“How can a million-dollar ideas that helps Africa confront terrible crises be forgotten?"
By Elizaphan Ogechi, Executive Director, Nguzo Africa Community Foundation
Crises and other pressing human challenges are great teachers.
Get into humanitarian and development sector and try to solve some of Africa’s pressing challenges in governance, human rights, insecurity, education, health, food insecurity, youth unemployment, pandemics, climate change crises, among others. You get enrolled in the world’s greatest seminar of all times. You can’t avoid to think deep.
In Africa, we have seen it all: poverty, unemployment, famine, wars, floods, drought, coups, dictators, massacres, HIV&AIDS, Covid-19, Ebola … Lost? Now, you don’t need to cry. Let’s laugh.
Such experiences make you take risks, think, reflect, face your fears, handle your emotions, have uncomfortable conversations, became resilient, deal with difficult and good people. You now have to face trouble head-on. Often, crises leave indelible and invincible scars to people and communities. It is important to look back, reflect and connect with others.
That is why on 8th - 10th November 2022, Africa Philanthropy Network (APN) in collaboration with East Africa Philanthropy Network (EAPN), Uganda National NGO Forum (UNNGOF) and CivSource organized the Africa Philanthropy Network Assembly.
The event which was held in Entebbe, Uganda brought together more than 350 participants comprising of leaders, philanthropists, development practitioners, social change makers, activists, academicians, professors, inspirators, funders and likeminded people. The objective of the assembly was to deliberate on pressing issues facing African communities and how responsive are the African philanthropy practices, cultures and policies. How can Africa Philanthropy drive change?
Participants used this space to celebrate ideas and share practical solutions of African philanthropy, and make recommendations with concrete actions to unlock philanthropy’s potential in driving social and systematic change.
While going through the assembly speeches, presentations, plenary and group discussions, I found a kindred sheet of lost secrets of Africa philanthropy that can be ignited to address humanitarian, development and pressing challenges of our time.