African Philanthropy Discussion Paper, Navaisha, Kenya

In May 2008, TrustAfrica and the Global Fund for Community Foundations convened a meeting in Naivasha, Kenya, on how philanthropy can become a more effective instrument for development. The gathering drew 20 grantmakers from across the continent—including Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. Together they sought to develop a programmatic framework and philosophy for supporting the development of community foundations and local philanthropic infrastructure in Africa. The meeting was also designed to advance debate about the nature of African philanthropy, to identify emerging trends in different regions, and to clarify some of the key issues that need to be addressed with regard to linking traditional forms giving with “new” forms of organized philanthropy.