The 6th African Philanthropy Conference, held in Cairo, Egypt, once again proved to be a timely and highly relevant convening for philanthropy actors across the continent.
The conference brought together academics, development practitioners, regional grant makers, and global funders under the theme “Sustainable Financing for Development in the Majority World.” Discussions throughout the conference were candid, solutions-focused, and firmly grounded in African realities. These conversations were guided through six sub-themes and plenary panels, complemented by keynote addresses from distinguished leaders in philanthropy, governance, and development:
- Laila Iskander, Minister of State for Urban Renewal and Informal Settlements, Egypt
- Mohsen Sarhan, Egyptian Food Bank
- Arthur Mutambara, University of Johannesburg
- Ndidi Nwuneli, The ONE Campaign
- Winnie Byanyima, UNAIDS
- Zeina Abdel Khalik, Doria Feminist Fund
- Hakim Ben Hammouda, TrustAfrica
- Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, African Women’s Development Fund
- Yemi Osinbajo, former Vice President of Nigeria
Diverse Dialogues and Collaborative Convening
This year’s conference featured the widest diversity of parallel sessions to date, with more than 30 organisations from across the continent facilitating dialogues and workshops. These sessions profiled emerging ideas and practical solutions, while also strengthening networks within and across sectors.
This rich programming was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the convening partners for this edition:
- John D. Gerhart Center for Philanthropy, Civic Engagement and Responsible Business at the American University in Cairo (country hosts)
- African Philanthropy Forum
- African Philanthropy Network
- Centre on African Philanthropy and Social Investment
- East African Philanthropy Network
- Southern Africa Trust
- TrustAfrica
Honouring Lifetime Leadership in African Philanthropy
A major highlight of the conference was the announcement of the Lifetime Achievement Award in African Philanthropy, presented to Bisi Fayemi in recognition of her decades-long leadership in shaping Africa’s philanthropic and feminist movements.
She joins a distinguished group of past recipients whose work has helped define and advance African philanthropy, including:
- Akwasi Aidoo
- Graça Machel
- Gerry Salole
- Tade Aina
Culture, Community, and Connection
Hosting the conference in different African cities continues to offer delegates immersive cultural experiences alongside professional engagement. In Cairo, participants enjoyed a memorable cruise along the Nile River and visits to the iconic Pyramids of Giza.
As part of the conference’s community engagement activities, delegates also spent time with two Cairo-based nonprofit initiatives to better understand local expressions of philanthropy and faith-based giving:
- Tawasol for Developing Istabl Antar
- Megawra Built Environment Collective
A Clear Call Forward
One message rang clear throughout the conference: African philanthropy must continue to shift toward sustainable, African-centred economic empowerment that serves the majority. The conversations in Cairo reaffirmed the urgency—and the opportunity for philanthropy on the continent to be rooted in local realities, collective action, and long-term systems change.
Subscribe to the African Philanthropy Conference YouTube channel to revisit, engage, and reflect on the keynote addresses and plenary sessions:
