Who We Are
Network for Africa is a registered charity in both the United Kingdom and the United States, dedicated to supporting survivors of conflict and genocide and their families across sub-Saharan Africa. We focus on helping communities that have been left behind after fighting ends and emergency aid moves on, offering long-term mental health support and livelihood opportunities to rebuild lives with dignity and resilience.
Our Mission
Our Mission is to support survivors of conflict or genocide and their families, in communities in sub-Saharan Africa who have been left behind after the fighting stops, and the humanitarian aid moves on, to recover from trauma and rebuild their lives. We respond to what these communities tell us they need, and equip community leaders with the skills to identify those most in need, so we can offer appropriate and sustainable support. We form long-term partnerships with local NGOs, working with them to provide mental health support so survivors can tackle the deep-rooted psychological consequences that often block their recovery, and livelihoods to enable them to break the cycle of mental illness and poverty.
Our Vision
Our Vision is for survivors of conflict or genocide and their families in sub-Saharan Africa, to have access to the mental health care and livelihoods support they need to rebuild their lives.
Our Theory of Change sets out the steps that are taken to achieve this vision through the work that we do. It is available to download here: Network for Africa – Theory of Change
What Makes Our Work Unique
From our earliest work in Rwanda in 2007, it became clear that trauma could prevent people from learning new skills or engaging in livelihood programmes unless first addressed effectively. Over time, we developed an approach that supports mental health as the foundation for recovery and long-term well-being, empowering communities to become their own agents of change.
Rather than relying on international teams, we partner with respected local NGOs and community leaders to co-design programmes that are culturally appropriate and sustainable. Our expertise lies in strengthening local capacity so that effective mental health care continues long after specific projects conclude.
Network for Africa has a deep passion to nurture and grow grassroots organisations who are locally led. They offer the much-needed support to collaboratively fundraise, share skills in effective management of finances, monitoring and evaluation of projects, and support in development of the organisation’s strategy….A community-based organisation started by a group of survivors of war has grown to become a fully registered organisation serving over 5,000 community members with 35 staff and volunteers.
BNUU, Kalongo, Uganda
Our Approach to Mental Health Support
Our work is rooted in a practical and grassroots-driven model of community support:
- Working with Local Partners: We identify and partner with trusted community organisations and leaders to understand needs, cultural context, and priority areas for support.
- Training Community Counsellors: Supported by volunteer psychologists where appropriate, we train community counsellors and health workers to provide ongoing mental health support.
- Referral and Specialist Support: Community counsellors learn how to recognise serious mental health conditions and refer clients for specialist help when needed.
- Engaging Local Leaders: We train influential community members to recognise signs of distress and support local referral pathways.
- Awareness and Stigma Reduction: Our partners run awareness campaigns (including community meetings and radio sessions) to educate and reduce stigma around mental illness.
- Livelihood and Empowerment: Once individuals can manage trauma, we support them to develop income-generating skills and form self-help groups that strengthen financial independence and community resilience.
- Advocacy: Where it is safe, we encourage self-help groups to advocate for better services and rights within their communities.
We have been working in partnership with Network for Africa since 2017 when together we developed a peer counselling programme for young survivors of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. Network for Africa provided the model and training for our counsellors and multi-year funding to deliver the programme. We have supported over 2,000 participants since our partnership commenced and the positive impact reported is unparalleled.
Survivors Fund (SURF), Kigali, Rwanda
Long-Term Impact
By strengthening local mental health care and community structures, we help ensure that support continues far beyond our direct involvement. Our programmes aim not only to increase access to counselling and support but also to change attitudes within communities, reduce stigma, and unlock human potential long blocked by trauma.
Network for Africa helped Conforti with technical in-depth training for our staff, and awareness raising about mental health challenges for community leaders, schools and clinics.
Conforti, Port Loko, Sierra Leone