Looking back on the Brazilian Philanthropy Forum 2022 brings me a sense of joy and excitement. When IDIS invited me to join the panel to discuss collaboration in philanthropy, there was no way I could pass up the chance to join forces with my fellow panelists to highlight the importance and impact of localising philanthropy. 

My introduction to IDIS came about a year ago by way of the Alliance magazine team. I’ve always been impressed with their work and was reaffirmed during the conference as I learned more about the multi-pronged and progressive approach they take in their work in the philanthropic space. While I initially didn’t know what to expect, I was confident that the event would be well-run given the thorough and friendly preparation process of the IDIS team.

I landed in Brazil a few days before the event. I was lucky enough to spend that time exploring São Paulo, and I found the city to be immensely beautiful and fun. From the MASP’s Black and Indigenous art to the stellar sushi restaurants, I fell in love with the small slice of this stunning city. I also joined other panelists for pre-conference dinners and had the pleasure of connecting with Matthew Bishop, a renowned economist who shares a similar vision to mine for modern philanthropy. I’ve admired his work for a while, so it was really special to meet and sit with him on a panel.

Our discussion was the last session of the day. This afforded me the opportunity to fully immerse myself in the rich Forum content, which started off with a touching performance by Fernanda Bianchini Association – Cia Ballet de Cegos. This was followed by the opening session, ‘Alone goes fast. Together goes far and even faster,’ which set the tone for the day as the panelists highlighted the importance of collaboration. Celso, the founder of the CUFA, also spoke about the incredible impact of small, informal organisations in underserved communities and how organisations like his facilitate inclusivity in the philanthropic space. 

I enjoyed sharing the stage with leaders who come from different spaces, yet share many of my perspectives. I hope that the Brazilian audience took away a better understanding of the parallels between the challenges they face in their work and what we face in Sub-Saharan Africa. The message that I wanted to drive home was that looking at philanthropy as a borderless endeavour will benefit everyone. 

More events are needed like this in the philanthropic space. The more this community—from grantees to funders and all the organisations in between—get together and share their stories of successes and failures, the more we can drive progress throughout our industry. Collective collaboration will not happen easily or quickly, as it requires a redistribution of power and an overall mindset change. At the African Visionary Fund, our goal is to change the nature of collaboration in philanthropy, and we hope other organisations will follow our lead. 

Overall, the conference was incredibly engaging—there was just the right mix of lightheartedness (the group breathing exercises were really fun), insightful discussions, and networking. Despite the language barrier, I met so many interesting academics, activists, and funders that I hope to see again and even collaborate with in the future. Not to mention, the event production was top-notch.

Thank you for welcoming and hosting me. I hope to return to the beautiful country of Brazil again soon!

Atti Worku, Co-CEO, African Visionary Fund