August 6, 2025
Photo: Ethiopia
Kinvia is proud to share that we are one of 13 organizations receiving funding through The Slaight Family Foundation’s NGO Emergency Support Initiative. A generous $1 million, two-year grant from the Foundation will sustain seven urgent, community-led projects across Bolivia, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Uganda – projects that were put at risk after the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) terminated 83% of its global programming in early 2025.
This support comes at a critical moment. These cuts are unravelling progress made over decades, halted life-saving services mid-stream, and created sudden gaps in health care, child protection, agricultural development, HIV prevention, and education in the Global South. Many of Kinvia's partners in Ethiopia, Ghana, and Uganda were, up until January 2025, involved in projects that were funded directly by USAID.
This grant is a powerful reminder that even in moments of deep uncertainty, we are not alone. We are so grateful to The Slaight Family Foundation for standing with communities and for investing in locally led solutions that reflect the strength, vision, and leadership of our partners.
Kinvia and our long-standing partners have spent years addressing the root causes of food insecurity, poor health, and economic marginalization. The programs supported by this $1 million grant reflect that commitment, advancing work across food systems, women’s economic empowerment, child protection, peacebuilding, and youth health.
Here’s how this grant will help communities continue their progress:
Ethiopia: Peacebuilding, Livelihoods & Reintegration
In the Amhara region, partners, Organization for Child Development and Transformation (CHADET) and Emmanuel Development Association (EDA), are supporting youth and returnees from the Gulf through peacebuilding, reintegration, and job creation. When this project was halted, the livelihoods of over 20,000 people were affected. Funding will support efforts to reduce regional instability and violence by providing alternatives to vulnerable populations facing high unemployment and the threat of conflict.
Ghana: Women Smallholder Farmers & Agricultural Resilience
In northern Ghana, funding will help resume solar-powered irrigation, agricultural inputs, and market access for women farmers through the work of our partner, Regional Advisory Information & Network Systems (RAINS). By restoring support systems for inclusive agriculture, women will be able to sustain their livelihoods and secure food for their families.
Uganda: Child Protection, Agriculture, and HIV Prevention
In eastern Uganda, our partner, Huyslink Community Initiative (HUYSLINCI), will continue working with communities to combat child labour, increase school retention, and engage youth in advocacy.
In the north, over 1,200 smallholder farmers, mostly women, lost direct support to market access initiatives. Our partner, Uganda Community Based Association for Women and Children Welfare (UCOBAC), will now be able to continue efforts to improve seed quality, train smallholder women farmers, and rebuild agro-input markets.
And in west-central Uganda, our partner, Child Rights Empowerment & Development Organization (CEDO), will reach vulnerable communities with Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) education and youth-led outreach. They will also be able to resume life-saving HIV prevention, a project they were in the final phase of when it was halted in January 2025. Over 432 households with around 1,700 children were affected, but will now be able to receive community intervention services including testing, treatment, and education.
Bolivia: Urban Agriculture and Youth Entrepreneurship
In the Sucre and Poroma regions, 100 families devoted to urban agriculture and 100 female and male youth who are attending secondary school were affected by funding cuts. Our partner, Tomás Katari Politecnic Institute (IPTK), will be working with women and youth to build technical and entrepreneurial skills for sustainable businesses. This includes urban agriculture training and a gender-equity lens to improve market access and economic inclusion.
A Shared Commitment to Global Solidarity
This funding isn’t just filling a gap. It’s enabling communities to continue the work they’ve led for years: building stronger, healthier, more just futures on their own terms.
Several Canadian organizations are delivering lifesaving international aid in crisis zones like Bangladesh, Yemen and South Sudan, and they need support now more than ever. We hope this funding will help sustain access to health care, food, education and protection for the world's most vulnerable.
Together with our local partners and fellow grantees, we remain steadfast in our commitment to community-led, sustainable programming – and to the people leading it forward.
WANT TO LEARN MORE?
- Read the full announcement to learn more about the impact and the people leading the way.
- Your support makes this possible. Donate today to stand with community leaders building stronger, healthier futures.
- Get to know Kinvia – and the mission, vision and values that guide our work.
