Development partners are tightening funding while shifting priorities towards localisation, sustainability, and collaborative impact, a trend highlighted during the 15th NGO Directors Summer Retreat, as Zimbabwean civil society organisations face mounting financial pressure.
The Grant Makers Roundtable Discussion, convened during the retreat, brought together donors and development partners to outline evolving funding priorities and expectations for CSOs operating in an increasingly constrained financing environment.
“The Grant Makers Roundtable Discussion during the 15th NGO Directors Summer Retreat provides essential insights into the evolving landscape of development financing and strategic partnerships for civil society organisations in Zimbabwe,” the National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations said.
CSOs in Zimbabwe have in recent years faced declining donor inflows, driven by global funding fatigue, shifting geopolitical priorities, reduced aid budgets in major donor countries, and increased competition for limited resources. Several organisations have downsized operations or scaled back programmes amid reduced grant availability.
NANGO said the roundtable focused on how CSOs can adapt to these realities, including aligning strategies with donor expectations around accountability, local ownership, and long-term impact.
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“This session brought together development partners and donors to discuss current funding priorities, emerging funding mechanisms, and the capacities they seek in prospective CSO partners,” NANGO said.
The discussions also examined how global and national developments are reshaping donor strategies.
“The discussion explored how global and national developments are shaping donor strategies, with a growing emphasis on localisation, sustainability, and collaborative impact,” NANGO added.
Development partners participating in the session included representatives from Oak Foundation Zimbabwe, CAID Zimbabwe, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the European Union in Zimbabwe, COSPE, and UNDP Zimbabwe.
“Representatives from these organisations shared perspectives that can support CSOs in aligning strategies and enhancing access to funding,” NANGO said.
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