I had the privilege of interviewing Odede and discovered that SHOFCO’s key to success lies in its collaborative approach. By working closely with local leaders and community-based organizations, SHOFCO has created a grass-roots movement that truly grasps the interconnectedness of the issues. Odede emphasizes the importance of giving people agency and investing in community-driven solutions… stating that sustainable change comes from working together.
Odede believes that funders must partner with local leaders to define success and align it with the community’s needs. When funders trust local leaders, “they are more likely to treat them as equal partners.”.. sparking meaningful change.
Reference: See here
In The News:
I grew up in Kenya's biggest slum and know from experience: International aid must shift toward community-based…
Every year, Africa receives billions of dollars of aid. Yet very little of it goes directly to local communities in need. In fact, less than 1% of global aid goes directly to local organizations . As for humanitarian assistance specifically, international organizations receive 400 times more funding than local organizations—$39 billion versus $98 million in 2022.
Even as they take the lion’s share of funding, international NGOs are questioning their own relevance. In a study where Oxford researchers spoke with 50 CEOs of leading INGOs, many said they felt stuck, hamstrung by donor expectations, and too focused on internal issues. This is a powerful admission that INGOs are too far away from the communities they’re meant to be helping. It’s a bitter pill to swallow, knowing that they will continue to compete for dollars, at the expense of the world’s most vulnerable populations.
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Kenyan philanthropist Odede meets Jamaica’s deputy PM
Kenyan philanthropist and Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO) Founder and CEO Dr Kennedy Odede has shared details of his meeting with Jamaica’s Deputy Prime Minister Dr Horace Chang in the Caribbean country.
He was formerly the Minister of Water, Environment and Housing from September 2007 to December 2011.
“I had lunch with Dr. Horace Chang, Deputy Prime Minister of Jamaica. I also had a conversation with his family,” Odede wrote on his Instagram.
Before visiting Jamaica, the Shofco founder was in the United States where he attended the TIME100 Summit and Gala on April 24th and 25th.
Source: Visit website
Odede shares photo chilling with Jamaica’s Deputy Prime Minister – KBC
Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO) Founder and CEO Dr. Kennedy Odede shared a photo on his Instagram chilling with Jamaica’s Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Horace Chang in undisclosed location in the Caribbean country.
He was formerly theMinister of Water, Environment and Housing from September 2007 to December 2011.
“I had lunch with the Dr. HoraceChang, Deputy Prime Minister of Jamaica 🇯🇲 . Jessica and I also had a conversation with his family. Jamaica is becoming my second home,” Dr. Odede wrote on his Instagram.
Prior to visitingJamaica, the SHFOCO founder was in the United States where he attended TIME100 Summit and Gala on April 24th and 25 th .
Source: Visit website
