Network Exchange: Decolonizing Fiscal Sponsorship with Ajani Husbands and Amanda Nasinyama of Build Up, Inc.
In this episode
In this episode, host Lee Stabert speaks with Ajani Husbands and Amanda Nasinyama of Build Up, Inc., an international fiscal sponsor with a special focus on women and BIPOC-led projects. At the 2024 National Gathering in Atlanta, they led a session entitled, "Decolonizing Fiscal Sponsorship." In this chat, we get into the conception and experience of that session, as well as the bigger picture for Build Up Inc.’s work as they try to level the playing field and build partnerships across the globe.
This podcast was produced by the National Network of Fiscal Sponsors. If you enjoyed this episode and would like to hear more, please reach out to NNFS and let us know.
Ajani Husbands
Ajani is passionate about finding innovative solutions to complex problems for Build Up Inc. as the Vice President of Strategic Planning and Senior Counsel.
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Ajani Husbands is passionate about finding innovative solutions to complex problems. Ajani received his B.A. in International Relations and minor in African/African-American Studies from Stanford University, his M.A. in International Development from American University, and his J.D. from NYU School of Law. He is a Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellow and a Root-Tilden-Kern Scholar.
Ajani began his career as a U.S. diplomat, where he served in Eritrea, Haiti, Pakistan, and South Sudan, liaising with a wide range of local organizations, artists, activists, and business owners to support foreign policy objectives. After a decade of service, Ajani obtained his law degree, and transitioned to working as a transactional attorney at major law firms, where he advised public companies, private equity firms, and financial institutions on an array of capital market transactions. He also maintained an active pro bono practice representing asylum seekers and providing transactional legal support to nonprofits.
Ajani currently lives in South Africa with his wife and two sons. During the day (in South Africa) he runs a rum company based out of Cape Town. He also enjoys photography, reading africanfuturism, and watching nature shows and cooking competitions with his sons.
Amanda Nasinyama
Amanda advocates for promoting and protecting the rights of vulnerable and marginalized people and communities at Build Up Inc. as the Director of Strategic Initiatives.
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Amanda Nasinyama is a social justice advocate who is passionate about promoting and protecting the rights of vulnerable and marginalized people and communities. Amanda received her undergraduate Law degree (LLB) from Makerere University in Uganda and her Master’s Law degree (LLM) from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School. She is a Penn Law LLM Rule of Law and Human Rights Fellow.
Amanda began her career as a Resettlement Intern at the UN Refugee Agency in Uganda. She later joined HIAS Refugee Trust of Kenya as a Resettlement Officer, interviewing refugees and drafting applications for them to be resettled to a third country. Amanda has worked with UN Women’s East and Southern Africa Regional Office, managing governance, peace, security, and humanitarian projects and provided technical support to 13 UN Women’s country offices within the region to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Amanda later joined the UN Department of Peace Operations at the UN Headquarters in New York. She worked on protecting civilians in UN peacekeeping operations by developing policy and guidance, coordinating with various stakeholders, including member states, and providing backstopping support to UN peacekeeping missions.
Currently, as the Director of Strategic Initiatives, Amanda manages and leads strategy, work, and operations within Build Up, Inc. (BUI). She is responsible for designing and implementing policies, exploring thought authority and leadership opportunities throughout the sector, and expanding BUI’s role within the nonprofit sector and fiscal sponsorship in particular.
When she’s not working, Amanda loves spending time with her family and friends and going on road trips with her partner. She enjoys dancing, listening to music, watching films and television, and writing.
About the Network Exchange
Demystify the world of fiscal sponsorship with ‘Network Exchange: Insights from the National Network of Fiscal Sponsors’. Whether you’re a seasoned professional, new to the field, or just curious about the work, ‘Network Exchange” is your go-to source for illuminating insights, best practices, and the latest trends in the dynamic realm of fiscal sponsorship. This thought-provoking podcast series serves as your portal to a wealth of knowledge and expertise that unravel the complexities of fiscal sponsorship through insightful conversations with leaders in the fiscal sponsorship field.
