Grassroots Partner Organizations
Grassroots Partner Organizations are those developed and run by African communities for local humanitarian or development work. SpanAfrica works to support these culturally appropriate, community empowering solutions to local challenges.
There is no cost for application or membership. Services are used as needed by Grassroots Partners and project requests are formulated and requested at their own initiative. Partner organizations maintain their autonomy and only use SpanAfrica services to compliment and strengthen their own work.
We are not at this time receiving new Grassroots Partner Applications. Please return to ths page often, as we will provide a link to our application form.
Partnership with SpanAfrica Provides
SpanAfrica desires to extend its reach wherever dynamic grassroots organizations are working within Africa. Presently SpanAfrica exists in several focused locales developing programs to ensure highest quality and successful future expansion. Span’s African place of operations is located in Kenya with Regional Directors in Kenya, Ghana, and Zambia.
SpanAfrica provides support and resources in order that not-for-profit, grassroots (locally launched and operated), humanitarian, and development based organizations may further their work. Span also provides credibility and international awareness through upheld development standards that promote sustainability, youth empowerment, and good practice. The paragraphs below go into detail about what you can expect from a partnership with SpanAfrica:
Webpage
SpanAfrica will post a webpage for you, summarizing your organization, project options for volunteers, and history of the good work you have done. The site will be searchable through Google and other search engines. We will maintain the content for you, though your input on the content is welcome and encouraged.
WPlanning Support
SpanAfrica wants to see partner organizations succeed and grow, and expand their ability to do good things for the community.
Our Regional Directors can provide spreadsheet and planning resources for you to use, as well as help you develop project plans to be marketed for international volunteers to come and support your upcoming ventures. With the development of long-term goals and proper assessment tools, SpanAfrica can work with you to look and act towards the future to develop sustainability and reach growth targets.
WWeb Resources
Partners receive access to the internet resources in SpanAfrica’s Grassroots Partner portal. These documents and spreadsheets can be valuable tools to help guide your organization in building your infrastructure, accurate bookkeeping, or developing plans for a new project.
WCertificate of Standards
Our partner application process allows us to confidently state that any organization who is accepted as a SpanAfrica partner is doing exceptional and dynamic work within their community. We provide certification stating that each partner organization is providing essential, high-quality services, which may give your organization additional recognition and credibility for the work that you do.
WOrganization Networking
SpanAfrica continues to expand to new organizations throughout Africa. While we are doing this, we will continue to gain incredible insights and new ideas from our partner organizations. We hope to share all relevant information with all organizations including new approaches to old challenges, up to date research, success stories, and needs awareness.
Being able to connect with like-minded organizations across the continent in a valuable discussion can be an incredible tool in expanding yourselves and learning more about how others are doing great work like yourselves. This will be done through our online portal, which you will have password access to.
Volunteers for Partner Organizations
SpanAfrica takes a unique approach to ‘volunteerism’, offering 3 types of volunteers to work with the Grassroots Partner Organizations.
SpanAfrica works with its volunteers prior to their departure, helping to prepare them for their work with the chosen Partner Organization. The web resources available to you are also available to them, as well as detailed summaries on your organization and vision. This will enable them to arrive prepared and aware of the work ahead of them.
Your responsibility as an organization will be to actively engage them in the work you will do together. This will include establishing a contact representative for your organization who can answer questions on email volunteers may have before they come, give them a full orientation of your organization when they arrive, and make sure they have the support and ability to do the project that you work together on during their placement.
To learn more about the Volunteer programs, visit www.spanafrica.org/volunteer.
SpanAfrica Standards
As a representative of SpanAfrica, approved organizations must also meet and agreement to uphold the following standards. These can be found in length on the SpanAfrica website and are included as part of the application process. Signing the commitment confirms you:
- Work on a non-profit basis
- Believe in the value of international partnership, support, and ideas
- Uphold the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in your work and approaches
- Partner with all qualified volunteers without distinction to race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, or other status
- Intend to use volunteers as a source of ideas, not financial means
- Provide financial transparency on any donations sent through SpanAfrica or its affiliates
Rights of Termination
SpanAfrica holds the right to terminate legal partnership with any organization that does not comply with our standards or offers false information in their application. Partner organizations also hold the right to terminate ties with SpanAfrica at any time.