What will be the future of philanthropy? I ask. It is worth noting the practice of philanthropy can be traced back to the African history of living where communities are usually seen together supporting themselves. But in recent times, the subject matter of philanthropy – which is the act of giving to promote social good – has gained more consideration and recognition as one of the sustainable tools for development.
The Ghana Philanthropy Conference organised under the theme ‘Philanthropy for Sustainable Development’ considered opportunities and challenges for the future. The 2023 conference, held at the Best Western Premier Airport Hotel from November 21-22, had Dr. Stigmata Tenga, Executive Director-African Philanthropy Network, deliver the keynote address among other speakers. ProHumane Afrique International participated in this all-important conference.
Philanthropy, according to research, plays a crucial role in attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These global goals, set by the United Nations, aim to address various social, economic and environmental challenges by 2030. By supporting philanthropic initiatives, individuals and organiations can contribute to the achievement of these goals and make a positive impact in the world.
The Power of Philanthropy
Philanthropy, which involves the donation of time, money or resources to charitable causes, has the potential to drive significant change. It allows individuals and organisations to address societal issues that are often overlooked or underfunded. By leveraging their resources, philanthropists can support innovative projects, promote social justice and improve the well-being of communities around the globe.
Addressing the SDGs
The SDGs provide a comprehensive framework for tackling some of the world’s most pressing challenges, including poverty, inequality, climate change and access to education and healthcare. Philanthropy aligns with these goals by providing the necessary resources to implement sustainable solutions and create lasting impacts. What level of progress is attained by Ghana currently as we track progress toward 2030? Ghana is not on track to achieving the SDGs, Dr. Felix Addo-Yebo from the SDGs Advisory Unit, Office of the President, announced in his sessional address.
Philanthropic investments can support initiatives that aim to eradicate poverty and hunger by providing access to education, vocational training and sustainable livelihood opportunities. By investing in healthcare infrastructure and programmes, philanthropists can contribute to the goal of ensuring healthy lives and well-being for all.
As a vocal advocate for vocational and skilled trades promoting the importance of trade professions, and vocational education as well as the future of work discourse, I believe philanthropy can support the advancement of these causes easily with the needed created awareness.
Collaboration and Partnership
Collaboration is key to achieving the SDGs, and philanthropy can play a crucial role in fostering partnerships. By bringing together governments, businesses, non-profit organisations, and local communities, philanthropists can facilitate collective action and maximise the impact of their efforts.
Through strategic partnerships, philanthropists can leverage their resources and expertise to address complex challenges more effectively. By joining forces with other stakeholders, they can share knowledge, exchange best practices, and scale-up successful interventions – ultimately accelerating progress toward the SDGs.
Measuring Impact
Measuring the impact of philanthropic initiatives is essential to ensuring accountability and maximising effectiveness. By tracking outcomes and evaluating the success of their interventions, philanthropists can make informed decisions, learn from their experiences and continuously improve their strategies.
Impact measurement allows philanthropists to identify what works and what doesn’t, enabling them to allocate resources more efficiently and focus on interventions that generate the greatest positive change. It also helps to identify gaps and areas where additional support is needed, leading to more targetted and impactful philanthropic efforts.
Inspiring Others
Philanthropy has the power of inspiring others to take action and contribute in acheiving the SDGs. When individuals witness the positive impact of philanthropic initiatives, they are more likely to get involved and support similar causes.
By sharing success stories and highlighting the transformative power of philanthropy, we can encourage a culture of giving and inspire others to make a difference. Whether through financial contributions, volunteering or advocacy, everyone has the potential to contribute to the SDGs and create a more sustainable and equitable world.
Creating a better future for all
Philanthropy is a vital tool in pursuit of the SDGs. By supporting philanthropic initiatives, individuals and organisations can play an active role in addressing global challenges and creating a better future for all. Through collaboration, impact measurement and inspiring others, philanthropy has the potential to drive meaningful change and contribute to attainment of the SDGs by 2030. But what happens when our giving is characterised by logos, egos and silos as put forward by Alhaji Amidu Ibrahim-Tanko, Executive Director, Star-Ghana Foundation, in his opening remarks.
The Relevance of Philanthropy to Attaining SDGs
Philanthropy plays a crucial role in addressing the world’s most pressing challenges, and is an essential component in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With its focus on promoting the welfare of others, philanthropy has the power to drive positive change and create a lasting impact on society. In this blog post, we will explore the relevance of philanthropy in the SDGs context and how it can contribute to their attainment.
- Mobilising Resources
One of the key contributions of philanthropy to the SDGs is its ability to mobilise resources. Philanthropic organisations and individuals have the capacity to provide significant financial support to initiatives aimed at achieving the SDGs. By funding projects and programmes, philanthropy can bridge the funding gap and ensure that essential services reach those in need. Philanthropic giving for the SDGs between the years 2016 through 2020 has been estimated at US$217billion – an indication the projected US$651billion in philanthropic giving for the SDGs by 2030 could potentially unleash the full potential of philanthropy for development.
- Driving Innovation
Philanthropy also plays a vital role in driving innovation. With their flexibility and ability to take risks, philanthropic organisations can support innovative approaches to solving complex social and environmental problems. By investing in research and development, philanthropy can help find new solutions and technologies that can accelerate progress toward the SDGs.
- Advocacy and Awareness
Philanthropy can be a powerful advocate for the SDGs, helping to raise awareness about the goals and mobilise support from various stakeholders. Through their networks and influence, philanthropic organisations can promote the SDGs’ importance and encourage others to take action. By leveraging their platforms, they can amplify the voices of marginalised communities and advocate for policies that promote sustainable development.
How can we survive a more deadly pandemic should any hit our shores sooner than later? When COVID-19 happened, you realised the development partners and donors left. What happens when they leave? Most partners will leave when crises are heightened and deep, but philanthropic organisations will stay and ensure things get better Dr. Tenga alerted. The community we have built for ourselves will be our only safe space. This business case can encourage corporates’ tendency to support philanthropic causes when implementers demonstrate accountability, trust and credibility in their project implementation as well as effective use of resources.
- Collaboration and Partnerships
Collaboration and partnerships are essential for achieving the SDGs, and philanthropy can play a crucial role in fostering these relationships. Philanthropic organisations can bring together different stakeholders, including governments, businesses and civil society, to work toward common goals. Through strategic partnerships, philanthropy can leverage resources, expertise and networks to drive collective action and maximise impact.
- Long-Term Sustainable Solutions
Philanthropy’s focus on long-term sustainable solutions aligns well with the SDGs’ objectives. By investing in initiatives that address the root-causes of social and environmental challenges, philanthropy can help create lasting change. Whether it’s supporting education, healthcare or environmental conservation, philanthropy can contribute to building resilient communities and promoting sustainable development.
- Monitoring and Evaluation
Effective monitoring and evaluation are crucial for tracking progress toward the SDGs. Philanthropy can play a role in this process by supporting data collection, analysis and reporting. By funding research and evaluation projects, philanthropy can help measure the impact of interventions and identify areas for improvement. This data-driven approach enables philanthropic organisations to make informed decisions and allocate resources more effectively.
- Inspiring Others
Lastly, philanthropy can inspire others to get involved and contribute to the SDGs. When individuals witness the positive impact of philanthropic efforts, they are more likely to engage in their own philanthropic activities. By sharing success-stories and showcasing the transformative power of giving, philanthropy can inspire a culture of generosity and collective action toward achieving the SDGs.
Philanthropy plays a crucial role in attainment of the SDGs. Through mobilising resources, driving innovation, advocating for change, fostering collaboration, promoting sustainability, supporting monitoring and evaluation, and inspiring others, philanthropy can create a significant and lasting impact on the world. By harnessing the power of philanthropy, we can work together to build a more equitable, sustainable and prosperous future for all.
You too can learn how to be amazing in life. Let’s be Humane!
Baptista is a Hybrid Professional and the Executive Director of ProHumane Afrique International. ProHumane is a philanthropic, development & and think tank organisation working with communities & and individuals to create sustainable solutions to transform communities through diverse pro-poor initiatives. Pro-poor initiatives are initiatives that help to alleviate poverty. You can reach us via e-mail at [email protected] and follow this conversation on all our social media sites: Linked-In/ Twitter/ Facebook/ Instagram: ProHumane Afrique International. Call or WhatsApp: +233(0)262213313. Hashtag: #behumane #thegivingcapsules #prohumaneafriqueint #fowc.
