In November 2025, Nation Builder participated in the vibrant conversations at one of Africa’s most significant convenings on social investment and development, with Ivan attending the AVPA Conference in Nairobi.
The conference brought together a diverse mix of social investors, philanthropists, policymakers, and development practitioners from across the continent and beyond, united by a shared focus on the theme: “Future-proofing Africa: Driving Sustainable Investments and Innovations for Resilient Growth.”
Conversations centred on how catalytic capital, innovation, and collaboration can unlock sustainable, scalable solutions to complex social challenges.
Highlights included the launch of Africa’s first pooled catalytic fund dedicated to mental health investment, along with dozens of masterclasses, panels, and workshops on impact measurement, innovative financing, and partnership models. With representation from over 40 countries and more than 20 sectors, the gathering reinforced the importance of cross-sector collaboration in advancing meaningful development.
The conference affirmed the value of our role within the ecosystem—connecting capital, capability, and community-level insight to support long-term, evidence-driven impact across South Africa. Inspired, Ivan shared that it was another significant opportunity to “meet new people and catch up with dear friends that are actively dedicating their lives to a firm conviction on seeing our continent empowered. It remains beautiful to lock arms with you in this way. Long may it continue.”
