6th African Philanthropy Conference
From 27 to 31 July 2025, the city of Cairo will host the 6th African Philanthropy Conference (6APC) at the American University in Cairo (AUC).
Under the theme “Sustainable Financing for Development in the Majority World,” the conference offers a critical platform for reimagining how Africa finances its development future amid growing aid volatility, geopolitical shifts, and shifting donor priorities.
Hosted by the John D. Gerhart Center for Philanthropy, Civic Engagement, and Responsible Business at AUC’s Onsi Sawiris School of Business, the 6APC marks a strategic expansion of the conference’s reach to include North African and Arabic-speaking philanthropic communities, fostering a truly pan-African dialogue.
What to Expect
Participants can anticipate a rich programme featuring plenary sessions, panel discussions, academic presentations, workshops, exhibitions, and community engagement activities.
The conference will explore several critical subthemes designed to address Africa’s evolving philanthropic landscape:
- Decolonised Funding Structures: Exploring how African institutions can reclaim control over financial resources, setting priorities that reflect local needs and leadership.
- Ethical and Transparent Financing Practices: Building accountability and trust in philanthropy through responsible funding and open communication between donors and recipients.
- Gender-Responsive Financing for Development: Designing funding mechanisms that actively promote gender equity and empower women and marginalized groups.
- Diaspora and Remittance-Based Models: Leveraging capital from Africans abroad to support sustainable development initiatives on the continent.
- Decentralised Finance (DeFi) and Community Trust Funds: Harnessing innovative financial technologies and locally managed funds to increase access and participation in funding decisions.
- Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Metrics: Applying frameworks that measure the sustainability and ethical impact of investments to ensure responsible philanthropy.
- Financing for Public Health, Education, and Knowledge Capital: Supporting long-term investments in sectors vital to human development and social resilience.
Alongside these practical sessions, the conference will feature an academic track that showcases research advancing African philanthropy.
The event will also celebrate leaders in the field with the African Philanthropy Lifetime Achievement Award, honoring individuals who have made exceptional contributions to philanthropy on the continent.
Why It Matters
As Africa faces shrinking aid budgets and growing economic uncertainty, the 6th African Philanthropy Conference arrives at a critical juncture.
Traditional sources of development funding are becoming increasingly unpredictable due to geopolitical shifts and donor fatigue, leaving many governments and civil society organisations scrambling to fill funding gaps.
In this environment, sustainable, locally driven financing is no longer optional—it is essential.
The conference serves as a vital forum for African philanthropic stakeholders to explore alternative models of philanthropy and development finance that prioritize African ownership and resilience.
The conference aims to identify pathways that can safeguard development gains and catalyse new investments in sectors like health, education, and climate resilience.
Ultimately, the gathering is a collective effort to reshape the future of African philanthropy, ensuring that the continent’s development is driven by African priorities and values rather than external agendas.
Who Will Be There?
The 6th APC is expected to bring together a diverse range of stakeholders, including
- Donors
- Nonprofit leaders
- Academics
- Community organisers
- Corporate actors
- Media professionals
- Government representatives
This broad participation reflects the conference’s goal to foster inclusive dialogue and collaboration across sectors.
Registration and Logistics
Registration is open on the official conference website.
The US$500 registration fee covers access to all sessions, exhibitions, site visits, and the gala dinner across the five days.
Looking Ahead
As Africa confronts tightening aid budgets and an uncertain global economy, the 6th African Philanthropy Conference offers a critical platform to move beyond dependency.
It is a space where African philanthropists, funders, and changemakers will co-create new financial systems that are equitable, transparent, and resilient.
This July in Cairo, Africa will chart a path toward funding its future, grounded in local knowledge, shared values, and collective action.
About the Africa Philanthropy Conference
The African Philanthropy Conference was conceptualised in 2018 as a pan-African space to rethink philanthropy and reduce dependency on external funding models.
Since its launch in 2019, it has grown into a vital forum for practitioners, academics, funders, and civil society actors from across Africa and the Majority World.
The 5th Annual African Philanthropy Conference, held from 29 July to 2 August 2024 at the Elephant Hills Resort in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, and Livingstone, Zambia, marked a pivotal moment.
Under the theme “The Next Frontiers of African Philanthropy,” it provided a collective response to the profound and rapid changes reshaping philanthropy on the continent.
Delegates at the 5th APC engaged in a deep exploration of emerging trends and innovative strategies, addressing how digital technologies, community-centered approaches, climate science, and new financing models are transforming traditional philanthropic practices.
The conference mapped these new terrains to acknowledge and prepare for the dynamic shifts redefining African philanthropy.
This momentum is critical as Africa now faces increasing unpredictability in traditional aid flows amid global economic instability and shifting donor priorities.
The 6th APC in Cairo builds on the foundation laid in Zanzibar and Victoria Falls, focusing on sustainable, inclusive, and African-led financing solutions tailored to local realities.
