Swahili Coast Community Foundation Development
Aga Khan Foundation U.S.A.
- Program Civil Society
- Program Initiative Common Ground
- Grant Amount $300,000
- Grant Period January 1, 2027–December 31, 2028
- Location Washington, DC, United States
- Geographic Focus Eastern Africa
About this grant
The project aims to support the development and long-term sustainability of community foundations in Kenya’s Swahili coastal region. Over the past three years, the Aga Khan Foundation has supported the establishment of sixteen community foundation initiative groups across Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi and Lamu counties. Each group has established representative governance structures. Collectively, the groups mobilized more than $36,000 USD in cash and in-kind contributions, demonstrating growing local ownership and commitment. Building on this progress, the grantee will provide targeted support over the next two years to strengthen the institutional capacity of the community foundations through: 1) tailored organizational capacity strengthening; 2) governance and policy development training; 3) coaching and mentorship; and 4) resource mobilization and sustainable financing capacity development. These interventions will strengthen governance, enhance organizational effectiveness, and position the community foundations as sustainable, locally led institutions capable of mobilizing resources and responding to community priorities. Since 1974, the grantee has partnered with communities to improve quality of life by strengthening local institutions and promoting long-term self-reliance. In Kenya, the Aga Kahn Foundation has offices in Nairobi and Mombasa.