Education Africa: Networks and Coalitions for Securing Non-Profit Funding

<p align="justify">James Urdang, founder of Education Africa, registered the non-profit organization (NPO) in 1992. While the dismantling of apartheid laws and legacies began in the early 1990s, the systemic impact of centuries of oppression required more than just a change in political leadership. The education system, challenged by the historical injustices of apartheid (and its colonial precursors), had been deeply impacted. Urdang set up Education Africa with the objective of contributing positively to the goal of equitable and quality education and aligned with the United Nations (UN) sustainable development goal of quality education for all. One of Education Africa’s flagship programs was the South African Model UN (SAMUN).<br><br\>As an NPO, Education Africa relied on donor funding for its projects. A corruption scandal in 2010 left the organization severely financially compromised. While most of the NPO’s projects, such as the Early Childhood Development project, had sufficient funding to be sustainable, SAMUN had not been able to run since 2017 due to a lack of funding. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in much of the organization’s funding coming to an end in 2020. The pandemic’s effect on global travel further exacerbated the sense that it would be difficult to reinstate SAMUN. How could Urdang source funding for SAMUN in the global pandemic context and financial constraints to ensure the long-term financial sustainability of Education Africa?<p/>

The case study is suitable for strategy modules at undergraduate- and graduate-level management development programs and in executive education programs focusing on strategy, particularly for social-purpose bodies such as non-profit or non-governmental organizations. After working through the case and assignment questions, students will be able to<br><br\><ul><li>recognize how the changes in the external environment impact organizational strategy for an NPO;</li><li>identify how non-profit or non-governmental organizations can create coalitions to help them react to the changing environment; and</li><li>make theory-based recommendations for how Education Africa can leverage its resources to ensure its future financial sustainability.</li></ul>

• education
• sustainability
• business environment