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The diaspora is thought to be Africans working outside the continent, yet many Africans are migrant workers and learners who sharpen their trade within the wisdom of what the continent offers and use their experiences to conceive authentic and sustainable solutions. Tendai Murisa is one such person who has crafted his career in Zimbabwe and Senegal working in the development and research sectors, which combined are making a long lasting change to the continent.

In his role as the founder and Executive Director of SIVIO Institute, which is based in Zimbabwe, Tendai is enabling change within regional communities through the organisations’ technical oversight, skills development and research capabilities.

During his time at TrustAfrica in Senegal, one of Tendai’s early tasks was overseeing a programme for smallholder farmers across Africa. This role provided him with firsthand oversight of policies that were implemented without sufficient community engagement – this influenced Tendai to initiate a concerted pan-African movement for agricultural advocacy, which continues to positively impact agrarian communities across the regions. His tenure in the organisation also saw the growth of an advocacy movement around sustainable and equitable agricultural practice, which was strengthened through partnerships and collaborations.

After a successful 8-year tenure in Senegal, 4 years of which as Executive Director, Tendai returned to his home country to establish SIVIO Institute as a research-focused organisation that would inform philanthropic efforts and connect the voices within communities and sectors to the solutions that can progressively empower them. SIVIO Institute is a think tank that tackles development and democracy issues across Africa through its three centres: Public Policy and Advocacy, Philanthropy and Communities, and Entrepreneurship and Financial Inclusion.

Combining data that he collected on illicit financial flows and connecting this to his experience in development and research on philanthropy, Tendai found that Africa is a net lender to the world rather than a receiver. Additionally, he realised that there is lack of knowledge and proper collection of data, which has created a gap in community-level development efforts.

SIVIO Institute has made great strides through platforms and programmes which include African Citizens Watch, African Citizenship Index, The Ease of Doing Philanthropy Index, the Local Governance Tracker and Tendai’s recently published book titled ‘Rethinking Citizens and Democracy’. Drawing from his experience and research on philanthropy, Tendai is currently researching the continent’s narrative on giving through aid.

Having conducted his research on what he termed as “Agency Work”, Tendai joined CAPSI as a Research Associate and has written a paper titled “Exploring the Meanings of Philanthropy in Rural Contexts: The Case of Zimbabwe”, which was published in the inaugural International Review of Philanthropy and Social Investment. In this paper, Tendai uses discussions and case studies to explore the emergence of solidarity-focused associational forms within the resettled areas of Zimbabwe. He provided in-depth insights into the paper during the Journal’s webinar series.

During the recent launch of our Research Report Series, Tendai unpacked his report on High-Net-Worth Philanthropists in Mauritius, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, in which he shared his research process, provided graphical summations of his findings and framed his recommendations to the attendees which comprised of PhD students and researchers from across the continent.

On the topic of learning and skills development with the sector, Tendai believes that the masterclasses that CAPSI offers are a pathway for a new breed of philanthropists, ones who are well prepared and understand how to engage community members and yield results, are developed. “Many people enter the philanthropic space and start a non-profit organisation out of a good heart and the need to make a change, assuming it would be easy. The learning resources and skills on how to run a successful NGO is critical – which is why the short courses that CAPSI offers are pivotal in equipping those considering launching careers in the development space,” remarked Tendai.

Looking to the future, Tendai and the team at SIVIO Institute are set to grow further towards their vision through their programmes. Their recently published Citizens Perceptions and Expectations Findings and Mining Revenue Index are exciting contributions to the sector which heighten the expectations of the calibre of knowledge we can expect.

Our portfolios undertake projects which allow us to connect with members of our community through targeted and thematic objectives. We invites you to opt in to these projects and share them within your networks.

Women in African Philanthropy Initiative

Women and women’s organisations are known for their great impact in underdeveloped communities, however women’s Giving Circles are frequently overlooked, particularly those at the grassroots level which strive to raise critical funds and resources to improve their communities.

In response to the need for deeper and contextual knowledge, and in an effort to foster enabling networks using this knowledge, we have developed the Women in African Philanthropy Initiative as a vehicle where we will learn from and celebrate the historic, modern and emerging role that women fulfil in philanthropy on the continent. Launched during International Women’s month, this project is meant to give African women a platform to define and conduct their giving in their own way.

The Initiative will commission research and host engagement programmes and platforms that elevate women’s philanthropic participation across the layers of class, language, race, religion and nationality. Women from Giving Circles and in philanthropy from across the continent will be brought together to form a network and a space where their agency is respected and recognised, where they can interact and learn from each other, and where they can access opportunities to scale up their programmes and projects.

One of the Initiative’s projects will be to establish a hub that will heighten the visibility of women’s Giving Circles by bridging the gap in research and facilitate collaboration and networking for women’s giving circles. The hub will also address the visibility issues that Giving Circles face and provide a platform for women to share their vision, work and strategy orientation among others.

Project Lead Thandi Makhubele says, “The project is a powerful initiative that seeks to empower women as leaders and change-makers in Africa. We aim to build a more equitable and just society for all through our research, networking opportunities, and support for women-led initiatives. We believe that when women come together to give, they have the power to transform their communities and create a brighter future for generations to come. I invite all who are interested to join us in this important work.”

CAPSI Smartboard

As our Centre’s programmes, offerings, staffing and resources have steadily grown over the years, so has our need to access centralised and up to date reporting that meets our accountability and compliance requirements. Such would also meet ours and our stakeholders decision making needs, helping us to remain efficient in how we work. With this, we began the transition from manual, and often time-consuming reporting to adopt an integrated way of tracking, monitoring and reporting on each element of the organisation, the CAPSI Smartboard.

Each of our Centre’s portfolios have dedicated boards where their respective processes and deliverables are tracked, and made available to its relevant stakeholders to initiate, establish and fulfil the relationship lifecycle on each deliverable as well as project. Using our Research portfolio as an example, the Smartboard displays from the conceptualisation of the research project, the development of various concepts, the recruitment of different research associates, tracking their progress, right until  the publication of the report.

The Smartboard is a mechanism for organisational efficiency and enables us to swiftly manage operational and programmatic matters. Members of our team have been designated as leads on Smartboard portfolios and are responsible for ensuring that the data published on the Smartboard is correct and up to date. The Smartboard expands our digital footprint, while also providing a mechanism that allow us to optimise how we manage, report, and be accountable to our different partners.

Knowledge Management Platform

Providing our community of students, academics and practitioners with data and knowledge on the landscape of philanthropy in Africa, that is contextual, structured and of value is one of the pillar objectives of our Centre. To achieve this, our team began the work of conceptualising a Knowledge Management Platform that would support development, research and decision making for various national, regional and continental stakeholders.

During the process of conceptualising and implementing this platform we encountered a challenges related to the volume of content – there was not much knowledge and data available in the continent to characterise or interpret the philanthropic landscape. To address this, we commissioned a variety of studies in different parts of the continent and have built a base of reports on the state of philanthropy in the continent. The next step from here is to package the information in a format that is accessible to anyone who comes to the platform. Once on the platform, users will be able to apply  parameters related to the issues that they are looking for data and knowledge on, and generate a report that provides this.

The Knowledge Management Platform is comprised of several components; with the first being the profiling of different forms of philanthropy so that users can filter by expressions of philanthropy, such as high net worth individuals, individual giving foundations, etc. The second component is the functionality of the platform analytics which will enable users to generate various reports depending through the available data, for example, a search on the number of high net worth individuals in a defined region would pull a report which includes the strategies that they utilise, the areas that they have interest in and how they make their money. The third component is the storage capacity of the platform, which will hold data in forms such as tutorials, videos and reports, to name a few.

Our vision for the Knowledge Management Platform is to a go-to for anyone looking for insightful data on the state of philanthropy and social investment on the continent anywhere, anytime. 

One of our Centre’s goals is to build a body of knowledge on Philanthropy, Social Investment and related disciplines. In fulfilling this, we work with a community of Research Associates who have specialised in various fields and bring a contextual and African narrative to their work. Our Research Associates are commissioned to publish articles and research papers which meet our academic rigour while providing insights into topics that further the development of philanthropy and social investment on the continent.

Meet some of our Research Associates

Asabea Ahwireng-Obeng

Asabea is a finance and investment scholar, with special interest in bond markets in emerging countries, particularly in Africa. This was the focus of her PhD research that she successfully defended at Wits University in 2016.

How did your association with the Centre start?

“My interaction with CAPSI began with my role as an assistant to Professor Emeritus Frederick Ahwireng-Obeng, who was the consultant charged with preparing the syllabus for the postgraduate Diploma in Philanthropy at the Centre. This was a challenging task that required a lot of reading on philanthropy in general and relevant courses offered by leading institutions worldwide. By the end of the assignment, which was assessed by local and international stakeholders, I had become not only well drenched in the subject but also particularly interested in the philanthropy-finance and investment-African development interfaces. Since I started working with CAPSI I have expanded the scope of my research interests to include philanthropy and development. This has resulted in some of my work being published in prestigious international journals. One of my studies, titled “Macroeconomic determinants of sovereign bond market development in African emerging economies”, was published in the International Journal of Emerging Markets and the Journal of African Business. I have three papers published by the Centre and accept frequent requests from continental journals to serve as a reviewer.”

How are you using the experience gained in your own country?

“I am currently involved with a newly established international educational NGO whose research and consulting interests in philanthropy-related themes on Africa complements my work at CAPSI. I am also working on three papers for co-publication with Professor Ahwireng-Obeng. My interaction with the Centre has elucidated the intricate and unique roles that philanthropy plays in finance and investment. I have since developed a deep appreciation of the discipline, particularly where African development is concerned.”

What advice would you give someone looking to get onto the philanthropy and development sector?

“My advice to anyone contemplating working in the philanthropy and development areas is that the prospects are great but will require an entrepreneurial mindset that is willing to explore and innovate.”

Emmanuel Kumi

Emmanuel is Fellow at the Centre for Social Policy at the University of Ghana whose research interests are in African philanthropy, civil society organisations, NGO management, civic space, lobby and advocacy as well as the political economy of development. He holds a PhD in International Development from the University of Bath, United Kingdom.

Please highlight your journey where African philanthropy is concerned.

“My research has focused on civil society organisations and their resource mobilisation. I am interested in exploring how these organisations mobilise alternative resources, including African philanthropy, to ensure their short-term survival and long-term sustainability especially in countries experiencing a decline in external donor funding. My interest in African philanthropy is also informed directly by my association with CAPSI. I have been involved in research projects on African philanthropy such as mapping African philanthropic organisations and the role of African philanthropy in responding to COVID-19 and development goals in Africa.”

How has your association with CAPSI helped you in this journey?

“My association with the Centre has created an opportunity to network with other scholars working on African philanthropy and civil society organisations in general. This helps in sharing knowledge and ideas on the subject.”

How are you ploughing back the knowledge you have gained/are gaining in your home country?

“I have been leading some research projects and discussions that seek to promote knowledge on African philanthropy in the context of Ghana and other African countries. I believe this will help in contributing to the emerging literature on African philanthropy as well as information that is relevant in influencing policymakers and national development.”

What advice would you give someone looking to get onto the philanthropy and development sector?

“Anyone interested in philanthropy should be motivated by passion.”

Arsène Brice Bado

Arsène the Vice President for Academic Affairs and International Cooperation at the Centre for Research and Action for Peace (CERAP)/Jesuit University in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire where he also teaches political science and international relations. His research interests include democracy, ethnic pluralism, conflict analysis, forced migration, electoral processes in conflict-ridden societies, and philanthropy. 

Please highlight your journey where African philanthropy is concerned.

“My interest in philanthropy started when I was in primary school where I volunteered to raise funding for cultural and sporting activities. I continued to participate in fundraising activities in high school and university. But it was only during my master’s degree studies in Social Ethics and Theology at Boston College that I had the opportunity to take a course in communication and fundraising. This course allowed me to reflect on my previous fundraising activities and philanthropy. In 2010, I was appointed to lead the Jesuit Office of Development of the West Africa Province whose mission is to raise funding and coordinate communication toward actual and potential benefactors. In this capacity, I visited other Jesuit offices of development in different provinces in the USA and received practical training on how to communicate with philanthropists and philanthropic foundations. In addition, during my doctoral studies in political science and international relations, I researched on topics such as philanthropy, humanitarian aid, foreign aid toward developing countries, postcolonial states and development assistance, which led to my dissertation titled ‘Foreign Electoral Assistance as a Tool for Peacebuilding in Post-Conflict Societies’.”

What influenced your decision to work with the Centre?

“The fact that philanthropy is an important activity in most African societies. However, the subject remains largely understudied in academia. Most publications on philanthropy in Africa were produced by non-Africa-based researchers and research institutions. Therefore, there’s a need for African scholars to take the challenge of philanthropy in Africa seriously and share their own locally sourced research on the issue. I was excited to learn about the existence of CAPSI through the Carnegie Corporation of New York. To my knowledge, CAPSI is the only Africa-based research centre on philanthropy. Because of this, I am honoured to be a research associate for the Centre and I hope to contribute to the research on philanthropy in francophone African countries.”

How does your professional role tie in with the Centre?

“CERAP is a teaching and research institution focused on social sciences. As such, philanthropy is a relevant topic for the institution. Undeniably, the practice has played an important role not only in alleviating human suffering, but also in socio-economic development, the evolution of science, and development of culture and the arts. Philanthropy has also emerged as an indispensable practice alongside the action of public authorities and private companies. That is why my work and research at CERAP is consistent with my commitment to my work at CAPSI. I hope that the Centre will help develop a research unit on philanthropy in francophone countries at CERAP to foster interest in the subject by francophone researchers.”

How are you using the experience and knowledge you are gaining in your own country?

“Thanks to CAPSI, I have undertaken an important survey on philanthropists and philanthropic foundations across five francophone countries: Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Gabon and Chad. More importantly, philanthropy is now taught in my courses at CERAP and students can write their papers on the topic. I hope that this will foster their intellectual curiosity where this subject matter is concerned and that a community of researchers interested in philanthropy would emerge in the coming years.”

What advice would you give someone looking to get onto the philanthropy and development sector?

“My advice would be to take the specificity of each society seriously while dealing with issues related to philanthropy and development. As a phenomenon of society, the modes of expression and organisation of philanthropy are profoundly marked by the cultures of the societies in which they unfold. That is why several studies are needed to map out and understand philanthropic practices in diverse African societies to find the best ways to harness philanthropic practices for the development of our societies. Therefore, I encourage African researchers and policymakers to give more attention to philanthropy, which could be a way to take care of our problems using our own resources.”

In our quest to offer world-class courses, we have recruited a pool of highly qualified lecturers who are specialists in their fields and dedicated to producing a strong calibre of professionals.

Meet the lecturers

Bhekinkosi Moyo 

Bheki is the Director at the Centre and Editor of the International Review on African Philanthropy and Social Investment Journal. He brings his experience in knowledge generation, policy analysis and building capable institutions to his lectures, which are ‘Landscaping African Philanthropy’, ‘Public Policy and Law’, ‘African Gifting and Philanthropy’, ‘Organisation and Management of Philanthropy’.

Jacob Mati

Jacob is the Deputy Director and Academic Director at the Centre. His professional experience spans across academia, civil society and consulting in many continents, which he brings as a lecturer for ‘Research Methods’, ‘Community Gifting and Philanthropy’, ‘Working with Communities’, and ‘Public Policy and Law’.

Peter Thuynsma

Peter has vast experience in teaching and practicing fundraising, and has been involved in building the fundraising functions at several South African universities. He is the lecturer for ‘Philanthropy and Fundraising’.

Sibongile Mkhabela

Sibongile is a social justice activist and social worker with extensive experience in public policy, philanthropy, fundraising, grant making, and community and institution building. She brings her vast experience as a lecturer for ‘Working with Communities’. 

Bongiwe Mlangeni

Bongiwe is an independent consultant with sector experience as an executive and founder in journalism and communication. She is the lecturer for ‘Marketing and Communication in Contemporary Philanthropy’.

Christine Guchu 

Christine is a facilitator, teacher, coach and strategy designer with over 30 years of experience as a development practitioner and has trained over 80 leaders since 2014. She is the lecturer for ‘Ethical Leadership’.

Gerry Salole

Gerry is a social anthropologist and author who has vast experience in international development, having worked across Africa, Europe and North America. He is a lecturer for ‘Philanthropic Foundations’ and ‘Innovations in Philanthropy’. 

Alan Fowler 

Alan is an Honorary Professor and Chair in African Philanthropy at the Centre who has decades of experience bridging knowledge in the academic, social investment and civic engagement sectors. He is the lecturer for ‘African Gifting and Philanthropy’.

Nomathemba Memela 

The first PhD graduate to come out of the Centre, Nomathemba is an accomplished management professional and a sessional lecturer at the Wits Business School. She is the lecturer for ‘Measuring and Reporting Performance’.

Candice Morkel 

Candice is the Director of the Centre for Learning on Evaluation and Results Anglophone Africa (CLEAR-AA). Her specialisation is in policy and public sector governance, as well as monitoring and evaluation. She is the lecturer for ‘Measuring and Reporting Performance’. 

Melody Mandevere 

Melody is a Postdoctoral Researcher, and the lecturer for ‘The Role of Religion and Belief’.  Melody is passionate about home-grown solutions to African challenges and is contributing to the Centre’s vision.

Wycliffe Nduga Ouma

Wycliffe is a Research Associate at the Centre, with experience covering sustainable finance and investment, social impact investing, socio-economic development, corporate philanthropy, financial risk modelling, asset pricing and international trade. He is the lecturer for ‘Advising Private Wealth’.