Africa’s wealthy give back: A perspective on philanthropic giving by wealthy Africans in sub-Saharan Africa, with a focus on Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa

Africa is booming but accelerating growth is accompanied by numerous challenges:
poverty is still a daily reality for many, political instability and scandals, and the
degradation of the environment continue to dominate the headlines. Therefore it
comes as no surprise that philanthropy remains an important contributor
to long-term development, and Africa’s wealthy are keen to play a role. But what
exactly characterizes African philanthropy? How do wealthy Africans give and what
is their motivation? Is giving in Africa formalized? Does giving happen locally or
does it extend beyond borders? These are some of the questions this reports tries to answer. The report concludes that infrastructure is needed to catalyse African philanthropy further. Infrastructure’ is the enabling environment, comprising appropriate policies, platforms for shared learning and strategic partnerships, and support systems to foster innovation and effectiveness in this vital field.