TrustAfrica and WINGS came together at the end of 2022 for a two-day workshop focused on strengthening the West African philanthropy support ecosystem. The initiative was run in partnership with the Global Fund for Community Foundations, African Philanthropy Network, African Philanthropy Forum, Center for African Philanthropy and Social Investment, and AVPA.

The African philanthropy landscape is incredibly rich, said TrustAfrica in a statement, noting that it is characterised by a diversity of actors, practices, and policies. Very old traditions of giving, rooted in cultures of solidarity, co-exist with more modern forms of philanthropic institutions and practices, bringing energy and opportunity to unlock more local resources, as well as challenges in terms of coordinating players and reinforcing collaborations.

However, TrustAfrica has said, the importance of having a strong and well-connected philanthropy support ecosystem is not fully understood which leads to critical underinvestment in the field and missed opportunities.

One outcome of this recent initiative has been a mapping of key philanthropic actors across the West African region. The visual map aims to highlight organizations, networks, and across working to encourage, support, activate, and coordinate local giving, particularly in Senegal, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, and Ivory Coast.