Shaping the Future of African Giving
About SUURI
The Strathmore University Uhisani Research Initiative (SUURI) advances philanthropy through research, teaching, and public engagement. We champion African giving traditions and build locally rooted frameworks for sustainable, meaningful impact.
Anchor philanthropy in African identity and African development goals
Create research, training, and policy engagement on African giving
Problem Statement
Despite Africa’s rich traditions of giving, philanthropy often struggles to achieve its full potential. Key challenges include:
- Limited capacity: Weak institutional, policy, and human resources for philanthropy in Africa.
- Lack of localisation: Philanthropic practices often imported, with little grounding in African contexts.
- Missed alignment: Giving is not fully connected to Africa’s own development priorities and agendas.
Philathrophy Initiatives at Strathmore University
Strathmore has a long history of philanthropy, evolving through different stages of support:
| 1960s | Fundraising mechanisms driven mainly by Western partners to support infrastructure and scholarships. |
| Later Years | Shift toward institutional funding through local fundraising for infrastructure and scholarships. |
| Today | The next frontier is individual giving—engaging staff, students, alumni, and high-net-worth individuals. |
Internal Piloting at Strathmore University
Strathmore University is testing a range of initiatives to nurture a culture of giving.
These can be grouped into core pilots et supporting initiatives:
| Core Pilots | Supporting Initiatives |
|---|---|
| Volunteering Challenges | Philanthropy Workshops and Seminars |
| Simulation Games | Student Philanthropy Grant Programs |
| Philanthropy Research Projects | Campus Giving Campaigns |
| Alumni & Donor Engagement Panels | Service-Learning Projects |
Sustainability Strategy
Our commitment goes beyond the present—we are laying the foundation for a lasting future of giving in Africa.
- Leveraging Strathmore University’s strength as a hub for knowledge, research, and learning.
- Launching with seed capital for two years, while charting a bold 10-year growth plan.
- Establishing an Institute of Giving to nurture home-grown philanthropy and inspire generations to come.
SUURI Structure
Join us in shaping the future of African philanthropy. Whether you’re an organisation seeking insights, a funder looking to support sustainable giving, or a researcher passionate about African traditions of generosity, there’s a place for you at SUURI.
Ways to Engage
- Participate in our Training & Capacity-Building Programs
- Collaborate on Research & Knowledge Exchange
- Support Pilot Projects in Giving & Innovation
- Partner with Us to Advance a Culture of Philanthropy
Signup to SUURI
Join the SUURI community and stay connected to the latest in African philanthropy. Be the first to receive updates on research, training, and opportunities to engage in meaningful giving.
Why Sign Up?
- Access training and capacity-building programmes.
- Stay informed on events and networking opportunities.
- Receive updates on research, funding, and pilot initiatives.
- Gain thought leadership on African giving and philanthropy.
Click here to sign up
Contact
For more information, reach out to ambandi@strathmore.edu ou appeler +254 703 034 414.
Pillars
The Global and African Philanthropy Landscape
Advisory Panel
Dr. Beth W. Waweru
Investment Specialist, UN Joint SDG Fund
Dr. Beth Waweru is a development finance and philanthropy leader whose career spans institutional leadership, applied research, and policy advisory across Africa, North America, and China. She brings both breadth and depth: she thinks at the systems level and has run the rooms where programs are designed, budgeted, and delivered.
At the United Nations Joint SDG Fund in New York, she structures blended finance mechanisms connecting catalytic public capital with private institutional investment across Africa’s most critical development priorities. Previously, as Director at Equity Group Foundation, she managed a scholar population of over 60,000 students, oversaw a US$80 million annual operating budget, and led curriculum design in partnership with the World Bank and leading global universities.
Her academic background includes a PhD in Geography from Carleton University, a Master of Environmental Management from Yale University, and a BSc in Chemistry from the University of Nairobi. She is board-certified through the Federation of Kenya Employers, and her governance experience includes serving as Secretary to an executive board committee at Equity Group Holdings.
Dr. Waweru is a practitioner who produces rigorous thought leadership and knows how to connect ideas in the real world.
Ambassador Daniel Solymári, PhD
Amb. Dr. Daniel Solymári is a political scientist and diplomat. He completed his studies in Theology at Pázmány Péter Catholic University. After completing this, he attended the University of Cambridge (POLIS). He later studied in International Relations and War Studies from King’s College London. He holds a PhD in Political Science from the University of Pécs and a Postgraduate Diploma in Humanitarian Law and Diplomacy from the International Committee of the Red Cross. He is a Fellow and a Chartered Geographer of the Royal Geographical Society.
He serves as Secretary of the Africa Research Centre at the University of Pécs and is Head of the Refugee Integration Research Centre at Semmelweis University in Budapest. He is also an editor of several academic journals and book series. Currently, he is a Research Fellow at the University of St Andrews School of International Relations. He has worked in the field of international relations for nearly two decades, primarily in Africa and the Middle East. As a diplomat, he served for two years as Special Envoy for Refugees, followed by four years in Amman as Embassy Counsellor.
He currently serves as Hungary’s Ambassador-at-Large for the Hungary Helps Program, Hungary’s international humanitarian and development assistance framework, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary.
Prof Luis G. Franceschi
Prof Luis G. Franceschi was the founding Dean of Strathmore University Law School, one of the most reputable and innovative law schools in Africa. Currently, he is the Senior Director, Governance & Peace at the Commonwealth Secretariat. As a thinker, educator, and writer, he loves positive and disruptive innovation. He was the recipient of the 2019 legal excellence CB Madan Award and the 2018 Utumishi Bora National Award. In 2019, he was a visiting scholar at the University of Oxford and U.C. Berkeley Law School. He has been a legal advisor to several national and international government agencies, international and regional courts, the United Nations and the World Bank. He is a Kenyan citizen and now resides in London.
What has been done so far
- Yetu Initiative – AKF – Corporate Giving in Kenya – 2019
- Part of the EAPN Summit Member
- Hosting AROCSA Conference – 2022
- Collaboration with Lilly School of Philanthropy on training
- Published a white paper on “Building an understanding of African philanthropy in higher education” with Lilly School of Philanthropy – 2024
- Contributor to a workshop on, “Africa as a Source of Philanthropy: Investing in Youth Agenda”, funded by Carnagie Corporation of New York – 2023
- Engagement with Economics of Mutuality (EoM) on business working for a common good hub at SBS – 2023
English 
French