Partnering with Dovetail: How Flexible Funding Powers Real-World Solutions

Investing in climate-informed health solutions today means a healthier tomorrow for children in Ethiopia. Dovetail made this possible.

In early 2024, Jembi received an unrestricted grant from the Dovetail Impact Foundation, funding that is already accelerating our digital health impact across Africa.

In just a few months, Jembi leveraged this investment to secure additional funding, strengthen our organisation, forge new partnerships, and drive innovation. Amplifying our impact across Africa’s digital health landscape.

About the Dovetail Impact Foundation

Dovetail Impact Foundation, formerly the David Weekley Family Foundation, supports organisations that drive meaningful, sustainable change. With a focus on alleviating poverty through education, health, justice, and economic opportunity, Dovetail collaborates with over 115 organizations across 35 countries. Its funding strategy prioritises impact at scale and measurable results, an approach that aligns with Jembi’s mission.

Every child deserves a chance to run, play, and thrive. With Dovetail’s support, we’re confronting malaria where it hits hardest—at the intersection of health systems and climate risk.

How the Award is Helping Jembi Expand its Impact

In July 2024, Jembi received an unrestricted grant from Dovetail Impact Foundation. This type of flexible funding is crucial for a non-profit like Jembi to strategically invest in key functions that drive long-term sustainability and impact.

The flexibility of this funding has allowed us to take bold, strategic steps that will have a lasting impact. In the first quarter, we focused on three key areas:

• Develop a Five-Year Strategic Plan: In conjunction  with Decision Inc, we created a roadmap to guide Jembi’s future activities, ensuring sustainability and alignment with evolving health system needs. Read more about this work.

• Enhance Resource Mobilisation: We worked with Raise-Up to refine our pitch materials, leading to an additional $5,600 in funding from Dovetail to further develop our fundraising strategy.

• Secure New Innovation Funding: Leveraging Dovetail’s network, Jembi was introduced to Grand Challenges Canada (GCC), resulting in a successful proposal for a $166,000 climate and health innovation project in Ethiopia.

Our Journey with Dovetail: From Impact Funding to Systemic Impact

Measurable Growth and Multiplier Effect

One of the most significant outcomes of this award has been its role in amplifying our funding and impact. By strategically investing just $10,000 from the Dovetail grant, we unlocked $171,600 in additional funding—an 18-fold return that underscores the effectiveness of this approach.

Beyond financial support, Dovetail’s partnership has helped us build connections with key stakeholders and funders. This has positioned Jembi to expand its work in:

• Climate and Health: Collaborating with Ethiopian partners to integrate health and climate data for improved decision-making. Dovetail funding enabled strategic travel between South Africa and Ethiopia, helping key stakeholders align on goals and identify new collaboration opportunities.

• National Health Data Systems: Supporting Ethiopia’s Ministry of Health in developing a National Health Data Warehouse requirements specification which will be implemented in the next period.

• Digital Health Innovation: Partnering with Africa CDC to promote a regulatory sandbox concept for testing and scaling digital health solutions.

Jembi’s collaboration with Ethiopian partners is building resilient health systems that link climate data, malaria prevention, and national strategy. As we scale digital health, we do so with parents and communities at the heart—shaping a healthier future for the next generation.

Looking Ahead

We remain committed to using this funding effectively to scale digital health innovations that improve health outcomes in Africa and beyond. Moving forward, we will continue to:

• Implement our five-year strategic plan to enhance our sustainability and impact.

• Strengthen our resource mobilisation efforts to secure additional funding for innovation.

• Develop new partnerships that align with our mission of driving digital health transformation.

We are now working more closely with RaiseUP, leveraging their skill and expertise in developing a Case for Support, that accurately reflects our mission, values and impact to other visionary funders like Dovetail. 

Through partnerships like this, we are not just strengthening health systems, we are shaping a future where digital health innovation improves lives across Africa.

Unrestricted funding from the Dovetail Impact Foundation has given Jembi the flexibility to pursue strategic growth and secure additional resources for innovation. This partnership represents a turning point in our journey to improve health systems in low- and middle-income countries.

We are deeply grateful to Dovetail for their trust and support and to our partners and stakeholders for contributing to this shared success.