Delivering impact at scale is central to achieving the SDGs. Therefore, the interest of foundations to continuously seek ways to deploy resources and build partnerships to achieve enduring impact, should serve as an incentive for governments to create a conducive environment for philanthropy. Indeed, the latter is paramount in ushering in the needed partnerships, collaborations, co-creation of solutions, blended financing in addressing the enormous ambitions of the SDGs. Ghana’s philanthropic environment per se is relatively free, yet structural or regulatory support is less fully developed, according to the Hudson Institute’s 2015 Index of Philanthropic Freedom.
In the pursuant of working with government and all relevant stakeholders, to at the very least encourage embryonic openings for creating an enabling environment for philanthropy in Ghana, the SDG Philanthropy Platform(UNDP) launched a report titled “Enabling Environment for Philanthropy in Ghana” on 19 April 2018 at UNDP Ghana.
In a compelling examination of the potential contribution of indigenous and dominant forms of philanthropy to national development, and drawing lessons from other countries, the study proffered recommendations which included the development and implementation of a national policy or framework to spur reforms in the regulatory environment to support philanthropy. It also suggests the amendment of the country’s Companies Act to include additional categories like philanthropy.
Speaking at the event in a remark replete with government’s recognition of the important role of philanthropy towards achieving the SDGs, Carlos Ahenkorah, Member of Parliament and the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, noted that “We appreciate the salutary effects philanthropy brings on development through the support of Ghana’s social sector. Foundations contributed about $500m towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals in Ghana and the trend is expected to increase with the more ambitious Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).” The Deputy Minister further emphasized the potential contribution of philanthropy in the ‘Ghana Beyond Aid’ agenda, “We at the Ministry of Trade and Industry is aware of the catalytic role philanthropy can play in supporting social entrepreneurship. Indeed, to get foundations to support not only social progress but foster social entrepreneurship, there is the need to create an enabling environment for philanthropy which this Ministry and the government is committed to push.”
In emphasizing the need for more collaboration with relevant stakeholders to successfully address the vast challenges defined by the SDGs, Gita Honwana Welch, acting UNDP Ghana Country Director, noted that “Achieving the SDGs will require a radical increase in innovations, private sector solutions to social problems and the whole of society approach. So, diverse forms of philanthropic giving can drive resource mobilization for the implementation of the SDGs.’’ Ms. Welch further stressed that “The launch of this report—is an important step in identifying bottlenecks to stimulate public policy actions to encourage the emergence of new and structured forms of philanthropy. It helps to identify challenges that prevent philanthropy from maximizing their contributions to development.”
Also, at the report launch was the Vice President of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, Heather Grady who shared insights on the “Scaling Solutions Towards Shifting Systems’’ report commissioned by the Skoll Foundation and a Steering Group composed of Porticus, Ford and Draper Richards Kaplan Foundations. Ms. Grady encouraged funders to work in more collaborative ways to achieve system-level changes and maximum impact.
The launch attracted an array of audience spanning foundations, government ministries and agencies, UNDP, private sector, NGOs and INGOs. Creating an enabling environment for philanthropy should be considered as a relevant public policy issue. The report is expected to serve as the oxygen for advocacy and engagement with government to spur philanthropy for development.
Photo credit: C.C. Chapman
