NAIROBI, KENYA – On October 31, 2024, Impact Philanthropy Africa hosted a CEO event to celebrate and honor Dr. Manu Chandaria, one of Kenya’s most influential figures in philanthropy. Impact Philanthropy Africa is a forum of self funded corporate and private charitable foundations operating across Africa to create social impact. The organization seeks to advance corporate and private giving, transforming lives by improving the social and economic status of communities.
The event gathered CEOs, business leaders, and philanthropists to engage on the role of corporate philanthropy in driving social change. The event delved into Dr. Chandaria’s philanthropy journey, visionary contributions, and hopes for inspiring a new generation of leaders. It featured an in-depth discussion with Dr. Chandaria, exploring his enduring commitment to philanthropy, his philosophy of giving, and his transformative impact on Kenyan society. As a highlight of the evening, Dr. Chandaria received the inaugural Impact Philanthropy Africa Lifetime Achievement Award in Philanthropy, recognizing his groundbreaking contributions and long-standing dedication to uplifting Kenya’s communities.
Dr. Manu Chandaria is a household name in Kenya, East Africa and beyond. He is considered one of Kenya’s Founding Fathers of Philanthropy, with several decades of experience giving to society. Growing up from humble beginnings, he founded the first corporate Foundation in Kenya – Chandaria Foundation in 1955. He founded the Comcraft Group of Companies, a billion-dollar enterprise that has a presence in over 40 African countries, and is on the boards of several prominent East African companies. In 2003, Chandaria was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth II. In December of the same year, he was awarded the Elder of the Burning Spear by the 3rd President of Kenya, Mwai Kibaki – one of the highest civilian honours in Kenya. He has been hailed as one of ‘Africa’s leading industrialists‘. Dr Chandaria is the first African, and Kenyan, to be awarded the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy in the US in 2022. His philanthropic giving spans the Kenyan health, education, youth and gender empowerment; environment sectors to name a few. The Chandaria Foundation has been a longtime member of the Impact Philanthropy Africa forum.
“ It is IMPACTs great privilege to present this first-ever award to Dr. Manu Chandaria. His name is synonymous with integrity, vision, and selfless giving. Recognized around the world for his contributions, he has received numerous Honors. Yet tonight is significant; for the first time, his unparalleled legacy in philanthropy is being formally celebrated here at home – in Kenya and in Africa, as one of our own. At 95 years of age, Dr. Manu reminds us that true philanthropy is about transforming lives, creating opportunities, and offering hope.” said Patricia Ndegwa, CEO of Impact Philanthropy Africa.
The event included a distinguished panel discussion with leaders from Kenya’s business and philanthropic community: Peter Ndegwa, CEO of Safaricom; Joshua Oigara, CEO of Stanbic Bank; Vimal Shah, CEO of BIDCO Africa; Faustina Fynn-Nyame, Africa Executive Director, Children’s Investment Fund Foundation; Anders Lindgren, CEO of Safal Group; Dr. Paulin Basinga, Africa Director, Gates Foundation; Mr. Arif Neky, UN; Dr. Ruth Kagia, GPE Special Envoy and Dr. James Mwangi, Group CEO, Equity Group (virtually); among others.. Moderated by award-winning journalist, Jeff Koinange, the panel explored the future of corporate philanthropy, offering attendees valuable insights on the potential for corporate entities to champion initiatives that benefit communities in Kenya and beyond, aiming to inspire new commitments and cultivate a robust dialogue on the societal impact of integrating philanthropy into core business values.
Dr. Chandaria has set exemplary standards for corporate giving, focusing on education, healthcare, and community welfare. “Impact Philanthropy Africa is honored to recognize Dr. Chandaria’s extraordinary contributions with this Lifetime Achievement Award. His impact on Kenya’s social fabric and his tireless dedication to philanthropy are a beacon of inspiration.” added Patricia Ndegwa, CEO and Head of Secretariat of Impact Philanthropy Africa. “We hope this event will inspire leaders across Africa to embrace philanthropy as an integral part of corporate responsibility, building a brighter future for all.”
Reflecting on his legacy, Dr. Chandaria shared, “Receiving this award is a humbling reminder of the importance of building a legacy that empowers communities and strengthens society. Philanthropy, at its core, is about our collective responsibility to create a better world.” said Dr. Manu.
The inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award is a precursor to the larger Impact Philanthropy Africa Excellence Awards in Philanthropy program, set for 2025 that will recognize tried and tested programs /approaches of impactful Philanthropy.
About Impact Philanthropy Africa
Impact Philanthropy Africa is a forum of self funded corporate and private charitable foundations operating across Africa to create social impact. Registered in Kenya, the organization seeks to advance corporate and private giving, transforming lives by improving the social and economic status of communities. Through advocacy and thought leadership, Impact Philanthropy Africa’s members aim to foster a robust culture of philanthropy and influence policy to facilitate lasting change.
For further information on the forum and the event, please contact:
Impact Philanthropy Africa
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.impactphilanthropyafrica.org
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