African Foundation for Development (AFFORD)

Fundraising for Diaspora Initiatives – Grants, Bids, and Crowdfunding
2018-02-15 17:30 - 20:30 UTC
In an environment where there are increasing constraints on funding and resources, diaspora groups are having to work harder to raise funds and mobilise resources. ‘Brexit’ might exacerbate these trends as European Union funds may no longer be available for UK based civil society and diaspora groups.
This practical event aims to showcase potential sources of funding to diaspora groups and how best to access these resources.
You will be presented with the opportunity to meet leading UK funders and learn more about different approaches to fundraising and how to join the AFFORD-GlobalGiving Diaspora Crowdfunding Campaign.
AFFORD has partnered with GlobalGiving, a leading global crowdfunding platform, to enable African diaspora organisations based in the UK to fundraise for their activities in Africa.
We are inviting African diaspora organisations across the UK to mobilise their supporters to raise at least £5000 each for their community development or social enterprise projects in their countries of interest or heritage. Our Diaspora Crowdfunding Campaign will leverage an additional 25% in Gift Aid to all funds raised. Plus the 3 most successful campaigns will receive bonus prizes on top of their final amounts.
Speakers:
– Comfort Osilaja, Grants Manager at the Commonwealth Foundation
– Comic Relief, Speaker to be confirmed
– Eleanor Harrison OBE, CEO of GlobalGiving’s UK office
– Onyekachi Wambu, Director at AFFORD

This event is open to any African diaspora groups based in the UK and interested in accessing funds for their development activities.
Unfortunately AFFORD is not able to sponsor participants travel. However, the event will be broadcast on Facebook Live for anyone outside of London wishing to follow the discussion.

ABC Training 2018: SME Procurement and Tendering
2018-02-14 10:00 - 16:30
AFFORD Business Club (ABC) aims to support job creation in Africa by providing business development support to African diaspora entrepreneurs who seek to develop or launch their businesses in Africa.
SME companies are the driving force behind the UKs economy. The opportunities for SMEs to win public contracts has increased significantly over the last ten years, with Government setting a target of 25% of its contracts to be delivered by SME companies. However, only a minority of small businesses successfully win public sector contracts. This is due to lack of knowledge, and experience in tendering procedures.
This session will provide a one day snapshot of the following key elements of tendering:
– Procurement policies
– Procedures and structures
– Tendering practices
– Preparing to tender
– Tender guidance
– Bidding techniques
– Developing the bid
– Producing the bid
Participants will be given an insight into the tendering process; gain an understanding of the chronological steps to tendering and learn how to tender for public-private sector contracts.
The programme will be delivered by Ervine Okuboh, the Business Adviser for AFFORD. Ervine has previously successfully established a number of SME procurement programmes for the Greater London Authority, Liverpool City Council and Leeds City Council.

ABC Business Training Programme 2017 - Grow Your Social Enterprise
2018-01-08 13:00 - 16:00
AFFORD Business Club will be holding the first round of business training programmes for its members. The programmes will commence in late November through to February 2018. The first three programmes will be held on the following days:
Finance
Thursday 30 November 2017 from 10.30am to 4.30pm (Deadline for registration 22 Nov 2017)
Marketing
Wednesday, 6 December 2017 from 1 pm to 4 pm (Deadline for registration 29 Nov 2017)
Grow Your Social Enterprise
Wednesday, 13 December 2017 from 1 pm to 4 pm (Deadline for registrationn 6 Dec 2017)
These programmes will be delivered by industry experts and will be held at the Business Resource Centre at the AFFORD office.
Register here

ABC Business Training Programme 2017 - Marketing
2017-12-06 13:00 - 16:00

ABC Business Training Programme 2017 - Finance
2017-11-30 10:30 - 16:30
