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  DONATE TELL YOUR FRIENDS SUBSCRIBE   SUMMER 2008 • ISSUE 16

IN THIS ISSUE

Small Ugandan NGO Has Far-Reaching Goals  >

Small Grants and International Policy Coordination: Thinking Locally and Acting Globally   >

Greengrants Voices  >

Upcoming Events  >

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Small Ugandan NGO Has
Far-Reaching Goals


Kampala Uganda

In December of 2007, a small group of energy researchers, consultants, activists, politicians from the Ugandan parliament, and citizens from their political constituencies gathered in Kampala, Uganda to discuss the region's critical energy issues. They focused on electricity shortages and the growing push for oil exploration and extraction. The unique meeting was organized by the African Institute of Energy Governance (AFIEGO). This emerging organization is a Global Greengrants Fund grantee with a mission to promote better policies, laws, and accountability in Uganda's energy sector. Their strategy is to educate the Ugandan people, and create forums for a transparent and democratic discussion about problems and solutions to the current energy situation.
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Small Grants and International Policy Coordination: Thinking Locally and Acting Globally


Grantee, Red de Acción en Agricultura Alternativa (Peru)

As a maker of small grants around the world, it is often a challenge for us to gauge the full extent to which our grants have impact. The most obvious effects are, of course, those observed at the grassroots level. But part of our hope, and indeed our mission, is that these effects reverberate beyond the scope of a single grant. One of our grantmaking advisory boards, Pesticide Action Network (PAN), has recently demonstrated that small grants can impact and inform efforts to address even the largest of global issues. Indeed, this article demonstrates how some of our recent small grants, recommended by PAN, have affected international policy coordination.
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GREENGRANTS VOICES 

Dear Friends,
In the past two months, I experienced a paradigm shift in the world of philanthropy. I had the pleasure of participating in the Council on Foundations (COF) Summit on Philanthropy followed by the European Foundation Centre (EFC) Annual General Assembly - America and Europe's respective responses to organizing philanthropy. They cater to donors of all stripes, from the most traditional funders to those constantly seeking more innovative ways to approach funding.

This year I sensed a real step change at both of these conferences. There was critical momentum concerning environmental issues and the role of young funders (under age 40). For example, the COF Summit featured an entire track on "NextGen Philanthropy!" And both conferences hosted multiple panels highlighting environmental issues, especially climate change. For regions with historically low rates of funding environmental issues, this is truly a pivotal watershed.

Moreover, I could feel a difference. The energy in the rooms in Washington, DC and Istanbul during environmentally-focused panels was electric. One session that Greengrants sponsored at the EFC, entitled "Slowing the Treadmill of Consumption," attracted a full house. The audience crowded the speakers after the session, and a second meeting to continue the conversation was spontaneously organized.

On the ground, we are funding these NextGen leaders. In this e-Journal, we feature our grantee, AFIEGO, a group of young graduate students in Kampala, Uganda enlightening their fellow citizens on serious energy issues. In addition, our other article highlighting Pesticide Action Network (PAN), one of our global grantmaking advisory boards, demonstrates how local, small strategic grantmaking has impacted global policy coordination.

So while NextGen philanthropy takes hold here in the U.S. and Europe, the movement to effect change in the Global South also builds. These key areas around the world tend to our most precious resources and strengthen fragile democracies - upholding and creating laws to ensure sustainable livelihoods for ourselves and our planet.

With great gratitude,

Helen Gemmill, Director of Individual Giving
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