Photo: Lorna Liz Nakiguli (horizont3000 Finance Manager) with Joel Chemusto (horizont3000 Co-financing Programme Officer)
Civil society organisations (CSOs) across East Africa are taking bold steps to embrace digital solutions for stronger accountability and better financial management. From 2nd to 4th September 2025, horizont3000 Regional Office East Africa, through its Transparency Project, was hosting a regional learning and sharing event in Kampala, Uganda.
The gathering brings together partners from Kenya, South Sudan, and Uganda to explore how digital finance can transform resource management, programme delivery, and accountability systems in the development sector.
Driving change through digital finance
The three-day event was designed to address pressing issues in NGO financial operations, including:
The objectives and importance of integrating digital finance.
Challenges and lessons from digital banking adoption.
Practical strategies for using mobile money and digital banking in NGO operations.
Approaches to financial risk management, fraud detection, and mitigation.
Strengthening results-based reporting and implementing anti-corruption policies.
Through peer-to-peer exchanges and joint planning sessions, participants are not only learning but also co-creating action plans to reinforce their institutional capacities.
Building stronger systems against fraud
One of the core messages of the event is that fraud detection and prevention is a shared responsibility—involving not just organisations but also project participants and communities. By using digital tools, CSOs can make transactions more transparent, track resources in real time, and reduce vulnerabilities to financial risks.
The move towards digitalization is not just about technology—it’s about building trust, ensuring accountability, and safeguarding the resources that directly impact communities.
The Transparency Project
The initiative is part of the Transparency Project, a four-year programme funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and horizont3000 member organisations. Its goal is to help CSOs across East Africa establish robust systems that prevent fraud, promote integrity, and improve results in development cooperation.
By aligning values with modern technologies, the project is fostering a culture of openness and collaboration—ensuring that development efforts have a lasting and positive impact on the communities served.
