Editorial: birth of the International Review on Philanthropy and Social Investment

Abstract

The study of African philanthropy and philanthropy in Africa has gained momentum over the last couple of years, partly due to the increased interest in the field, but also because philanthropy has been thrust at the centre of global and national policy, and the resolution of development challenges facing different African countries. Recently, numerous initiatives have been developed that focus on philanthropy and its multiple expressions in Africa. These span the Philanthropy Secretariat in Liberia (established in 2009), the Rwanda Philanthropy Strategy, the Sustainable Development Goals Platforms in countries such as Ghana, Kenya, and Zambia, to organisations such as the Africa Philanthropy Network, the African Philanthropy Forum, and the East Africa Philanthropy Network. These initiatives include African foundations such as TrustAfrica, African Women Development Fund, Kenya Community Development Foundation, and the Southern Africa Trust just to mention a few. In addition are foundations established by high net worth individuals (HNWIs) such as the Tony Elumelu Foundation, the Dangote Foundation, the TY Danjuma Foundation, the Higher Life Foundation, and Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation, among many others across the continent.