The Professionalization and Institutionalization of Civil Society Capacity Building: Insights from Liberia
2025-03-19 13:00 - 14:30 (Africa/Johannesburg)
“Civil society plays a crucial role in fostering democracy, governance, and social change. This event will explore Liberia’s experience in strengthening civil society organizations (CSOs) through professionalization and institutionalization efforts. Experts and practitioners will share lessons learned, challenges, and best practices that can inform similar initiatives globally.
Key Highlights:
✅ The evolution of civil society capacity-building in Liberia
✅ Strategies for sustainability and institutionalization
✅ Lessons for policymakers, donors, and practitioners”
“The purpose of this event is to examine and discuss the professionalization and institutionalization of civil society capacity-building efforts in Liberia. Through expert insights and real-world case studies, the event aims to highlight the progress, challenges, and best practices that can strengthen civil society organizations (CSOs) for long-term impact.
Key Goals:
✅ Understand the Evolution – Trace how civil society capacity-building efforts in Liberia have developed over time and the key milestones achieved.
✅ Explore Sustainability Strategies – Discuss methods to institutionalize capacity-building initiatives, ensuring their long-term effectiveness and independence.
✅ Share Lessons and Best Practices – Provide valuable insights for policymakers, donors, and practitioners to apply in similar contexts worldwide.
This event will serve as a platform for knowledge-sharing, collaboration, and strategic discussions to enhance civil society’s role in governance, democracy, and social transformation.”

Venue: Hybrid Event (Cl 5 & Webinar)

PDBA Information Session
2025-03-26 08:00 - 17:00
Information session for PDBA July Intake. 2025 Midyear intake recruitment campaign.

2026 Jan intake applications open
2025-05-01 08:00 - 17:00

Seminar on South Africa's Gas Future
2025-05-07 08:00 - 17:00

CAPSI Launch of Academic Publishing Workshop Series for Emerging Researchers
2025-05-08 08:00 - 17:00
The CAPSI Academic Publishing Workshop Series will disseminate key findings from the Youth Project “The Contributions of the Non-Profit Sector to the Creation of Dignified and Fulfilling Work for Young People in Africa”. The series will provide an academic platform to inform the ongoing data collection phase and shape subsequent analysis. This will reinforce the empirical strength of the project.
The series will build capacity among emerging researchers to produce academically rigorous outputs. Participants, including doctoral students and early-career scholars, will gain practical exposure to manuscript preparation, peer review protocols, and strategies for responding to reviewer feedback. This process will consolidate CAPSI’s leadership in academic publishing support.
Venue: Online – Zoom

Trialogue Business in Society Conference - CAPSI participating as an exhibitor
2025-05-13 08:00 - 2025-05-14 17:00
The Trialogue Business in Society Conference is the premier annual conference in South Africa showcasing important developments across the corporate responsibility sector, with a focus on the ‘S’ in ESG. The target audience is companies and nonprofit organisations, and the aim is to enhance knowledge and collaborations to help businesses perform more sustainably in society.
THEME FOR 2025: DRIVING IMPACT. INSPIRING CHANGE
The overall theme of the conference is ‘Driving Impact, Inspiring Change’, and topics include the role of business in society, trends in CSI and philanthropy, early childhood education, entrepreneurship, digital skills, monitoring, evaluation and learning, funding practices and more.
The conference aims to foster meaningful discussions, connections and new thinking on CSI to shape the future of social impact in South Africa and beyond. The overall theme of the conference is ‘Driving Impact, Inspiring Change’, and topics will cover the role of business in society, trends in CSI, education, entrepreneurship and more
Venue:The Galleria in Sandton, Johannesburg

CAPSI: PhD Seminar Series
2025-05-23 00:00, 2025-05-30 10:00 - 17:00, 2025-06-27 08:00 - 17:00, 2025-07-18 08:00 - 17:00, 2025-08-29 08:00 - 17:00, 2025-09-26 08:00 - 17:00, 2025-10-31 08:00 - 17:00
Building a Community of Philanthropy Scholars
Venue: BW 1

Africa Day Commemoration
2025-05-23 15:00 - 17:00
Africa Day is a day of reflection on the journey of the African continent towards unity, freedom, and development. As we mark Africa Day 2025, the continent stands at a critical juncture: facing both enduring challenges and unprecedented opportunities for growth and transformation. The African Union’s theme for 2025 is “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent” and South Africa, as the host of the G20 Summit, is pursuing the theme of “fostering solidarity, equality and sustainable development.”
Venue:
Bert Wessels Lecture Theatre, Wits Business School, 2. St. David’s Place, Parktown, Johannesburg

Open Day
2025-06-07 06:00 - 18:00
Showcasing the WBS Offering , To showcase our offering, to prospective students.

Venue: DG , Smart Classroom and Classroom 3

MBA Modular Format Orientation (mid-year intake)
2025-06-26 08:00 - 2025-06-27 17:00
The welcoming of our new MBA students. The welcoming of our new MBA students.

Mandela Day
2025-07-18 08:00 - 17:00

PDBA July Intake Orientation
2025-07-21 08:00 - 17:00
The welcoming and official onboarding of our new PDBA students. The welcoming and official onboarding of our new PDBA students.

2025 African Philanthropy Conference
2025-07-27 08:00 - 2025-07-31 17:00
The African Philanthropy Conference is a collaborative platform which aims to create and curate a progressive agenda for philanthropy and social investment on the continent. Hosted as an annual convening, the conference has consistently grown attracting institutions and stakeholders such as practitioners, grassroots movements, academics, policy makers and donors.
Delegates interact through keynote addresses, plenary sessions, parallel dialogues and networking opportunities, which invite active participation, contribution and collaboration which will enrich individual and collective experiences for all.

Date: Sunday 27th to Thursday 31st July 2025
Location: American University in Cairo, Egypt

EQUIS Mock visit
2025-08-18 08:00 - 2025-08-20 17:00
QED will conduct a mock peer review visit (see EQUIS Peer Review Visit scheduled for September). Prepare the school for the offical EQUIS visit.

EQUIS Peer Review Visit
2025-10-07 08:00 - 2025-10-09 17:00
A peer-review team will be visiting the school as part of the school’s accreditation application. All activities of the school will be examined for alignment with the EQUIS standards and criteria for accreditation.

Long Staff Service Awards
2025-11-03 08:00 - 17:00
Honoring employees for their loyalty and dedication through years of service in WBS.

Public Lecture: Deploying Artificial Intelligence to Achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals
2025-11-03 14:00 - 16:00
Date: Monday, 3 November 2025Time: 14:00 for 14:30 – 16:30Venue: Donald Gordon Auditorium, Wits Business School, 2 St David’s Place, Parktown, JohannesburgCost: Free | Seats are limited – booking is essentialRSVP: Click here to RSVP

About the Lecture
With only five years left to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and just 35% currently on track — the urgency to act has never been greater.
Join us for a thought-provoking public lecture hosted by Wits Business School (WBS) and the Centre on African Philanthropy and Social Investment (CAPSI), as Professor Arthur Mutambara explores how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be deployed to accelerate progress toward the SDGs.
In this engaging session, Prof. Mutambara will discuss how AI can serve as a catalyst for inclusive and sustainable transformation, while addressing the global challenges of digital imperialism, data colonialism, and technological exclusion in emerging economies.
Drawing on his diverse experiences from NASA to MIT Prof. Mutambara will offer a visionary perspective on how innovation, cooperation, and decolonial AI systems can empower Africa and the Global South to lead in shaping the future.
Don’t miss this powerful conversation on Technology, Leadership, and African Philanthropy’s role in building an equitable digital future.
Read more about Prof. Arthur Mutambara here.

Event Details

Date: Monday, 3 November 2025
Time: 14:00 for 14:30 – 16:30
Venue: Donald Gordon Auditorium, Wits Business School, 2 St David’s Place, Parktown, Johannesburg
Cost: Free | Booking is essential
Refreshments will be served

RSVP & Enquiries
RSVP: Click here to RSVPEnquiries:

Phumudzo Mufamadi – phumudzo.mufamadi@wits.ac.za
Ntando Hoza – ntando.hoza@wits.ac.za
