At the end of 2024, Spark hosted a memorable gathering to mark the successful conclusion of Phase I of the Advancing Citizen Engagement (ACE) project—our first national pilot initiative launched in partnership with the Government of Rwanda and the World Bank. This event celebrated the remarkable progress achieved through the pilot and brought together key stakeholders, including representatives from the Government of Rwanda, district mayors, and participants from the Facilitated Collective Action Process (FCAP)

On November 27th, heavy rains triggered devastating mudslides and floods in the upper region of Bulambuli, resulting in significant loss of life, displacement of families, and destruction of homes. 27 communities that Spark works with were affected. In these communities, dozens of lives were lost, and more were hospitalized. Families lost homes, livestock, and vital infrastructure, and many are being relocated to resettlement camps outside of the flood zone.

Spark Microgrants announced successful closure of first philanthropic round securing $27MM to back ambitious 3-year strategy in Rwanda, Malawi and beyond.

Kigali, Rwanda — February 18, 2022

The Ministry of Local Government has appreciated the contribution of Spark Microgrants in Advancing Citizen Engagement (ACE) project. The appreciation was voiced by the Minister of State in charge of social affairs in Rwanda’s Ministry of Local Government, Assumpta Ingabire and the Director-General of Local Administrative Entities Development Agency (LODA), Mrs. Claudine Nyinawagaga.

Kigali, 22 September 2021- Spark Microgrants has launched a $6 million project to strengthen citizen engagement, and support livelihoods and income-generation in rural areas under the financial support of…

New blog post on how community-driven development improves governance and policymaking.

The impact of community-driven development (CDD) programs on promoting the voice and agency of women

In early April, the Burundi team launched the FCAP in the province of Bururi, in southern Burundi.

In April, the Spark team in Burundi spent a week training social workers from our partner organization, FVS-AMADE, in the first phases of the Spark Process.

Last March, Spark's Ben Thomas sat down with Spark community members to hear how they felt their communities had changed since the beginning of their partnership.