After a brief pause in 2023, Black-owned nonprofit Kwanda is back with renewed energy and a bold new structure. Founded by British-Nigerian technologist and designer Jermaine Craig, Kwanda is relaunching with the same mission, empowering Black communities through collective giving, but now with a sharper focus and a powerful new platform: Moyo.
Originally launched in 2020, Kwanda enabled members of the African diaspora to pool small monthly donations and vote on high-impact projects led by local African changemakers. In just three years, it funded 17 infrastructure and development projects across 10 countries, deployed over £105,000 ($131,000), and built a community of 2,300 monthly contributors.
“Kwanda started as an experiment rooted in trust and transparency,” said founder Jermaine Craig. “But after facing the hard truths of burnout, operational gaps, and sustainability, I stepped back to rebuild it with stronger foundations.”
A Moment of Pause, Then Purpose
In February 2023, Craig announced a pause in Kwanda’s operations to reflect and recharge. He publicly shared his struggles with operational inexperience and personal exhaustion, choosing transparency over silence.
“I’ve struggled to build an operationally sound and sustainable organization out of Kwanda,” he wrote. “I need to rest and take some time to reflect… but I’m still committed.”
Now, Kwanda 2.0 is back with a more resilient approach: a holding company model housing multiple giving vehicles, starting with its flagship new initiative, Moyo.
Introducing Moyo: Reliable Monthly Income for Those in Need
Launching in October 2023, Moyo is a new giving platform under the Kwanda umbrella that provides ongoing monthly income to individuals living below the poverty line in Nigeria.
Through partnerships with local grassroots organizations, Moyo identifies the most vulnerable and allocates funds based on each recipient’s situation and cost of living. Households with dependents receive higher support.
“The promise is not just aid—it’s dignity and stability,” said the Kwanda team. “We’re offering a steady income for as long as needed.”
Key features of Moyo include:
- 50% of all donations go directly to recipients.
- The remaining 50% is held in reserves, protecting recipients from the instability of donor drop-offs.
- The model is built on respect for recipients’ autonomy, letting them decide how best to use the funds.
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Expanded Vision: Supporting Other Nonprofits
Kwanda 2.0 is also designed to welcome and uplift smaller African nonprofits that share its values. These organizations will have the opportunity to merge with Kwanda and benefit from its tech infrastructure, resources, and donor network.
“It’s not just about building our brand—it’s about building an ecosystem,” Craig noted.
A Legacy of Impact and Transparency
Past Kwanda projects have included:
- Reusable menstrual kit production in Ghana, enabling girls to stay in school.
- Micro-loans and training in Sierra Leone, helping over 50 entrepreneurs grow small businesses.
- Clean water boreholes in Tanzania, delivering sustainable access to safe water.
- UX/UI design scholarships in Nigeria and Ghana, equipping underserved youth with digital skills.
- COVID-19 food relief, which reached 181 homes across West Africa.
Kwanda’s signature values remain unchanged: radical transparency, community governance, and African-led solutions. Every member, known as a “villager” can track every transaction via Kwanda’s public ledger and vote on where funds go.
What’s Ahead
Kwanda is now focused on expanding its contributor base, growing its new income distribution model through Moyo, and reopening digital spaces for its global community to connect, collaborate, and celebrate impact.
“This next chapter is about sustainability, clarity, and deeper trust,” said Craig. “We’ve learned, we’ve rested, and now we’re building again—with purpose.”
For media inquiries, partnerships, or to become a contributor, visit kwanda.co.
About Kwanda
Kwanda is a Black-owned, diaspora-powered funding platform committed to sustainable development in Africa. By empowering communities to give collectively and vote on transparent, African-led initiatives, Kwanda is reimagining how philanthropy can work—locally, globally, and with dignity at its core.
