Giving Compass' Take:

• This piece from Africa Portal gives an overview of the philanthropic landscape in Africa, in terms of both big foundations and smaller grassroots organizations — and how there's a larger movement to drive policy. 

• The conclusion here is that this often-overlooked sector is thriving, as regional networks have been effective in working with the government to enact change. How can we include these groups in international partnerships?

• Here's how East African philanthropy is leading the way on data and knowledge sharing.

Philanthropy finds itself on an exciting cusp in contemporary Africa. While the term "philanthropy" may still conjure up perceptions of vertical charitable giving (the rich in the north giving to the poor in the south), many consider giving an intrinsic part of African life and customs. Horizontal forms of philanthropy, referring to peer-to-peer giving or assistance within poor communities based on reciprocity, solidarity and cooperation, has long been practiced in Africa.

The last two decades have seen a rise in more formal forms of giving aimed at addressing specific issues and creating impact at a more structural level. Formal structures of philanthropy include foundations and trusts set up by high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) in Africa, as well as charitable organizations that, while established with external resources, are led by Africans and with distinct objectives relating to African development. Well-known foundations by HNWIs include the Aliko Dangote Foundation in Nigeria and the Chandaria Foundation in Kenya, while charitable trusts and vehicles that promote philanthropy include the Southern African Trust as well the Ghana-based African Women’s Development Fund.

The growth of homegrown philanthropy in Africa has its roots in a number of phenomena, one of them being the 2008 financial crisis which resulted in long-standing foreign donors being forced to reflect on their support to some countries in Africa. The limits of development assistance deepened the discourse around self-sufficiency and sustainability, particularly in regards to Africa’s attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

Being hopeful in domestic resource mobilization is not unrealistic when looking at the steady growth of HNW Africans on the continent. By 2017, there were 167 970 HNWIs in Africa with a combined wealth of $1.7 trillion. This gives some indication of the potential for HNW-giving. However, in reality, the scale of giving is not known; many HNWIs give anonymously or are reluctant to publicize their donations in totality.

Read the full article about the rise of African philanthropy by Lisa-Anne Julien at Africa Portal.