As donor funding continues to shrink, the Thembekile Mandela Foundation has partnered with the Jane Acilo Foundation in a strategic move aimed at expanding support for women and young mothers in Northern Uganda.
The collaboration signals a growing shift towards locally driven partnerships to sustain development efforts, with both organisations committing to jointly implement programmes focused on livelihoods, education and community resilience.
Susan Novella, chief executive officer of the Thembekile Mandela Foundation, said the partnership builds on a shared vision of empowering communities through practical, long-term interventions.
“We are already working with different partners across Africa, and this collaboration allows us to deepen our impact, particularly among women and young people,” Novella said, noting the foundation’s presence in countries including Mozambique, Togo, Mali, Chad and Zambia.
The partnership comes amid increasing recognition of grassroots initiatives led by Jane Acilo in Northern Uganda. On April 10, 2026, she was awarded the Mandela Legacy Award by the Mandela Awards Commission in honour of her transformative work, particularly in Oyam district.
“We have seen the difference her work is making in communities—empowering women, supporting youth and equipping them with knowledge to improve their lives,” Novella added.
Ndileka Mandela, co-founder of the Thembekile Mandela Foundation and granddaughter of Nelson Mandela, said the initiative is rooted in a long-standing belief that education and health are central to breaking cycles of poverty.
“Our programmes are inspired by a vision that prioritises dignity, opportunity and access,” she said, adding that the foundation continues to build on her grandfather’s legacy through targeted community interventions.
Among its initiatives is the Pride of the Golden Girl campaign, which supports girls with sanitary materials to keep them in school, alongside investments in science laboratories, libraries and sports facilities to strengthen learning environments.
Ndileka Mandela also emphasised the importance of nurturing ethical leadership among young people.
“Leadership is shaped over time. We must intentionally raise a generation that is ethical, compassionate and committed to serving society,” she said.
On gender equality, she called for a balanced and inclusive approach.
“We cannot empower girls in isolation. Boys must be part of the conversation if we are to address challenges like gender-based violence in a sustainable way,” she noted.
Jane Frances Acilo, founder of the Jane Acilo Foundation, said the organisation was born out of personal experience and a commitment to uplift communities through inclusive and community-led approaches.
“We want every child to learn, every woman to thrive, and every family to access education, healthcare and opportunity,” Acilo said.
The foundation supports learners through scholarships and grants, while also equipping women and youth with practical skills, leadership training and resources to promote self-reliance.
It has also prioritised community resilience through integrated programmes in food security, health and education. This year alone, the foundation distributed 20,000 kilogrammes of maize to vulnerable households and provided medical outreach services to more than 5,000 people.
In addition, it runs a demonstration farm that trains local farmers in beekeeping, greenhouse farming and climate-smart agriculture, helping improve productivity and long-term sustainability.
With the new partnership, both organisations are seeking to scale up these interventions by combining resources, expertise and networks to reach more communities across Northern Uganda.
As external funding tightens, such collaborations are increasingly seen as essential in sustaining impact—placing greater emphasis on local leadership, shared responsibility and solutions that can endure beyond donor support.
