A panel discussion at the 2026 African Philanthropy Forum (APF) Conference in Cape Town, South Africa, from October 25–27,/ PHOTO; APF
African philanthropy leaders have called for young people to have a greater role in decisions affecting their future, raising questions about who sets development priorities and whose perspectives shape Africa’s identity.
The discussions took place during the African Philanthropy Forum (APF) Conference in Cape Town, South Africa, from October 25 to 27. Held under the theme “Bridge the Divide; Reimagine the Future,” the conference brought together philanthropists, funders and changemakers to consider the future of African philanthropy and development.
A central concern was the need to move beyond recognising young people’s importance to giving them a meaningful voice in decision-making.
Moving beyond symbolic participation
Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, founder of the Umlambo Foundation and chancellor of the University of Johannesburg, said young people should be recognised as contributors with perspectives that older generations may not have.
“Young people today are substantive. They have insights we don’t have. We need them in the rooms where decisions that impact their lives are made. Intergenerational collaboration leads to more dynamic decisions,” she said.
Her remarks challenged approaches that treat young people simply as recipients of development programmes rather than participants in shaping the decisions affecting them.
Mlambo-Ngcuka also highlighted challenges facing girls, including gender-based discrimination in education and female genital mutilation, calling for greater understanding and support for the issues they encounter.
The need to include younger voices also extends to spaces where philanthropy leaders exchange ideas. Matthew Ilube, a trustee of the African Gifted Foundation, called for more young people to be represented at conferences and within professional networks.
“It’s important to have a network of likeminded people, we need to hear more of young peoples voices to have more significant voices being heard,” he said, questioning how young people could be brought into conferences.
Who defines Africa’s future?
The conversation about participation also touched on how Africa is represented and who has the authority to shape its narrative.
Dr Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli, co-founder of Wealth4Impact, linked the continent’s future to greater collaboration and an appreciation of different cultures and experiences.
“The only way we can build Africa into the continent we want it to be is to work together, tell and teach everyone about other cultures, other experiences, and create a new version of a narrative. Together, we are stronger; we can ensure every child will grow up to say I am proudly African,” she said.
Chude Jideonwo, chairman of HBC Holdings, similarly challenged the tendency to view Africa through external expectations, arguing that the continent should develop confidence in its own cultural influence.
“If we truly believe in Africa soft power we need to stop paying attention to those who want a representation of Africa the way they envision it,” he said.
He added that confident power should develop its own influence and substance rather than wait for external approval.
Preparing for the future
Mlambo-Ngcuka also raised questions about how technological advancement could affect employment, urging greater attention to both its positive and negative implications.
“We need to understand the implications of creating jobs in the face of technological advancements, both for the better and for the worse,” she said.
Her remarks reinforced the importance of considering how decisions made today will affect future generations.
For philanthropy, the challenge is to ensure that calls for collaboration translate into meaningful participation, giving young people and communities a role in shaping the priorities that influence their lives.
Source: Remarks and excerpts shared by the African Philanthropy Forum (APF) across its social media platforms during the conference.
