For over a decade we have improved the lives of one million people in the poorest parts of the world

We believe families in every village should have the right to decide how local development will impact them. To turn our vision into reality, we have pioneered an approach that is 100% village-driven and places decision-making power in the hands of those most affected by poverty.

Who We Are ➝

A group of women laughing and smiling outdoors during daytime, some wearing colorful headscarves and patterned clothing.

A unique approach sets us apart.

Our model pairs an inclusive village planning process with direct cash grants. This enables families to control all decisions, planning and resources. Each project they choose produces sustainable revenue to allow every family in the village to emerge from, and stay out of, extreme poverty.

This innovative process is low cost and replicable at $30/person.

What We Do ➝

Three women engaged in a discussion around a whiteboard outdoors, with expressions of concentration, surrounded by greenery.

Our Impact at a Glance:

  • 0

    Increase in median household asset values

  • 0

    Increase in household savings

  • 0

    Village meetings continue after process completes

Proven Durable Impact

Spark’s cash and village planning process leads to outsized impacts that endure for over a decade.

Villages gain more than triple the household assets and double their savings balances as a result of the Spark process.

Measuring Our Impact ➝

A large group of people gathered outdoors in a village setting, sitting and standing around a tree, listening to a speaker.

“Working with Spark brought us from the dark where we did not even know our neighbors to the light where we are free to know all and work together as a community towards a better future.”

-Kaana Mwenyi, Nasitsape, Uganda

Crowd of people celebrating outdoors, many holding yellow water jerry cans and metal trays, with a school building in the background.

Our Vision: A world where everybody lives with dignity and determines their own positive future.

A large group of people gathered outdoors on a grassy area, listening to a speaker near a tree, with a hillside landscape in the background.

Sparked Communities

The Spark Process was first tested in northern Rwanda in 2010. Since that time, we have worked with over 1300 villages in five countries.

Spark now has partners across Rwanda, Malawi, Uganda, Ghana and Burundi.

1300+ Villages and Growing

  • Outline of the country of Rwanda with the Rwandan flag colors and design.

    Rwanda

  • Flag of Uganda

    Uganda

  • Outline of the country of Burundi with the Burundi flag overlay, featuring horizontal stripes of red, white, and green with stars in the center.

    Burundi

  • Illustration of the map of Kenya with its flag patterns, including black, red, green, and white colors, and a depiction of a traditional Maasai shield and spear.

    Malawi

  • Close-up of the Ghanaian flag with red, yellow, green stripes, and a black star in the center.

    Ghana

From the Newsroom