This is the question at the center of the 10th East Africa Philanthropy Conference. The concept note examines the structural forces reshaping philanthropy, from the erosion of institutional trust to the largest intergenerational wealth transfer in history, from the contraction of traditional funding streams to the persistent gap between localization rhetoric and actual power transfer.

It then articulates what this convening must achieve: infrastructure investment frameworks, collaborative governance models, innovative finance standards, and localization commitments that move from operational adjustments to structural transformation. Five thematic focus areas anchor the work. An open call invites practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and innovators to propose sessions that deliver tested approaches and actionable tools.