The 2026 African Philanthropy Forum (APF) Conference in Cape Town, South Africa, from October 25–27,/ PHOTO; APF
Africa’s development future depends not only on how much money is available to address its challenges, but also on who decides where that money goes and whose ideas determine the solutions.
That discussion ran through the 2026 African Philanthropy Forum (APF) Conference in Cape Town, South Africa, where philanthropists, business leaders, creatives and development practitioners examined how African resources, leadership and partnerships could contribute to a different development model.
Held from October 25 to 27 under the theme Bridge the Divide; Reimagine the Future, the conference explored the need to move beyond increasing charitable contributions towards reconsidering the power structures, funding practices and narratives influencing development across the continent.
Rethinking the Flow of Capital
During his keynote, Gary Lubner, founder of the This Day Foundation, challenged conventional attitudes towards wealth and inheritance. Having committed to giving away 95 per cent of his wealth during his lifetime, he described the decision as easier and more joyful than holding it for heirs. His argument also extended generosity beyond money to include time and effort.
The scale of Africa’s financing needs provided further context. Delegates heard that the continent requires approximately US$1.3 trillion annually in financing, while philanthropy contributes an estimated US$5 billion to US$6 billion.
The challenge is therefore not simply to increase charitable giving, but to use available resources to unlock additional sources of capital, including pension funds and fixed-income assets.
Funding Beyond Isolated Interventions
Yet access to capital is only part of the equation. Its impact also depends on whether organisations closest to communities have the resources and freedom to determine how challenges should be addressed.
This was particularly evident in discussions about funding relationships with organisations across the Global South.
Amadou Mbodj of Fundación Avina cautioned against treating interconnected development challenges as isolated concerns, arguing that separately funding water, security and economic decline limits impact.
The underlying issue is how funders understand the realities facing the organisations they support. When funding priorities are determined too far removed from communities, interventions risk overlooking the connections between local challenges.
More trusting partnerships require funders to listen to organisations’ existing approaches, pool resources and avoid requiring partners to compromise their core values.
Who Controls Africa’s Narrative?
The question of ownership extends beyond financial resources to how Africa is represented. Development narratives influence which communities attract attention, which challenges receive funding and whose leadership is recognised.
During discussions on narratives and soft power, Chude Jideonwo, founder of Joy, Inc., challenged philanthropy’s contribution to the continent’s deficit narrative and called for African creators to have greater freedom in telling their own stories.
“Confident power does not wait for approval,” he said, arguing that Africa needs “main character energy.”
“Storytelling is not an add-on,” he added. “It is what we do at the start.”
His argument highlighted the relationship between representation and power. African communities should not only participate in development initiatives but also have a voice in how their experiences, priorities and achievements are understood.
Giving Young People a Stake in the Future
That question of participation also applies to young people, particularly as the continent confronts employment pressures and rapid technological change. APF Board Chair Gbenga Oyebode placed education at the centre of Africa’s development prospects.
“If we can get our people to get an education, then maybe we can change the paradigm,” he said.
However, education must translate into meaningful opportunities for a growing population. The conference also considered how artificial intelligence could influence philanthropy, particularly grantmaking and due diligence.
While the technology may improve efficiency, concerns emerged about allowing automated systems to determine which organisations receive funding. Human judgement and an understanding of local circumstances remain essential.
The need to give young people greater influence over decisions shaping their future was reinforced by Dr Judy Dlamini, founder and chairperson of the Female Academic Leaders Fellowship.
Calling for first-loss capital for young entrepreneurs and greater room for failure, she said: “If I were funding young entrepreneurs, I would actively seek out those who have failed.”
She added: “We can’t imagine the future on their behalf. We have to imagine it with them.”
The discussions found a practical expression in APF’s launch of the Unmuted Campaign through StartPoint, which aims to raise US$1 million for African-led organisations in Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa.
Ultimately, the challenge facing African philanthropy is not simply to give more, but to reconsider how giving works.
Greater local ownership requires resources to reach African-led organisations, trust to extend beyond funding agreements, and communities to have a meaningful role in shaping the future they want.
