UNGA Week Reflection: Fueling Transformation Unveiled
The urgency for change has never been greater, and the brilliance of African-led organizations has never been more clear.
Reflections from UNGA Week and the Launch of Fueling Transformation
Katie Bunten-Wamaru and Gerald Abila
In September, as world leaders and changemakers gathered in New York for UNGA Week, one message resonated across sessions: global development is at a turning point. Conversations that once tiptoed around reform now called for a complete redesign that centers trust-based partnerships and long-term investment in local organizations.
For African Collaborative, UNGA Week was more than another convening. It was validation. From the Article 109 discussion on reimagining global systems to our own event previewing insights from our then upcoming impact report, the message was clear: the system is broken, but solutions already exist across the continent.
“African-led organizations aren’t waiting for permission or the perfect conditions. They’re acting now, saving lives, shifting systems, and proving what’s possible when local leadership is trusted and resourced.” — Katie Bunten-Wamaru, Co-CEO
A Moment of Urgency
During the event, Alfred Muli, Manager of Impact & Learning, presented a teaser of our impact report, Fueling Transformation, sparking powerful dialogue about what true partnership and long-term investment can unlock. Our event attendees didn’t just ask why this model matters, they asked how to engage. The energy in the room was distinctly action-oriented, with funders ready to move from theory to tangible collaboration.
The future of development is already locally led. The question is no longer whether African-led organizations will define the next era of global development, it’s whether and how the broader ecosytem will invest in their potential.
One quote from Gerald Abila, Founder of BarefootLaw, captured the urgency of this moment: “If we waited for the politically convenient time to take action, nothing would ever change.”
That sentiment echoed throughout the week. Amid climate crises, democratic backsliding, and growing inequality, African-led organizations continue to innovate and adapt, often with limited, inflexible resources. The case for trust-based, long-term funding has never been stronger.
A Data-Driven Call to Fund Differently
Fueling Transformation, provides the evidence behind these insights. When African-led organizations receive flexible, multi-year funding, they don’t just grow, they deepen their impact. They strengthen local systems, expand community reach, and drive sustainable change across sectors.
The takeaway is simple. The urgency for change has never been greater, and the brilliance of African-led organizations has never been more clear.
Looking Ahead
UNGA Week reinforced a clear truth: the relevance and credibility of global development now depend on its ability to evolve. The system must catch up to the innovation already happening across the continent. This is an opportunity to invest boldly, trust deeply, and recognize the power of African leadership. Fueling Transformation offers the data, stories, and strategies that show what’s possible when we do.
Join us in building a more equitable, effective future for global development.
Left to right: Atti Worku (Co-CEO), Sibabalwe Mona (Snr. Manager, Advocacy & Strategy), Katie-Bunten Wamaru (Co-CEO), Mena Kalokoh (Coordinator, Strategic Partnerships), Alfred Muli (Manager, Impact & Learning), Shamira Lukomwa (Snr. Manager, Strategic Partnerships)
Special thanks to our Impact & Learning, Advocacy & Strategy, Communications, and Leadership teams for their dedication in shaping this report. And to our phenomenal portfolio partners, funding partners, and friends of the Collaborative for their continued trust and collaboration and most importantly, their stories.
Explore more photos from our Impact and Insights Event below:
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