Our Process

Spark's cash and village planning process builds on indigenous organizing practices, such as Ubudehe, Imihigo, and Umuganda, so it feels familiar, not imposing.

Our two year process includes six months of village planning meetings paired with a cash grant. This leads to continuing village investments that create sustained impact for 10 years and longer.

The Spark process has shown to produce sustained impacts over 10 years and longer.

A group of people gathered outdoors in a circle, participating in a community meeting or discussion in a rural setting with trees and hills in the background.

》FIRST PHASE: Creating a Shared Vision

Spark’s inclusive planning process brings together people of all genders, ages, and socio-economic status, through a series of weekly facilitated village meetings.

Spark shifts power from a small handful of male elites to women, men, young and old, across the economic spectrum. In the first month residents identify local assets. In the second month, residents develop a village vision and goals. In month three, families develop pathway ideas to reach their goals.

》SECOND PHASE: Investing in Livelihoods

When village residents agree on a shared vision for their future, they can begin to invest the cash grant funds to build a project of their choosing. This enables the village to have control over decisions, plans, and resources.

They also begin a village savings program that allows them to make future investments in new projects together. This unique investment strategy allows families to become more self-reliant over time.

》FINAL PHASE: Building a Better Future

Spark’ s cash and village planning program is used for investments like agriculture projects that generate revenue and provide benefits that are shared across the village. This enables families to emerge from, and stay out of, extreme poverty.

A woman wearing a colorful headscarf, a patterned dress, and a denim jacket is pointing at a map or chart on a wall while speaking to a group of people sitting nearby.

Impact on Women

Women's civic engagement increases by 215% after two years in the Spark process.

Nearly half of the leadership committees in our Spark process are democratically elected women.

Spotlight: Rose

In 2013 Irene left her household and walked into a village meeting for the first time ever. Her neighbor Rose had recruited her to join. Rose was a newly elected leader herself, having never attended a public forum before the Spark process. Women were meant to take care of the home, not the village.

In her new position Rose led her village to build a bridge across a river that had separated her kids and neighbors from school, health care and markets. Rose’s leadership improved the lives of her 1,200+ neighbors. Rose continues to uplift women in her area as one of over 800 new leaders who have emerged through the Spark process.