CLI Engages Sector Leaders on Sustainability and the Future of Civic Leadership
The Civic Leadership Institute (CLI) participated in the March edition of the NPO Thrive Talk hosted by KFM Consultancy on 31 March 2026, contributing to a timely conversation on leadership and sustainability in the non-profit sector.
Held under the theme “The Leadership NPO Sustainability Demands: Stewardship, Courage, and Systems Thinking in Uncertain Times,” the dialogue convened practitioners and sector leaders to reflect on the evolving challenges facing civic organisations across Africa.
Opening the session, host Maureen Sigauke emphasised the significance of the moment, noting that the sector is navigating a period that demands both courage and reimagination.
“We are operating in uncertain times. Times that demand an alternative way of thinking, courage to make difficult decisions, and more deliberate stewardship of the resources entrusted to us,” she said, framing the conversation as both a reflection and a call to action for leaders across the sector.
Speaking during the session, CLI Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Dzikamai Bere, situated the current moment within a broader shift in the civic landscape, marked by tightening regulatory environments, constrained resources, and the emergence of anti-rights narratives. He noted that these developments are not isolated, but part of a wider global pattern reshaping the space within which civic actors operate.
“We are not simply navigating a crisis. We are living through a rupture,” he observed, emphasising that the pressures facing the sector demand a fundamental rethinking of leadership and institutional strategy.
The discussion highlighted the increasing strain on civic organisations, including shrinking funding pools, rising inequality, and growing demands on non-profits to deliver essential services in contexts where state capacity is under pressure. Participants reflected on the implications of these dynamics for organisational sustainability and leadership practice.
Reflecting on the conversation, KFM Founder Kudzai Midzi captured a central tension facing the sector:
“Are we building institutions… or just surviving through projects?”
His question highlighted a recurring concern raised during the dialogue—that in conditions of sustained pressure, organisations risk drifting from long-term institutional vision toward short-term survival.
In his contribution, Bere challenged prevailing understandings of sustainability, cautioning against approaches that reduce it to financial survival.
“Sustainability is not about keeping the lights on. It is about remaining faithful to the mission,” he said.
Drawing from his experience leading civic institutions, he outlined three interrelated pillars for organisational sustainability:
- Resource Sovereignty: Ensuring that organisations retain agency and control over the resources that shape their work.
- Institutionalising Excellence: Building systems and cultures that outlast individual leaders and enable consistent impact.
- Succession Planning and Transition Management: Embedding continuity through deliberate leadership renewal processes.
The conversation also explored the nature of leadership within the civic sector.
Bere emphasised that leadership is not defined by position, but by behaviour and responsibility within systems of change. He drew attention to the phenomenon of “accidental leadership,” where individuals assume leadership roles through activism and commitment, often without formal preparation or support.
This, he argued, reinforces the importance of leadership accompaniment – an approach central to CLI’s work – which recognises the isolation and complexity faced by civic leaders and provides sustained, relational support as they navigate their roles.
Participants further noted the importance of ethical leadership, institutional coherence, and the need to reconnect organisational practice with community realities. The session highlighted gaps in governance, including weak board engagement and internal disconnection within organisations, as areas requiring renewed attention.
Despite the challenges outlined, the conversation maintained a forward-looking perspective. Bere encouraged civic actors to move beyond a posture of constraint and to embrace the opportunity to reimagine the sector.
“This is not the end of NGOs. This is a moment for rebirth. We must not only become victims, but architects of the next civic renaissance.”
The Thrive Talk forms part of ongoing efforts by KFM to support non-profit organisations in navigating complex operating environments. CLI’s participation reflects its commitment to contributing to sector-wide dialogue and advancing new approaches to leadership grounded in accompaniment, institutional resilience, and long-term civic renewal.
