African Philanthropy Conference: A Lesson in Equitable Giving
I recently attended the African Philanthropy Conference in Victoria Falls and was struck by the principles shared, highlighting the non-hierarchical, equal nature of African giving, where those who give and those who receive are viewed as equals. There was an emphasis on the roots of many African philanthropic ventures, which often start with passion or need rather than money. The conference focused on understanding and owning philanthropy from an African perspective, and examined how the value, drivers, and sources of income for African foundations is a key. The questions to consider in this context is: Are African foundations acting as retailers of aid and how do remittances compare to development aid?
As an African working in Philanthropy seeing so many locally rooted organizations joining the conversation was a proud moment for me. At IDP Foundation we strongly believe in localization, our largest staffed office is in Ghana, and we have long standing relationships with local changemakers. However, the localization agenda alone won’t bring about the necessary reforms in international development aid. Africa must advocate for changes that prevent existing aid vehicles from becoming ‘wholesalers,’ with local institutions and organizations reduced to ‘retailers’ in the same unjust system. In this sense, rich discussions were had around the link between African philanthropy and Ubuntu, exploring whether philanthropy is more than just money and understanding the role of communities like Harambe. One thing that is clear to me, and many of my peers, is that philanthropy is deep rooted in culture. As Theo Sowa, CBE emphasized in the opening address, “Philanthropy is not something done to Africa. It is something deep in our souls, spirited tradition and culture. When we work together, we can move things.”
A key theme that arose through the week-long conference, both in the academic sessions and the main sessions was a call to focus on social entrepreneurship. The more we can explore pathways to prosperity through entrepreneurship and social ventures in Africa the greater the impact will be for the continent, both in a developmental and economic sense. While philanthropy should be directed towards social and economic transformation, it’s important to recognize that any significant change comes with a fixed cost. Success can be challenging, time-consuming, non-linear, and will require moving away from the traditional project-based approach. The path to meaningful transformation and emancipation for Africa is multi-dimensional. It requires making decisions and taking actions that prioritize the continent’s best interests, recognizing that real change will come only from solutions that evolve organically from within Africa. This change must go beyond incremental shifts that maintain the existing hierarchical system, which benefits the privileged. Shifting the power structure is about shifting privileges, and this shift will inevitably face resistance.
When we think about these power dynamics, we have to consider the complex relationship between philanthropy and colonialism, particularly in the African context. Brian Kagaro, OSF, highlighted how historically, philanthropy was as an extension of colonialism and imperialism, with the likes of Cecil John Rhodes using philanthropy as a tool for exploitation and control. In this sense, philanthropy can be seen to reinforce existing power imbalances rather than address the root causes of inequality. Often philanthropy is criticized for being disconnected from the realities of the communities it aims to serve, focusing on short-term, finite projects rather than long-term, sustainable change. This is why organizations such as the African Philanthropy Network and their annual conference are hugely important catalysts in the shifting of power dynamics in philanthropy. It is also why Naila Taji Farouky’s call to action was both powerful and timely. She noted that there is an urgent need to rethink philanthropy in this changing world, advocating for stronger, more equitable models that include overlooked communities. I also welcomed the call for structural change to address systemic issues such as neoliberalism, kleptocracy, and neocolonialism and the creation of more equitable distribution of resources with a focus on building local capacities and ownership.
My key takeaway from this week was the importance for African intellectuals and activists to lead the fight against the colonial and imperialist underpinnings of global philanthropy. The goal is to create a new, more just form of philanthropy that genuinely serves the needs and aspirations of African people. In my presentation on the IDP Foundation funded All Hands On Deck for SDG 4 toolkit, created by Global Schools Forum in collaboration with IDPF, I paid attention to this need to empower local actors to be the engineers of change by equipping them with the capabilities to engage and work with government. This was something which resonated with the audience and IDPF looks forward to more local changemakers taking advantage of the suite of resources.
In our session, Leveraging Philanthropic Capital to Increase Private Investment into Education alongside Opportunity International, Jackfruit Finance and IEFG. The audience response was highly interactive and engaging, as the conversation highlighted the role of the affordable non-state education sector in complementing national education outcomes across many LMICs in Africa. It also explored how philanthropy could leverage private capital to address the low levels of investment in education on the continent. The discussions highlighted the various vehicles, such as grants, program-related investments (e.g., concessional debt), blended finance, and more recently, guarantees, that can mobilize private capital to bridge the education financing gap in many African LMICs.
By illustrating how these approaches are being implemented through in-country partnerships and interventions—such as those led by Opportunity International and Jackfruit Finance in Zambia and Kenya, respectively, as well as by IDPF-supported financial institutions in Ghana—the immense impact of these programs on the education sector was made clear. The discussions also touched on the potential for scaling these efforts globally, with examples like the Save the Children Generational Empowerment Fund, which aims to elevate and expand these country-level initiatives to drive significant and meaningful shifts through a child-focused lens, preparing Africa’s children to thrive in a world where they will largely constitute the workforce.
As the conference drew to a close, I reflected on the deep conversations we had, yet I felt that education, as a focal point for Africa’s future, deserved even more attention. I ask my fellow African education stakeholders – what role should African philanthropy play in reducing learning poverty? How can we envision a continent that, in preparing to leverage the opportunities of its youthful future, invests in human development? Does African philanthropy have a role in contributing to this shift, and if so, what should that role be? It felt as though we had only just begun to scratch the surface of this crucial discussion.
As we plan to meet in Cairo next year, I hope these thoughts are conveyed to the organizers, with the hope that education becomes central to the Baobab conversation we will have amidst the sands of Egypt.