Ulalo in New York for #UNGA80
A Week of Impact, Learning, and Hope
James Gondwe Writes
James (right) poses with the Executive Director of Team4Tech(Middle), our partner.
The 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (#UNGA80) was more than a gathering of world leaders, it was a stage for civil society, philanthropy, and innovators to reimagine global impact. For us at Ulalo, being in New York during this high-energy week was an extraordinary opportunity to share our story, connect with peers, and chart bold new paths forward.
We began the week with a bang at the Leadership Forum: The Evolving Architecture of Impact hosted by Panorama Global. The forum set the tone for what became a week of critical conversations on how global actors, governments, NGOs, donors, and the private sector, can align better for sustainable change.
From there, we transitioned into The SideBar, an inspiring hub of conversations, workshops, and collaborations. I had the privilege of co-leading a session on “Education Transformed: Equity, Systems, and Last-Mile Impact”, “Reimagining the Bridge Between Local NGOs and Global Donors”, while my colleague Chifundo Chidumu, our Director of Operations, Resources and Administration, co-led a thought-provoking session on “Women’s Leadership for Climate and Justice: From Grassroots to Global”.
Networking in action, Chifundo (right) poses with a colleague after a meaningful conversation
Later that afternoon, we joined a powerful discussion hosted by the Centre for Civil Society and Development on Empowering Civil Society Through Partnership and Sustainable Funding. The panel dug into one of the biggest challenges for NGOs in developing countries, building pipelines for sustainable, long-term financing.
Tuesday and Wednesday were all about moving between two dynamic venues: Spotlight Africa a convening space hosted by Segal Family Foundation, Rippleworks, Livelihood Impact Fund, and Judith Neilson Foundation for African leaders and philanthropists who work in Africa during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and the Devex Impact House at UNGA.
Spotlight Africa was a packed program of sessions featuring grassroots leaders and funders co-creating solutions for Africa’s future. At Devex Impact House, we explored critical themes: how NGOs can help governments in the Global South learn, education funding pipelines, unlocking private financing, and digital adaptation for a climate-constrained world. These were not abstract debates, they were practical, urgent, and resonant for the work we do every day in Malawi.
Tuesday evening, we joined the Friends of Malawi event, a celebration of Malawi’s achievements organized by the Chandler Foundation, the Segal Family Foundation, and the Permanent Mission of Malawi to the U.N. It was a vibrant networking space, bringing together the Government of Malawi delegation, funders, and changemakers dedicated to the country’s progress. The evening provided a platform to connect with like-minded individuals committed to Malawi’s betterment, to recognize the tireless efforts of partners driving change, and for me personally to enjoy speaking some Chichewa after days of blurbing in English. It was wonderful to see familiar faces and to feel the collective pride and hope for Malawi’s future.
On Thursday, James attended the Luminos Fund’s book launch, which unveiled The Luminos Method. This approach, rooted in joyful learning, real-time data, and deep community partnerships has already enabled hundreds of thousands of children to catch up and thrive. With over 30 independent evaluations validating its impact, the Luminos Method is a proven game-changer. Ulalo is excited to explore how we might adapt and bring these insights to Malawi, building on Ulalo’s own education initiatives.
In the evening, then came the climax of the week: the Segal Family Foundation’s Awards Gala, where humbled to receive the Angel for Africa Award alongside incredible changemakers Jackie Odhiambo, Dr. Juliana Busasi, Butoto Naum, and Tracy Ahumuza. The ceremony was moving, a true celebration of hope and resilience. Short films of our work were screened, followed by a warm dinner with the Segal Family Foundation staff, Board, and family. It was an unforgettable evening of affirmation, not only of our work at Ulalo, but of the power of local leadership across Africa.
James receives the Angel of Africa Award (he is at the center)
And finally, on Friday we closed our New York program at the Agency Summit organized by The Agency Fund an energizing convening of funders, practitioners, and thinkers reimagining how philanthropic capital can be deployed with trust and equity. It was a reflective way to end the week: grounding the high-level conversations of UNGA in practical questions of power, partnership, and the future of civil society.
Every engagement, whether a keynote, workshop, panel, or dinner, offered space to share Ulalo’s story, to listen deeply, and to connect with peers and funders. True to our name, Ulalo (“bridge”), this week in New York reminded us that our role is to connect local realities with global possibilities, ensuring that the voices and aspirations of Malawian communities shape the solutions of tomorrow. #UNGA80 was about purpose. And we return home energized to keep building, learning, and bridging for impact.
