Deadline nears to shape 10th East Africa Philanthropy Conference programme in Addis Ababa

The conference theme, “Anchoring Systems in an Era of Transition,” reflects a sector in flux, with shifting funding models, leadership changes, and growing calls for localised decision-making.

Organisers are emphasising participation and real-world insights rather than formal presentations.

“The programme is being built to reflect the full texture of the sector’s current moment the tensions, the experiments, the partial wins, and the questions that remain open,” the East Africa Philanthropy Network, the conference organisers, wrote on LinkedIn.

“If your institution has been in the middle of any of that work, this is the space for it.”

A Sector in Transition

East African philanthropy is navigating multiple challenges simultaneously. Institutions are rethinking how they structure capital, exploring pooled funding models, and adjusting governance to rebuild trust with communities.

Leadership transitions are also underway as founders and senior executives hand over to new generations, requiring frameworks to maintain stability and continuity.

Organisers say submissions already received cover a broad range of topics: governance reforms, innovative finance models, collaborative vehicles that pool resources, trust-building measures, ecosystem infrastructure, and strategies to localise power and resources.

“These are not abstract issues,” organisers noted. “They are real challenges faced by institutions across the region and beyond.”

Flexibility and Collaboration at the Core

Unlike traditional conferences, the Addis edition allows participants to design the format of their sessions. Institutions can propose:

• Panels that explore ideas across multiple perspectives
• Intimate workstreams to build thinking collectively
• Fireside chats to share lessons learned
• Case studies within masterclasses to demonstrate practice

“The format is yours to choose. We will work with you to shape it,” organisers said, highlighting the emphasis on collaboration over performance.

The goal is to ensure that discussions are grounded in practical experience, reflecting the realities of institutions rather than theoretical debates.

Why Addis, Why Now

The conference comes at a time when the sector faces funding uncertainty, changing donor expectations, and internal transitions.

Participants will have a platform to examine pressing questions: How can funds be structured sustainably?

How can collaboration across organisations be strengthened? How can trust with communities be maintained?

“By anchoring systems, we aim to build stability during change foundations that can hold through shifting political, economic, and social contexts,” organisers said.

Not Just Attendance, But Contribution

The organisers’ invitation is clear: this is not an event to simply attend, but one to actively contribute to.

“What are you bringing?” they asked. “Institutions are encouraged to share what they are learning, including the messy middle of experiments that are still evolving.”

The 6 March deadline marks the final opportunity for organisations to help shape a programme that mirrors the sector’s lived realities.

Registration is open, and exhibition spaces are closing soon.

For organisations ready to share experiences, insights, and lessons, Addis Ababa offers a rare opportunity to influence the conversation and contribute to the future of philanthropy in East Africa.

Interested organisations can:

Submit ideas before 6 March: https://lnkd.in/d4n_bKGy

Register for the conference: https://lnkd.in/dXpQtryb

Book exhibition space before it closes: https://lnkd.in/dnqViKZn