
Spark Microgrants
Model & Strategy
Spark’s model is a democratic, community-based approach to international development, built on the belief that communities facing poverty have the knowledge to solve local problems but lack the resources and capacity to do so.
Spark trains emerging governments and leading civil society organizations in deploying an inclusive village planning process where women and men, young and old, plan for local development together. Each village engages in a 6-month planning process and is awarded a 1-time $8,000 village fund to turn a project— such as a farm or a school —into reality. Each village launches a savings fund to finance future local projects.



Sasha co-founded Spark in 2010 after experiencing the power of community-driven development at local NGOs in southern India and the negative side effects of top-down aid on local drive and innovation while working in South Sudan. She wanted to know how to catalyze rural villages who aren’t organized into action. Sasha has a BA in Human Security and Studio Arts.
Sasha moved to East Africa in July 2010 to develop the Spark MicroGrants model. Her previous experiences in South Sudan, South Africa, India, and Uganda have led to her passion for community-led development. Sasha holds a BA from the University of Vermont in Studio Art and a self-designed major of Human Security, a paradigm for development that recognizes the rising legitimacy of non-state actors in securing basic human needs.
IMPACT
Spark has worked with over 320 rural communities across Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, and Ghana, and has benefitted over 250,000 lives.
Spark village partners have collectively launched over 505 projects, with over 300 projects implemented independently after the Spark process. 86% of projects are successful and 85% of communities continue to meet regularly after Spark, with 93% launching secondary projects independently of Spark.
Spark is currently working with the Government of Rwanda on a national scale strategy to ensure that every village across Rwanda can benefit from the Spark process.
Spark Microgrants News
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It Takes Consultation to Help a VillageTwo DRK entrepreneurs, Sasha Fisher founder of Spark Microgrants and Natalie Bridgeman-Fields founder of Accountability Counsel, are featured in a compelling New York Times article discussing…Jul 2018
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Lessons from East Africa on Effective Community OrganizingFor the last seven years, Sasha Fisher has worked with communities across East Africa to build, test, and refine a facilitated collective action process to combat…May 2017
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Forbes 30 Under 30 Social EntrepreneursForbes recently released their “30 Under 30” for 2015 in Social Entrepreneurship and three DRK grantees were included in the list of social entrepreneurs. Kiah…Jan 2016
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Thrilled to welcome the Hon. Halima Daud, Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, and her delega… https://t.co/6Htyms5GlP
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A mom seven times over, Laurence is a grandmother now. She's seen her village change over the years. She pushed for… https://t.co/Dix2B1qVwN
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Did you catch our survey earlier this week? Take a 60-second break and let us know how we're doing. We want to hea… https://t.co/QK81pp518A
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Valentine is a local government officer who has supported village development efforts for 13 years. "My mom is happ… https://t.co/gdePITNm5u
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As we prepare to honor moms this #MothersDay, Spark celebrates women like Apollinarie. A farmer, entrepreneur, and… https://t.co/d5aiFVrcPw
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📋 Take our survey! Our "Six in 60" survey asks 6 questions and takes just 60 seconds to complete. It’s anonymous… https://t.co/2Sryvwkduy
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We love this op-ed by @GroundTruthSol in @newhumanitarian on the importance of involving and listening to local com… https://t.co/vt95rSt0Ya
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🚨 We're #hiring a stellar grants mgmt and pipeline lead to support our work in #Rwanda. If you speak the language o… https://t.co/VR3qiHLZk8
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We stand in solidarity with the people of Rwanda, community partners, and @RwandaGov during the 28th Commemoration… https://t.co/nUFw1smOaU
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We love this working paper from @Oxford_CSAE that compares cash transfer against cash plus programs (that include t… https://t.co/IwL6wfMUX0
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The community of Madenge partnered with Spark in 2015. Last December, three years after the close of their first mi… https://t.co/5f7x2deIst
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🚨 We're #hiring! Are you a passionate about tech, mobile apps, and based in #Rwanda or #Uganda? Do you excel in p… https://t.co/P9OOd5BKSd
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Did you catch our piece with @NEIDonors earlier this month about how #globaldev donors can help scale #localization… https://t.co/vyqjbpE1qB
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We join the global community celebrating #InternationalWomensDay and the many women who #BreakTheBias every day. We… https://t.co/MjqKZCtvin
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Paul Farmer worked to ensure all people receive high quality health care, no matter their wealth or power. The… https://t.co/nBmP0FonAQ
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Wonderful to see coverage in @ktpressrwanda of @RwandaLocalGov and @LODARwanda recent visits to Spark supported com… https://t.co/W1MqMcochA
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We were thrilled to join @iassumpta of @RwandaLocalGov, Claudine Nyinawagaga of @LODARwanda, and others on their re… https://t.co/ZAbShFzhYo
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Spark is proud to work with @RwandaLocalGov and @LODARwanda to support the social and economic advancement of commu… https://t.co/ic9GkAL8v4
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Are you passionate about improving #globaldev? Do you think people and communities should have more control over th… https://t.co/osU5XgaaZf