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About
APF

Our Mission

The African Philanthropy Forum is a strong and vibrant community of partners who through their strategic giving, investments and influence, foster shared prosperity on the African continent.

It is a privilege and an utmost honour for Blood:Water to be part of this community. APF is so valued for the work that we are doing and the direction we want to see the entire sector move towards. Thank you for everything that you do.
- Nadia Kist, Director of Africa Partnership, Blood:Water

Every African will tell you that they believe in Africa’s greatness, this is one of the first times that we are coming together to look at how giving plays a part in making us great, APF is helping us have that hard conversation and it’s a conversation that is ongoing.
- Tonye Cole, Sahara Group

With APF, I’ve been given the opportunity to network with Kenyans and other Africans as well as share about the work we are doing at the Kenyatta Trust.
- Mwende Mbevi, Executive Director, Kenyatta Trust

Our Vision

To transform the culture of giving on the continent to the extent that it exceeds development aid by 2030. (USD 42bn FDA in 2017, source: UNCTAD Report)

One word to describe Africa is Generosity. It’s the combination of generosity and strategy that African Philanthropy Forum is betting upon.
- Jane Wales, CEO and Founder, Global Philanthropy Forum

APF has helped MAIIC to establish a strong foundation for growth through the systems change program and extensive peer learning. We were able to launch a ground-breaking social enterprise business model in rural Malawi with the help of the dedicated and energetic team at APF.
- Taz Chaponda, Managing Director, MAIIC

APF has been a crucial platform for us to share solutions and engage with key players in the Africa social development sector. APF is for us a vehicle for making impact on a larger scale. Moreso, the presence of an organization like APF serves as a constant reminder that Africa has a potent culture of philanthropy which is a plus for the continent and for us as a leading African grant maker.
- Osayi Alile, ACT Foundation

Our History

African Philanthropy Forum (APF) was established in 2014 to build a learning community of strategic African philanthropists and social investors committed to inclusive and sustainable development throughout the Continent.
It was incubated by the Global Philanthropy Forum (GPF), a global network of strategic philanthropists and social investors committed to international causes from 2014 – 2016. In 2017, APF became an independent entity registered in Nigeria and South Africa and continues to be an affiliate of the GPF.

Hover on any of the countries on the map to see our impact

Over the years, APF has established a strong presence on the Continent, with footprints in Egypt, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe through its regional meetings, conferences and initiatives.

APF has also invested in the development of Toolkits for African Philanthropists and the “Why Give” Series, which consists of interviews with Africa’s strategic philanthropic leaders to showcase their motivations for giving.

Since inception, APF has reached over 2,500 philanthropists, social investors and key stakeholders in the philanthropic space across Africa and the world. Through APF’s high impact convening and initiatives, the organization has facilitated collaborations, amplified the work of change makers and shared best philanthropic practices and strategies for promoting homegrown development.

Members & Partners

We have a global network of members with resilient ideas and drives with a commitment to sustainable philanthropy in Africa.

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Philanthropists at Work: Promoting Regional Integration in Africa

Themed “Philanthropists at Work: Promoting Regional Integration in Africa“, the APF event provided an opportunity for seasoned philanthropists, social investors and industry experts to discuss regional integration in Africa on the backdrop of the changing global context and the ratification of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement by 44 countries.

Creating Sustainable Change in Ghana Through Philanthropy

In Ghana, we hosted philanthropists, social investors, social entrepreneurs and industry experts who are committed to transformational change and social impact in the country. Entitled “Creating Sustainable Change in Ghana Through Philanthropy”, the event discussed peculiar problems faced in Ghana and the West African sub-region and strategies to overcome said peculiarities.

Making Strategic Contributions in Society through Philanthropy

Held in Douala in partnership with Fondation Fotso Maptue, the meeting convened philanthropists, High Net-Worth Individuals and Influencers who are committed to inclusive development on the Continent, to engage in discussions on the theme, and how to move philanthropy in Africa forward in a sustainable and impactful way. In doing this, we were able to explore opportunities for collaboration and partnerships for increased impact in addressing social and economic challenges in Cameroon and beyond.

Access, Equity and Opportunity

The first planning meeting of the African Philanthropy Forum brought together such leaders to examine how the twin goals of expanding access and promoting equity will lead to increased opportunity throughout the continent, and how building a community of African philanthropists could contribute to Africa meeting its own development goals.

Accelerating Youth Employment in Africa

The thematic meeting, titled Accelerating Youth Employment in Africa, held in November 2019 at Strathmore Business School, Nairobi, Kenya. The meeting attracted approximately 160 philanthropists, social investors, business leaders, government and non-profit representatives and explored approaches to creating employment opportunities for the increasing youth population in Africa.

African Philanthropy in a Changing Global Context
Themed “African Philanthropy in a Changing Global Context”, the 2017 Forum explored the role of philanthropists in shaping the Continent’s future through their influence and role as catalysts, showcase strategies for promoting collaborations, lessons learned and opportunities for deepening and strengthening philanthropy on the continent.
The Conference held on October 30 and 31, 2017 at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria.

The Promise to the Next Generation

The 2015 APF Conference looked at some of the key investments in Africa’s human capital and talent. Among them were investments in health systems to improve outcomes and ward off the threat of epidemics; in STEM education and centers of excellence to nurture the innovators of tomorrow; in a skilled workforce that can address Africa’s infrastructure needs; in the inclusion of women leaders across sectors; and in entrepreneurship to unleash the creativity of those who will be providing the jobs of tomorrow.

Growing philanthropy in Uganda

In partnership with the African Philanthropy Forum and the Higherlife Foundation, the Nnabagereka Development Foundation hosted a breakfast for potential and emerging philanthropists in Uganda. This event, the first of its kind in Uganda, drew over 80 stakeholders, and was organized through the generous support of UN Women.

Bold Steps and Big Bets

The 2016 African Philanthropy Forum was held in Morocco just a few weeks before the 22nd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 22) to the UNFCCC. It presented a unique opportunity to reflect on the required bold steps and big bets, especially in response to the agricultural, climate, energy, governance and urbanization challenges facing the African Continent.

Potential and Reality: Bridging the Gap

Themed ‘Potential and Reality: Bridging the Gap’ APF is held the 2018 Annual Conference on August 1 & 2 in Johannesburg, South Africa with 250 delegates in attendance. The Conference was a 2-day gathering designed to equip and empower individual philanthropists, family and corporate foundations to help transform Africa through their strategic grant-making, social investing and informed advocacy.