Strengthening the ecosystem for resilient, sustainable civil society.
Across the global development and humanitarian sector, the conversation on sustainability has changed. It’s no longer just about surviving donor shifts or managing tighter budgets — it’s about building systems that adapt, leadership that endures, and organizations that can thrive in uncertainty.
For civil society in Southern Africa, this reality isn’t new. Grassroots organizations — especially those that are Black-led, Women-led, and Disability-led (BWD) — have long been at the forefront of driving change, often with limited resources. Their resilience has always been the backbone of the ecosystem.
Weaving Resilience, delivered by Humentum in partnership with the Ford Foundation – Southern Africa, was designed with that truth in mind. Long before the recent sector-wide disruptions, this initiative began helping organizations strengthen the systems and practices that sustain their work.
Today, Weaving Resilience stands as one of Humentum’s largest cohort-based programs, offering a structured yet flexible pathway to build financial resilience, strengthen governance, and enhance leadership capacity across the region.
Our purpose
We believe that a strong civil society ecosystem depends on strong organizations.
Weaving Resilience helps translate that belief into practice — equipping BWD organizations to manage their finances confidently, lead with clarity, and position themselves for long-term sustainability.
What we offer
All selected organizations receive no-cost access to a comprehensive learning and support package that combines training, consultancy, and peer exchange.
- Online training: Interactive virtual sessions on financial management, governance, and sustainability, tailored to the realities of local organizations.
- Consultancy support: Direct accompaniment from technical experts to strengthen organizational systems and apply learning in practice.
- Community of practice: A regional space for senior leaders to connect, reflect, and co-create strategies that reinforce long-term resilience.
All costs are covered through the support of the Ford Foundation.
Our impact so far
Since launching in 2022, Weaving Resilience has supported over 510 organizations across seven Southern African countries — Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
- 510 organizations engaged, including 225 qualified and 285 emerging partners
- 332 leaders participated in our Communities of Practice since inception
- 40 organizations received targeted financial governance and management consultancies
- 267 organizations joined financial sustainability and Finance DPro courses
- 292 participants took part in best-practice webinars in 2025 alone
These achievements reflect a growing ecosystem of organizations that are not only managing financial challenges but reshaping how sustainability and governance are practiced in the region.
