Kuja was born from Adeso's long-standing mission to shift power and resources closer to communities driving real change. For more than three decades, Adeso has championed the belief that lasting impact begins within communities themselves, those who best understand their realities and needs. Yet, despite leading powerful, community-driven solutions, local changemakers continue to face systemic barriers in accessing and managing funding. Their stories and impact often go unseen, and when recognised, they still struggle with rigid donor requirements and unequal power dynamics within the aid system.

In response to these challenges, Adeso began transforming its own model, moving away from traditional donor dependency towards a more independent, self-sustaining approach. This evolution includes the creation of social enterprises and the development of an endowment model that unlocks flexible, trust-based resources rooted in community ownership.

Kuja is part of this next chapter. It embodies Adeso's commitment to decolonising aid and reimagining how collaboration, visibility, and trust can flourish between funders and community-based organisations. Through technology, Kuja amplifies local leadership, connects changemakers directly to opportunities, and celebrates the power of communities to define and drive their own development. It carries forward Adeso's mission in a new, dynamic form, one that strengthens the movement toward a more equitable and locally led global development ecosystem.