APN Assembly Heads to Ghana ,/Photo;courtesy
The Africa Philanthropy Network (APN) will hold its next Biennial Assembly in Accra, Ghana, from 2–6 November 2026, continuing a continental tradition that has become one of Africa’s key platforms for shaping conversations on philanthropy, development, and community-led change.
The announcement comes as the network reflects on more than a decade of convenings that have helped define the direction of African philanthropy and strengthen collaboration among grant makers, civil society actors, diaspora networks, and development partners.
Since its first Assembly in 2010 in Nairobi, Kenya, the gathering has evolved into a major forum for dialogue on African-led giving and local solutions to development challenges.
The inaugural meeting brought together more than 200 participants and set the early agenda for African philanthropy, focusing on how the continent’s institutions and communities could play a stronger role in shaping their own development priorities.
In 2012, the Assembly moved to Johannesburg, South Africa, where more than 300 participants from over 25 countries gathered under the theme “Growing African Philanthropy: What’s New, What’s Now, What’s Next?”
The discussions reflected growing momentum around structured giving and locally driven development approaches.
The 2015 Assembly in Arusha, Tanzania, marked a turning point, as members formally adopted the name Africa Philanthropy Network, shifting from the African Grantmakers Network to reflect a broader and more inclusive vision of philanthropy.
By 2018, in Port Louis, Mauritius, the Assembly had expanded its focus to questions of power, influence, and accountability in African giving, under the theme “African Philanthropy: Giving and Power.”
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted plans for a physical 2020 gathering in Nairobi, which was eventually held virtually.
The network later reconvened in person in 2022 in Entebbe, Uganda, under the theme “African Philanthropy: Driving Change,” bringing together participants from more than 24 African countries alongside global partners.
The 2024 Assembly in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, focused on solidarity and collective action under the theme “Collective Freedom from Collective Struggles,” reinforcing the role of philanthropy in addressing structural challenges across the continent.
The 2026 APN Assembly in Accra is expected to build on this legacy of continental dialogue and partnership.
Organisers say further details, including thematic focus areas and registration information, are yet to be released and will be communicated in due course.
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