Africa is at a critical moment in philanthropy. With traditional funding streams from the Global North shrinking, the continent must innovate and rethink its social justice and investment approaches. Recently, Mrs Graça Machel, global advocate, philanthropist, and founder of the Graça Machel Trust, spoke powerfully during a lecture hosted by the Centre on African Philanthropy and Social Investment (CAPSI) at Wits Business School. The lecture, presented by Open Society Foundations President Binaifer Nowrojee, explored “The changing role of philanthropy in a shifting African and global landscape.”
The panel underscored that philanthropy must evolve beyond traditional frameworks. Nowrojee challenged the audience, asking, “Can philanthropy continue within the confines of a broken system, or can it become a catalyst for something entirely new?” She highlighted the necessity for solidarity, imagination, and global collaboration, extending beyond financial resources alone.
Joining Dr Naledi Pandor, Board Chairperson of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, and Binaifer Nowrojee on the panel, Mrs Machel emphasised Africa’s urgent need to take charge of its destiny: “The changing landscape is forcing us as Africans to stand up for ourselves. It’s time for us to take matters into our own hands and resolve our problems without relying on the Global North.” Her message reflected on a shift towards self-reliance and innovation in philanthropic efforts.
Photo by CAPSI: Binaifer Nowrojee, Dr Naledi Pandor, Mrs Graça Machel and Nicolette Naylor. Panellists called for building stronger African institutional capacities and redefining donor-recipient relationships to promote sustainable change.
As Africa navigates this evolving philanthropic landscape, Graça Machel’s call to action remains clear: African solutions must be driven by African voices, resources, and leadership.
The Trust supports and mobilises civil society networks on issues of ending child marriage, ending violence against children, ending female genital mutilation and promoting children’s rights, to carry out advocacy and action across Africa. Special focus is placed on Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia where child marriage continues to be a problem largely driven by poverty, gender inequality, harmful traditional practices, conflict, low levels of literacy, limited opportunities for girls and weak or non-existent protective and preventive legal frameworks.
Education is a fundamental right for all children, which is also a vehicle for social, economic and political transformation in communities, countries and the African continent at large. Recent studies indicate a lack of progress in some of the critical commitments aimed at improving education quality, access, retention and achievement, particularly for girls. In most African countries, girls may face barriers to learning, especially when they reach post-primary levels of education. By implementing multi-dimensional approaches to education which includes core education, personal development, life skills and economic competencies, the Trust partners with funding partners, governments, civil societies and the private sector to improve education access.
The Nutrition and Reproductive, Maternal, New-born, Child and Adolescent Health and Nutrition, (RMNCAH+N) of the Children’s Rights and Development Programme aims at promoting the Global Strategy for women, children and adolescents’ health within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) agenda. The strategy emphasises on the importance of effective country leadership as a common factor across countries making progress in improving the health of women, children and adolescents.
Through its Early Childhood Development (ECD) plan, The Trust will seek to put into action the new science and evidence Report that was presented by Lancet Series on Good and early development – the right of every child. This will be achieved by mobilising like-minded partners to contribute in the new science and evidence to reach all young children with ECD. The Trust’s goal is to be a catalyst for doing things differently, in particular, to rid fragmentation and lack of coordination across ECD sectors. In response to evidence showing the importance of political will in turning the tide against the current poor access and quality of ECD. Even before conception, starting with a mother’s health and social economic conditions, the early years of a child’s life form a fundamental foundation that determines whether a child will survive and thrive optimally.