Ford Foundation West Africa: 65 Years
The video marks the 65th anniversary of the Ford Foundation’s West Africa office, opened in the 1960s as the newly independent nations of Ghana, Senegal and Nigeria sought partners to build human capital and institutions. Over the decades the foundation funded landmark projects – the Institute of African Studies at the University of Ibadan, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, and scholarships that produced leaders such as Kofi Ann an. In the 1980s it pivoted from government‑centric aid to civil‑society strengthening, women’s education, and rural development. Highlights include the Reclaim Naija election‑monitoring platform, the first open‑air HIV/AIDS education workshops, and a grant that helped produce the film “93 Days” on Nigeria’s Ebola response. The foundation also rescued Timbuktu manuscripts and financed the restoration of Gorée’s House of Slaves. The legacy demonstrates how strategic philanthropy can shape education, health, governance and cultural narratives across West Africa, while the current BUILD initiative signals a shift toward African‑led, intersectional philanthropy that could sustain the region’s social progress for decades.
65 Years of Partnership With West Africa: Advancing Climate Justice
The video marks the 65‑year partnership between the Ford Foundation and West African nations, highlighting a renewed focus on climate justice and sustainable development across the region. Foundation officials note that despite abundant fossil fuels, minerals and forests, many communities remain...
Ford Global Fellows: Big Juicy Question
The Ford Global Fellowship introduces the “Big Juicy Question” as a personal compass for emerging leaders committed to ending inequality and strengthening democracy. The program rests on a deliberately developmental framework that pushes participants to the “edge of knowing,” confront uncomfortable...
Ford Global Fellows: A Global Community Changing the World
Ford Global Fellowship, launched by Ford Motor Company, is a ten‑year initiative that brings together roughly 200 emerging leaders from around the world to develop solutions to systemic inequality. The program structures three immersive learning journeys across different regions, allowing fellows...