Women in Philanthropy and Impact Africa (WIPIA) is proud to announce its official launch during the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week on the 26th of September from 4 pm-7.30 pm. Hosted at Goals House, this pivotal event will bring together influential women leaders, philanthropists, foundation executives, and decision-makers from around the world.
WIPIA is a pioneering, diaspora-led initiative uniting women leaders, professionals, and global organisations in the philanthropic sector. Its mission is to harness the power of women in philanthropy to drive sustainable development through strategic connections and support. With only 0.4% of foundation grants globally directed toward organisations addressing women’s issues, WIPIA seeks to shift this paradigm by emphasising a gender lens in philanthropy and supporting women to lead scalable change in Africa.
The Honourable Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Madam Hannatu Musa Musawa will be present to formally launch the initiative, highlighting the importance of youth and the creative economy as key drivers of the continent’s socio-economic development.
Mr Cyrille Vigneron, Chairman of Cartier Culture and Philanthropy, will deliver the Keynote address, setting the stage for discussions on how women’s leadership can be a catalyst for sustainable development in Africa.
Panellists include:
Almaz Negash, CEO of the African Diaspora Network and a member of President Biden’s Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement, will discuss the power of the diaspora in mobilising resources for Africa’s development.
Melissa Stevens, Executive Vice-President of Philanthropy at the Milken Institute, will share insights on strategic philanthropy and the importance of incorporating a gender lens in global philanthropic efforts.The panel will be moderated by Stephanie Busari, Senior Africa Editor and Nigeria Bureau Chief at CNN, guiding the conversation on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through gender-focused philanthropy.
WIPIA was founded by three leading figures in the global DE&I and philanthropy space:
Dr. Anino Emuwa, Founder of Africa Women CEOs Network and Managing Director at Avandis Consulting.
Ms. Thelma Ekiyor-Solanke, Chair of the Nigeria Philanthropy Office.
Dr. Sindy Zemura-Bernard, CEO and Founder of the Southern Africa Embrace Foundation.
These co-founders are dedicated to driving impactful change through WIPIA’s vision of uniting women in philanthropy for sustainable development.
Speaking about the launch, Dr Anino Emuwa, co-founder of WIPIA said: “Progressing women’s leadership in the philanthropic sector is key to leveraging the power of catalytic philanthropy to drive inclusive, systemic and sustainable change. With only 6 years left to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, accelerating actions is imperative. We are delighted to see so many global funders as well as women in philanthropy accept our invitation for the launch demonstrating their interest in engaging in conversations to bring about meaningful change.”
WIPIA’s aim is to channel catalytic philanthropy towards addressing some of Africa’s most pressing challenges through the creation of a platform for collaboration for women leaders to access cutting-edge knowledge in philanthropy and establish global partnerships supporting African-led initiatives. Key areas of focus include social and female entrepreneurship, education and technology for girls, bridging the gender digital divide, healthcare, and climate action.
WIPIA’s launch marks the beginning of strategic actions, including leadership and skills development, international partnerships, convening global philanthropic events thought-leadership sessions, research, and advocacy. Expected outcomes are:
- Developing high-skilled female leaders poised to drive change in their communities.
- Increasing the representation of women in leadership across the philanthropic sector.
- Strengthening connections with global philanthropy networks to magnify funding and the effectiveness of African-led projects
- Progression towards gender funding equity in philanthropic giving
WIPIA extends an invitation to women leaders and organizations in the philanthropic sector to join this groundbreaking network. Through partnership, collaborations and knowledge sharing, WIPIA aims to bridge the funding gap for women-focused initiatives and to create a future where women’s leadership and catalytic philanthropy are at the forefront of Africa’s development.
