropy.
“After careful deliberations, we have branded our Pan-African and Feminist Philanthropies initiative ‘Harambee~Ubuntu Pan-African and Feminist Philanthropies’.”
The statement explains that “Harambee” signifies pulling together, collaborating, and collectively working towards a common goal, while “Ubuntu” represents the philosophy of interconnectedness, unity, and shared humanity.”
According to it, “this name change affirms the rich history of African giving – rooted in solidarity, mutuality and collective humanity that have been ignored and internationally silenced.
“As we focus on constituency-building approaches and transformative partnership strategies, we have deepened our collaboration by adopting a vibrant and recognisable logo that positions this work beyond the African continent.
“We continue to envision an ecosystem of philanthropies grounded in pan-African and feminist values and principles, with shared infrastructure and mechanisms that connect and strengthen social movements, activists and communities by moving money and other resources in service of their efforts to advance justice and equity.”
TrustAfrica stresses that the new identity stems from a deep partnership between Urgent Action Fund–Africa, a feminist, pan-African, rapid response Fund committed to transforming power relations through resourcing African feminists and women’s human rights defenders and their formations.
