Reimagining philanthropy’s role in Africa’s Just Transition: From vulnerability to agency
In almost every recent climate meeting I have sat in – from the second African Climate Summit to the 5th African Conference on Loss and Damage to the 2026 Philea Forum discussions, the same story keeps coming up: Africa as vulnerable, Africa in need, Africa as a place to intervene.
But at the edges of those conversations, another story is emerging, one grounded not in deficit, but in agency, voice and leadership. The real question isn’t whether philanthropy is involved, it is whether it expands people’s power or quietly limits it.
From vulnerability to agency
During the FIND Session on 20 May 2026, one message stood out: the shift from vulnerability to agency must go beyond rhetoric. It must transform how philanthropy works in Africa.
I have come to believe deeply that philanthropy should be agency-enabled, not agency-reduced.
The problem of framing
What we don’t talk about enough is how realities are framed, and how those frames shape what gets funded, who leads and what becomes possible.
Too often, African communities are positioned as passive recipients of climate finance, rather than active agents shaping their own futures. This framing reinforces dependency, narrows ambition and limits transformative change.
There is progress, but progress alone does not guarantee justice.
Much of today’s climate philanthropy still works within existing power structures instead of challenging them. Questions of who sets priorities, who controls resources and who leads implementation remain largely unchanged.
Beyond energy: What a Just Transition means
In Africa, a just transition is not only about energy. It is about economic restructuring, inclusion and historical redress.
Across regional platforms and global convenings, African voices have been clear: transitions must be locally grounded, inclusive and responsive to lived realities.
As we move toward COP31 then to COP32, the conversation is shifting – from commitments to delivery. But delivery will only matter if it reaches communities and is shaped by them.
Philanthropy sits at a critical intersection between global ambition and local reality. It has the opportunity to bridge this gap but only if it is willing to change how it works.
Youth and the question of power
Young people are not waiting to be future leaders; they are already leading. They are organising, advocating and holding systems accountable.
Yet, despite their visibility, they remain underfunded and excluded from decision-making. Youth engagement often stops at participation rather than power.
If it is not youth-led, locally anchored and grounded in lived realities, it cannot be considered just.
Narratives, power and philanthropy’s role
Narratives shape what is possible. They influence what is valued, who is trusted and where resources flow.
When Africa is framed through vulnerability, philanthropy responds by managing risk. When Africa is seen through agency, philanthropy is called to invest in leadership, systems and long-term change.
Reimagining philanthropy’s role requires a shift, from doing for, to working with. From funding projects, to enabling systems. From managing vulnerability, to unlocking agency.
A call to action
Africa’s just transition is central to global climate justice.
The leadership already exists. The ideas are already there. What is needed now is action, real, bold and aligned with the people already building the future.
Philanthropy must shift the narrative, invest in African leadership, fund systems transformation and centre equity and justice. It must enable agency, not diminish it.
Because the future of Africa’s just transition will be defined not by those who finance it, but by those already building it.
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