The 9th East Africa Philanthropy Conference is currently underway in Kigali from June 11–14, under the theme "Agile Philanthropy — Adapting to Economic, Social, and Political Shifts.” The opening day focused on ecosystem analysis, examining roles, power dynamics, and structural gaps across the region’s philanthropic landscape.

Over the course of the conference, participants are exploring critical themes such as capital design, civic legitimacy, narrative ownership, and resourcing justice. With keynote speakers and panelists drawn from across sectors, the gathering convenes a diverse community of practitioners and thinkers facing urgent questions about the future of philanthropy in East Africa.

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In his opening remarks, the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Yusuf Murangwa, commented on the East African philanthropy network's long-standing role in supporting the country’s development, drawing attention to the sector’s alignment with values that shaped Rwanda’s progress: solidarity, participation, and self-reliance.

He acknowledged its growing importance in filling the void left by declining aid, noting that this trend was regional and global.

"Even in the current situation, we have seen many philanthropies stepping up to fill part of the gap created by reducing official development assistance. Aid is and will continue to reduce that is given, but with such expectations on philanthropy increasing, the sector must adapt,” he said.

Murangwa also called the conference timing very opportune, emphasising that while core missions may remain intact, ways of working must evolve.

Evans Okinyi, CEO of the East Africa Philanthropy Network, delivered a firm call to reframe how philanthropy engages with power, leadership, and collaboration emphasising on how w the sector must move beyond traditional silos and intentionally include actors who have long been part of development but often overlooked — particularly the private sector and communities.

"None of us can work in isolation, We all need to pull our efforts together, we all need to bring our resources together, and we all need to leverage so that we can push the development agenda, I want to point out that philanthropy must stop treating communities as passive recipients because they know the solutions to the challenges that they are facing, ” he said.

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Okinyi underlined the need to involve them not only in implementation but in shaping and sustaining solutions, adding the untapped power of the general public, naming citizens as the greatest resource the sector has.

"If philanthropy is serious about legitimacy and long-term relevance, it must engage the public with honesty and trust. We tap into the trust currency, and we will be guaranteed that the citizens will be part and parcel of the conversations we’re having,” he added.

Eunice Mwende, Alight Rwanda's Executive Director, an East Africa Philanthropy Network board member, and the conference's local host, reflected on the urgency and relevance of the conference’s conversations, particularly for those implementing humanitarian and development work on the ground.

She underscored how the sector is being pushed to shift its mindset, pointing out the uncomfortable reality that many existing systems are no longer viable, yet too often, development actors continue to uphold them out of habit.

"We in East Africa have been challenged this morning to think differently, to be more agile and to be more creative in finding resources to support the communities that we work with, We cannot continue promoting a system that is already dying by itself, what we need is a bold shift: practitioners must become catalysts of a new model, one grounded in community-led solutions,” she said.

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Ronald Kimambo of Firelight Foundation Tanzania emphasized the importance of internal reflection within the philanthropy sector, especially in the face of growing fragility, calling for greater flexibility in funding and a stronger focus on community-led approaches.

"We need to look inward, for instance, actors must prioritize community philanthropy to ensure that funding mechanisms align with the realities on the ground. I believe that sustainability comes not just from more money, but from shared purpose and local leadership,” he said.

Harriet Kamanshanyu of Rhythm of Life Uganda called the current moment "epic” — a turning point that demands honest reckoning with the shifting realities of funding. With major donors like USAID pulling back, she urged civil society and stakeholders to redefine sustainability in practical and community-driven terms.

"We need to rethink the connotation around funding, around sustainability, around how we break the news to even the beneficiaries we’ve been serving, local resource mobilization as a critical path forward — even if that means relying on smaller, grassroots strategies like family and peer contributions. We need to redesign the wheel, challenging the sector to let go of its dependency mindset and start building models that are resilient, flexible, and realistic,” she said.