The Kenya Philanthropy Forum, in collaboration with the East Africa Philanthropy Network (EAPN), the Kenya Community Development Foundation (KCDF), and Development Dynamics, held a National Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships Dialogue to explore innovative solutions to Kenya’s pressing development challenges. The convening was held on March 2nd,2025, at the Safari Club Hotel in Nairobi.
Under the theme “Reimagining Kenya’s Development Ecosystem: A People-Powered Public-Private-Philanthropy Pathway,” the forum brought together diverse stakeholders from the government, the private sector, philanthropic organizations, civil society, multilateral institutions, and academia. Participants engaged in discussions around four key pillars: shared governance, innovative finance, community agency, and cross-sectoral trust.
One of the major points of discussion was the need for Africa to free itself from its reliance on external funding. Evans Okinyi, Chief Executive Officer of the East Africa Philanthropy Network (EAPN), expressed the urgency of mobilizing local resources to drive development on the continent. “Africa is teeming with resources, yet we often find ourselves waiting for external funding. It’s time we take ownership of our challenges and mobilize local resources to drive our development agenda,” Okinyi said.
He further stressed the importance of breaking down barriers between sectors, advocating for collaboration rather than siloed efforts. He observed that while generosity is abundant, resources often remain fragmented due to siloed efforts. “We all know we are generous. We keep giving money all the time, yet we remain stuck in silos when we should be working together,” Okinyi noted. He continued, “Partnerships don’t just happen by accident—they require architecture, governance frameworks, and mutual trust. We must move from partnerships as a buzzword to making them a practice.”
Echoing Okinyi’s emphasis on inclusivity, Margaret Mliwa, Regional Director of the Ford Foundation’s East Africa office, spoke to the importance of ensuring that communities and philanthropic organizations are central to the development process.
“Development should not be left solely to the government or the private sector. Philanthropy and communities must have a seat at the table to create inclusive and sustainable solutions,” Mliwa asserted.
She stressed that community engagement was vital, pointing out that those most affected by development issues should not merely be passive recipients of aid but active participants in shaping solutions. “We must ensure that communities, particularly those directly affected by development issues, are not just recipients of aid. They need to be active participants in shaping the solutions,” she said.
As the conversation shifted toward innovative financial models, concerns were raised about the increasing difficulties in securing adequate funding for development initiatives.
Reflecting on his experience, Arif Neki, a longtime development and philanthropic leader, shared how declining funding is impacting the entire development ecosystem. “The tsunami that just hit us on the decline of funding—it’s not just grassroots organizations that feel it. It’s affecting the entire ecosystem, including multilaterals like the UN,” Neki noted.
Drawing from his time at the UN, he pointed out that relying solely on member-state contributions is no longer sustainable for development work. “We need new financial models—platforms that leverage philanthropy and private capital for sustainable solutions,” he urged.
As the dialogue continued, participants highlighted the pressing need for new financial strategies to fund development projects. One key approach discussed was blended finance, which integrates concessional funding with private sector investment.
“Blended finance is crucial in unlocking private sector capital for development. By using concessional resources to de-risk investments, we can make projects more attractive to investors who might otherwise perceive them as too risky. This is how we can leverage both public and private sector funds to address our development challenges,” Erastus Maina, Advisory Partner at KPMG East Africa, stated.
He also spoke about the growing significance of social impact investments, where profit and social good align to create sustainable solutions. “Social impact investments are changing the way we think about finance. It’s not just about profit—it’s about making a real difference. When private sector investments align with social good, we create sustainable solutions that benefit both the community and the investor,” Maina said.
The discussions also underscored the need for governance frameworks that establish clear expectations and foster trust among partners, which is essential for effective collaboration.
In addition, participants highlighted successful models of local development, particularly those at the county level, which prioritize community agency and allow people to shape their development agendas. Participants agreed that these models were key to addressing Kenya’s development challenges and ensuring long-term sustainability.
The forum concluded with a collective recognition of the need for innovative financial models, deepened collaboration between sectors, and active community involvement to drive sustainable development in Kenya.
