INTRODUCTION

The African Philanthropy Lifetime Achievement Award serves as a tribute to acknowledge and honour individuals and institutions that have played instrumental roles in the emergence and expansion of African philanthropy over the past few decades. Often, their valuable contributions go unnoticed. This prestigious award is designed to celebrate these exceptional individuals while they are still living.

 The award is presented to an individual who has made substantial and enduring contributions to the growth, practice, trajectory, and significance of African philanthropy over a span of twenty years or more. It also recognises individuals who have been actively involved in mentoring emerging leaders and practitioners within the philanthropic sector. These mentoring efforts encompass various forms of support, such as offering guidance, facilitating connections to opportunities for personal and institutional development, contributing their time, resources, and networks and preparing the next generation of leaders to ensure a smooth transition and succession.

 The African Philanthropy Lifetime Achievement Award also recognises an individual who has made significant contributions to the development of knowledge within the African philanthropy sector. This contribution may take the form of academic research, as well as non-academic methods such as storytelling, the establishment of processes, the formulation of policies and systems in philanthropic practices, and the creation of written works and reflective insights that offer valuable data and insights for the sector.