About the Conference

This is the second African Philanthropy Conference held under the banner of The Centre on African Philanthropy and Social Investment (CAPSI) in collaboration with the Africa Philanthropy Forum (APF), African Philanthropy Network (APN), East Africa Philanthropy Network (EAPN), Southern Africa Trust, Harvard Center for African Studies and TrustAfrica. The first conference took place in 2019 and was a success leading to partners agreeing to hold one every year. The COVID-19 pandemic however happened and all plans for 2020 were aborted. The world has changed since March 2020. Life, as we know it, has changed; work models have shifted; economies have shrunk, and livelihoods have been severely affected. The devastation by the pandemic is immeasurable, yet amid this, the world of philanthropy has also witnessed huge amounts of giving in-kind and cash. Communities, individuals, corporates and various forms of philanthropic organizations have all responded to the pandemic and addressed the negative effects of COVID-19.

The Conference is an opportunity for everyone involved to celebrate African philanthropy and the many stories of resilience; showcase various innovations and creative responses; assess the impact and begin to make sense of the world with and beyond COVID-19. There are three main themes that the Conference will unpack in seeking to understand philanthropy in the context of the pandemic. The first is ‘Celebrating African Philanthropy’. The second is a focus on ‘Systems change, Virtual platforms and Technology’. The third relates to ‘Uniting Africa’. All three themes are timely and relevant for the current moment but also for building forward better.