Durban — The African Philanthropy Forum conference inspires ownership and collaboration in funding.
In a press release, Managing Partner of Mazars Maroc, Abdou Diop, underscored the need for philanthropy in Africa to shift towards systemic change rather than mere transactional engagements. He argued for the necessity of moving from informal to formal donations and enhancing coordination and transparency within philanthropic efforts.
“The current challenges to effective philanthropy are fragmented efforts, cultural differences, and accountability issues,” he stated.
Despite the immense opportunities present in Africa, philanthropic support remains alarmingly below expectations. This gap necessitates a paradigm shift, as external funding often misaligns with the continent's genuine priorities.
Co-founder of Wealth4Impact, Eme Essien Lore, emphasised the growing disconnect, particularly as remittances and foreign philanthropic contributions continue to rise without sufficient alignment to local needs.
The narrative of personal commitment was further echoed in a fireside chat featuring Lisa Issroff, Co-Founder of the Issroff Family Foundation. Reflecting on her South African roots, Issroff shared how personal experiences shaped her philanthropic efforts and underscored the importance of stakeholder inclusion in Africa's development projects.
Speaking at the African Philanthropy Forum (APF) 2024 Conference in Marrakech, Morocco, keynote speaker Abdou Diop, also advocated for a more inclusive approach that empowers local communities to take charge of their development initiatives.
The conference, bringing together a diverse array of attendees to explore a bold new agenda: “A New Agenda for African Philanthropy: Catalysing Funding to Accelerate Africa’s Transformation.”
With an impressive gathering of stakeholders, government representatives, regulators, financiers, and philanthropists from numerous sectors and countries, the conference, that ended a month ago, served as a critical platform for dialogue and innovation.
“It has been an incredible gathering, and we have the key elements required to frame an agenda to catalyse funding for Africa’s transformation. More than ever, this is the time for Africans for Africa,” declared Mosun Layode, Executive Director of APF.
Echoing this sentiment were several prominent voices throughout the conference, including Gbenga Oyebode, the APF Board Chair, who lauded the event as one of the most robust in recent history.
“There is no other group on the African continent that can gather all these various opinions in a room and chart a future for the continent,” he said.
As discussions drew to a close, delegates engaged in reflective dialogue during the New Agenda for African Philanthropy session, contemplating the future trajectory of philanthropy on the continent. The consensus was clear: Africans must lead their own solutions, working collaboratively to catalyse funding that addresses pressing social issues.
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