Wits Business School’s (WBS’) Centre on African Philanthropy and Social Investment (CAPSI) is this year celebrating its tenth anniversary. WBS, in turn, is the graduate school of business of the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), in Johannesburg.

“CAPSI represents the kind of African-led, globally relevant scholarship that defines Wits University’s mission,” highlighted Wits vice-chancellor Professor Zeblon Vilakazi. “Over the past decade, it has established itself as a leading centre of excellence, not only on the continent but increasingly in global conversations on philanthropy, development, and social investment.”

CAPSI was originally founded in 2016 as a Chair in African Philanthropy. It has become a pan-African centre, focused on the study and development of social investment and philanthropy across the continent – the first of its kind.

“Over the past decade, CAPSI has helped to reframe African philanthropy, not as an act of charity, but as a powerful expression of agency, solidarity, and systemic change,” affirmed CAPSI director Professor Bhekinkosi Moyo. “As we look ahead, our focus is on deepening this work and ensuring that African voices continue to shape the future of development on the continent.”

CAPSI serves as both a research centre and as a platform to reconceive how the continent can mobilise its own resources and knowledge, as well as leadership, to achieve development on its own terms. The centre integrates four major areas of activity. It holds academic and short course programmes, ranging from masterclasses to PhD studies in African philanthropy and social investment; it undertakes leading edge research (notably, a flagship 17-country study on dignified and fulfilling work for young people); it convenes landmark events, for example the African Philanthropy Conference, which is now one of Africa’s leading events in bringing together practitioners, funders, scholars and practitioners; and it develops strategic partnerships with a growing network of African and global institutions and funders.

The work of CAPSI is aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and with the African Union’s Agenda 2063. Central to its work is ensuring that research has real-world impacts. It also seeks to develop leaders and has alumni spread across civil society, the private sector, philanthropy and government.

“Our work sits at the intersection of research, teaching, and practice,” elucidates CAPSI academic director Professor Jacob Mati. “Over the past ten years, we have built a body of knowledge that is both academically rigorous and deeply rooted in African realities. The next decade will require even greater integration across these domains.”