Foreign Money, Local Protests: The Ford Foundation returns to East Africa
Opinion
THE Ford Foundation appears to have become the centre of a growing debate in Tanzania after reports suggest that the United States-based organisation has allocated more than $2 million for projects that it says are meant to support democracy in the country.
Image: Supplied / David Kimmitt
THE Ford Foundation appears to have become the centre of a growing debate in Tanzania after reports suggest that the United States-based organisation has allocated more than $2 million for projects that it says are meant to support democracy in the country.
According to the foundation’s own reports, this money goes to media groups, bloggers and different local organisations that promote democratic values. Some of these groups also focus on women’s rights and LGBTQ+ rights.
One of the groups linked to this funding is Change Tanzania, a citizen movement led by Maria Sarungi Tsehai. The movement uses social media to challenge the government of President Samia Suluhu Hassan and has been calling on Tanzanians to join a large protest planned for December 9.
Change Tanzania has been active for many years, and its online messages often call for stronger accountability from leaders. The group positions itself as a voice for everyday Tanzanians tired of what they see as stifled freedoms under the current administration.
It seems their website lays out a bold agenda: monitoring elections, exposing corruption, and rallying people around shared grievances. But it’s their role in organising the planned “megaprotest” on December 9 that’s drawing the most attention.
The government has not ignored this.
President Samia recently said that some protesters were not acting on their own, claiming that people had been paid to burn and destroy property during earlier demonstrations. Her remarks added more attention to the question of who is funding groups that push protest calls online.
There are also concerns about the role of international NGOs in Tanzania. Groups such as Article 19 and Civicus have been meeting with opposition figures and monitoring the political climate.
They argue that freedom of speech and political space are shrinking, especially as the country moves toward the next election. Their work has raised questions about how much influence foreign organisations should have on local politics.
This is not the first time the Ford Foundation has been accused of influencing politics in East Africa. In 2024, Kenyan President William Ruto publicly accused the foundation of supporting Gen Z protests that shook Kenya. He said the foundation was giving money that ended up fueling unrest.
In a public address that went viral, Ruto didn’t hold back. “Those behind sponsoring the chaos in the Republic of Kenya, shame on them because they are sponsoring violence against our democratic nation,” he said.
He also said on television: “I want to ask the people of Ford Foundation, that money they are giving out to sponsor violence, how are they going to benefit? We are going to tell them if they are not interested in democracy in Kenya, if they are going to sponsor violence in Kenya, if they are going to sponsor anarchy, we are going to call them out, and we are going to tell them that they either shape up or they leave.”
Although the Ford Foundation denied the accusation, the dispute drew attention across the region. In the end, Ruto did not shut down the organisation, but the tension between his government and the foundation was clear. The organisation is still working there today.
Now, people in Tanzania are wondering if President Samia will take a stronger path than Ruto did. Will she only speak against the Ford Foundation, as Ruto did? Or will she close their office or stop the money?
Some citizens believe the foundation’s work supports healthy democracy. Others think foreign money is influencing local politics in a way that is not transparent. Will the protest be peaceful, or will it turn into violence like some protests in Kenya?
In the end, the main question remains: Is the Ford Foundation helping to strengthen democracy in Tanzania, or is its money creating more conflict and mistrust? The answer will shape how the government, civil society and the public move forward in the coming months.
* Dr David Kimmitt, a researcher specialising in African affairs and international relations.
** The views expressed here do not reflect those of the Sunday Independent, IOL, or Independent Media.