A forum that seeks to scale up the impact of corporate and private giving in Kenya has been unveiled.

Dubbed the Impact Philanthropy Africa Forum, the program is the initiative of the M-Pesa Foundation in partnership with the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF).

Speaking during the virtual launch on April 7, M-PESA Foundation Executive Director Les Baille said: “The power of corporate partnership, supporting public goals such as education, maternal health, child health, economic empowerment, peace and justice can be transformational for Kenya and the region. Kenya has the potential to be one of Africa’s success stories if only we focus, unite and utilize our resources to grow the dynamic private sector as well as the community.”

The forum is expected to provide a platform for Impact Philanthropy Africa members, where key thought leaders on policy, research, funding and government will share their perspectives on the state of the sector and emerging opportunities so as to scale up corporate giving for social impact in Kenya.

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The forum will also provide opportunities for learning and sharing of Corporate Social Investment (CSI) innovations that have the potential for wider impact to the society; thought leadership for the growth of the CSI sector in Kenya as well as identifying and pursuing key advocacy issues to influence policy and practice impacting CSI.

The corporate philanthropies have also committed to ensure that strategies that are aligned to key development areas are developed so as to create a lasting social, economic and environmental transformation for communities in Kenya.

This would help brigde the gap between developing and implementing agendas such as the SDGs and the Vision 2030 that focus on education, health, social and community development.

“To fully capitalize on the great impact CSI can create, Impact Philanthropy Africa members are committed to the public benefit and to their philanthropic purposes and are working to build a culture of corporate social investment (CSI) and influence policy through advocacy and thought leadership consequently improving the social and economic status of Kenyans.” said Faustina Fynn-Nyame, Executive Director, CIFF Africa.

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At the moment, corporate members of Impact Philanthropy Africa forum include the Aga Khan Foundation, Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), Coca-Cola East, Central and West Africa, Family Group Foundation, Gertrude’s Hospital Foundation, I&M Bank Foundation, Johnson & Johnson Foundation, KenGen Foundation, Kenya Airways, M-PESA Foundation and Stanbic Foundation.

The conveners, M-PESA Foundation and CIFF, are seeking like-minded organizations to join the forum.