Philanthropy's Changing Face: Insights from the 2024 East Africa Grantmakers Conference

The East Africa Philanthropy Network-EAPN hosted the 2024 East Africa Grantmakers' Summit, which would change the region's grantmaking landscape. As a result of our work at GlobalGiving and other organisations in East Africa and the MENA region, as well as Daisy Vuyanzi Ungaya, MPhil, Cantab 's (my very accomplished co-author for this OpEd) at PHILANTHROPY ADVISORS over the years as an advocate for creative ways to combat poverty in Africa, we observed a wave of shared commitment to reshaping grant-making practices for the future that are more responsive and impactful.

The summit noted the need to move beyond the usual philanthropic models. Old has been the thinking that used to have static, one-size-fits-all approaches. The nature of today's complex challenges requires a dynamic and adaptable grantmaking ecosystem . This truly resonates with our experiences working across the region with a wide array of organisations. It allows for tailoring interventions within the specific needs and contexts of each community, thereby bringing about real and lasting change.

For me, then, actively incorporating feedback from supported entrepreneurs at organisations like Lets Create Africa (LCA) has been key in enabling the adaptation of our programs to ensure that they address the most pressing challenges facing early-stage businesses. Parallelly, cultivating free lines of communication with on-the-ground grantees at GlobalGiving empowers us to adapt our funding models to emerging needs.

The summit championed trust-based philanthropy , and it is a concept I stand for wholeheartedly. Building an authentic relationship with grantees creates an ownership feeling that will enable them to plot their course towards success. This has been my experience working at Pangea Accelerator and Pangea Trust ; by fostering trust and open communication with the startups we supported, they were empowered both in getting funds and undergoing significant growth.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion were therefore other key themes. In their integration, the principles ensure that the grantmakers' efforts reach the most marginalised in the community. I have seen firsthand, through experiences working with organisations like iWeza and Speak Up, Stand Out! The SUSO Program (aka SuSo Youth), the immense impact that inclusion in grantmaking can have on society. Supporting initiatives by and for women, youth, and other underrepresented groups is an essential part of building a more just and equitable society.

But the summit was not just about stating what those challenges were; it was about designing how to craft the solutions. What resonated with us was the conversation around scale and impact . Having personally headed multi-million dollar projects across the continent of Africa, it is very clear that not only the initiation of programs is relevant but also how they can be maintained over the long term and what kind of reach they will have. What, in other words, do I call sustainability ! That is where critical partnerships in the sector come in. GlobalGiving matches the energy of its donors with a network of vetted organisations, multiplying the effect of every donation.

The summit's high-calibre speakers—including notables like Jessica Horn , Regional Director- East Africa at Ford Foundation , and Dr Victor Mugambi Nyagah of Global Fund for Children —made it even more enriching. It was through their divergent views that members of the audience could best visualise best practices and new approaches in grantmaking. The richness and insightfulness of the panels and workshops were not only great but the impactful role and conversations among individuals have brought even more enrichment to the discussion. In these spaces, knowledge is not only created but also shaped. I wish that the participants could all share their exchanges so that everyone in this domain could have an inkling of how enriching the summit was. In hindsight, issues on localization, decolonization, and "informal" philanthropy were also discussed. Themes, I argue, ought to be more centred in academic and grassroots-level spaces on the continent.

The vignettes shared did speak a lot to the lived experiences in organisations and the life of an individual. An example that hit close home was about the "Kenyan Gen Zs". That is, with the anti-tax demonstrations in Kenya, we saw Kenyans giving towards the support of purchasing medical supplies for the protestors who were injured during the protests. The type of giving was selfless, and the "account manager" of the contributions had become very transparent with every transaction.

This begs the question:

Does this mean that the parameters of philanthropy need to be redefined?

Or perhaps the barriers to grant-giving should be addressed?

What about the new generation of givers that are pushing aside the old narratives in how they are giving of their own volition to influence philanthropic purse-holding decisions?

Can we then learn from them that, as we decolonize and localise this space, it might be high time that we acknowledge new ways of thinking and doing philanthropy?

The 2024 East Africa Grantmakers' Summit was not an event but a movement. An awakening. The stage for the new energies in the collaborative, responsive, and impactful way of philanthropy that should transform East Africa. By adopting the principles of feedback loops, trust-based giving, DEI, and strategic scaling, among others, we will enable African communities not just to survive but truly to thrive.

African philanthropy has a bright future, and being part of its transformation journey will be a pleasure.

What might be your thoughts on African philanthropy ?

Resources:

• UNGA theme for 2024: Localising SDGs
• Very early talks on localization were in ICRC in the context of Humanitarian Aid (2019)

Zipporah Muthama Dawit Taddele Dessie Purity Mumo, MPRSK Evans Okinyi Grace Wachori East Africa Philanthropy Network-EAPN Ford Foundation Mott Foundation Giving For Change Lets Create Africa (LCA) Purity Mumo, MPRSK .Grace Maingi -Kenya Community Development Foundation Dr. Joan Oracha (DBA) -MSI Reproductive Choices Melvin Chibole -TechSoup Mendi N. -KCB FAMILY FOUNDATION Kenya Community Development Foundation MSI Reproductive Choices TechSoup KCB FAMILY FOUNDATION Mott Foundation Giving For Change Ford Foundation Purity Mumo, MPRSK .Degan Ali -Adeso Nadia Kist -Blood:Water Dr Victor Mugambi Nyagah -The Global Fund Chloe Eddleston Rosemary Amondi Devang Vussonji Lillian Tamale Social Finance Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs Axum civfund Shane Ryan MBE Chilande Kuloba-Warria Florence Annan #2024GrantmakersSummit #SocialJustice #Trust #Innovation #Scaling