African Philanthropy Should Focus on Wealth Creation
At the 10th East Africa Philanthropy Conference in Addis Ababa, leaders challenged the sector to move beyond replacing lost aid and begin building systems that create, retain, and grow African-owned wealth. The conference explored how endowments, pooled capital, community foundations, local investment vehicles, and collective giving can strengthen institutions long after individual grants have ended.
The discussions also highlighted the importance of strategic foresight in preparing philanthropic institutions for future disruption. Wealth creation gives African philanthropy assets to own, while foresight helps protect those assets through changing political, economic, and funding environments. Together, they offer a pathway from dependency towards resilient, locally governed development.