Getting the word out about TRC! 🎉
Sabrina M. Segal, Director of The Risk Collaborative, speaking at the East Africa Philanthropy Network Conference, June 2025
Over the summer, The Risk Collaborative had several opportunities to speak with global audiences and share thoughts, ideas, and approaches about managing risk in the third sector. It was also a fantastic opportunity to listen and learn from risk managers at small, medium, and large organisations - both implementers and funders - about their perceptions and approaches to risk.
East Africa Philanthropy Network (EAPN)
In early June, I had the privilege to speak to the audience at the 9th Annual East Africa Philanthropy Network Conference held in Kigali, Rwanda. Held over three days with over 500 participants representing funders, INGOs, civil society, private sector, and academia, it was an AMAZING experience.
The theme of the conference was “Agile Philanthropy: Adapting to Economic, Social, and Political Shifts”, and I spoke on a panel titled “Risk, Revenue, & Resilience: Financing African Institutions on Transformational Terms”. I introduced the OCRM and 3P frameworks to the audience and gained insights into the risk and compliance challenges from the East African perspective.
Some notable quotes included:
"Restricted funding will always restrict us.”
We need to focus on developing “leadership that appreciates the past, has a vision to prepare for the future, and acts in the present.”
Decolonisation is vital to remove local conversations from the “echo chambers of the empire.”
“Donors view legitimacy as whether you are registered instead of the quality of your work.”
“Local organisations don’t meet funder checklists because the checklists aren’t relevant to their community.”
The Risk Collaborative is pursuing some of the connections made during the conference to see how we can support the broader region with updated, practical, and relevant thinking around risk in the third sector.
The Risk Collaborative participated at the 2025 Charity Finance Group Annual Conference, June 2025.
Charity Finance Group Annual Conference, 2025
Later in June, I had the opportunity to speak at the Charity Finance Group Annual Conference in London, UK where the theme was “Strong Foundations, Lasting Impact.” The conference was a hive of energy and entheusisam, focused on the UK charity space which has been facing its fair share of crisis recently.
I spoke on a panel titled, “Rethinking Risk: Bold Strategies For A More Resilient Charity Sector” and explained why traditional risk approaches, methodologies, and tools aren’t fit-for-purpose for the charity sector and included my now famous (infamous 🤔) rally cry of:
“Burn your risk matrices, registers, and appetitie statements because they’re not providing your organisation with any value!”
As with the EAPN conference earlier in the month, I was able to connect with UK-based charities and learn more about the risk and compliance challenges they are facing. This conference was also a great way to connect with some potential corporate partners who are aligned with supporting the third sector manage risk. Watch this space! 😊
Written by Sabrina M. Segal, Director, The Risk Collaborative
