Human suffering and injustice is common around the world and challenges us to act.  Especially in our world where profit-orientated economic globalization is deeply connected to structures of political, economic and military power.

Supporting grassroots movements that can resist dominance and oppression (stop the bad) and that can develop alternative societies that improve life (build the new) on a systemic level is vital. Movements around the world do this every day.

Karibu supports organizations, networks and movements rooted in the Global South that:

  • are genuinely inclusive and participatory (political, social, cultural, and gender justice)
  • are focused on correcting uneven balances of power, and are filling the gap between rich and poor – within nations and between nations (economic justice)
  • acknowledge humanity’s dependence on nature and encourage ecologically sustainable development models (ecological justice).

Our approach

Global South led

Global South led

Activities and movements should be rooted in the Global South – Africa, Asia, Latin America or the Middle East – and led by people and communities from these regions.

As a general rule, organizations and networks based in the Global North are not eligible for support.

Systemic focus

Systemic focus

Projects should aim for systemic change – change that addresses the structures, systems or root causes behind injustice and inequality.

Projects focused mainly on service delivery or regular development activities are normally not supported unless they include a clear systemic or structural dimension.

Collaborative movement building

Collaborative movement building

Projects should strengthen collaboration and movement building across countries or regions, particularly through South-South cooperation.

National or local projects are generally not prioritized unless they contribute to a broader movement or network.

Grants

Karibu provides grants to organizations, networks and movements in the Global South that embody the following qualities in their struggle to create this new world:

  • Strategic clarity
  • Analytic insight
  • Moral courage
  • Systemic focus
  • Grassroots anchoring

Our grants aim to:

  • provide human, professional and economic resources that enables movements to continue their struggle for justice.
  • provide support to networks and initiatives that work for deeper analysis, stronger representation and improved capacity for advocacy.
  • establish meeting points and joint approaches between groups in the South (South-South), as well as with groups in the North (South-North), to form global alliances in the struggle for justice.

More information

We encourage all potential grant seekers to read closely our frequently asked questions about the process for important details about eligibility.