On October 3 and 4, 2024, the authors’ conference took place as part of the Resilient Urban Communities project in Nairobi. The two-day conference featured panel discussions, paper presentations, and group sessions, fostering dialogue on collaboration, social entrepreneurship, and the role of non-profit organizations in driving urban resilience. The articles discussed will be published in a special issue of the International Review of Philanthropy and Social Investment (IRPSI), edited by the Centre on African Philanthropy and Social Investment (CAPSI) based at Wits Business School. This special issue aims to advance research on African civil society, social entrepreneurship, and philanthropy through an interdisciplinary lens, covering fields such as economics, social sciences, non-profit management, and development studies. Accepted abstracts were presented during the RUC conference, providing an opportunity for authors to engage with peers, receive feedback, and refine their work for submission to the journal. The conference was organized in cooperation with Strathmore University, the University of Münster and the East Africa Philanthropy Network.
Program
The conference began on the 3rd with a welcome address by Prof. Ismail Ateya and Evans Okinyi, followed by a panel discussion in which Oliver Waindi, Dr. Sarita Sehgal, Clementina Ayon and Dr. Mumbi Wachira discussed how to foster collaboration for Urban Resilience in Africa.
The panellists explored examples of urban collaboration from cities they had worked in e.g. Windhoek, Cape Town, and Abidjan, highlighting that trust, humility, and proactive partnerships with affected and vulnerable communities are essential for achieving meaningful social impact. The panel challenged participants to ensure that their work not only advances academic understanding but also supports tangible progress in urban resilience efforts across Africa.
The consequent session on October 3 consisted of research paper presentations from doctoral researchers and early career academics whose papers had been accepted for consideration into the International Review of Philanthropy and Social Investment (IRPSI). Each paper presenter was provided with 15 minutes for presenting and 15 minutes for receiving feedback from the session chair and other participants in the room.
In the afternoon of the same day, the field trip to Kambi Moto, Huruma within Muungano wa Wanavijiji in Nairobi took place. This visit demonstrated the power of grassroots innovation and resilience shown by a group of women who led the creation of durable and decent housing within their informal settlement.
On the second day of the conference, the discussions of the 14 articles continued. The conference ended with closing reflections by Prof. Jacob Mati on the RUC project, highlighting its inception in 2022 and how it had led to close collaborations and ongoing work between Wits Business School, American University in Cairo, Muenster University, Strathmore University and others, to create a platform for knowledge exchange and research on urban resilience in Africa. The program concluded with a dinner at the Masai Mara Cafeteria, providing an informal setting for participants to network and share their experiences from the event.
