01
Overview
To build impact that lasts, we must first understand the systems we operate in.
Day 1 sets the foundation for the entire summit by unpacking what “systems” in the African impact context and how they shape what is possible.
See the system. Understand your position. Identify your leverage.
Day 1 sets the foundation for the entire summit by unpacking what “systems” in the African impact context and how they shape what is possible.
This opening session introduces participants to the interconnected systems that influence impact work. From funding and markets to policy and internal organizational dynamics, speakers will break down how these forces interact and what they mean for long-term sustainability.
To build impact that lasts, we must first understand the systems we operate in. This keynote session sets the stage for the summit by unpacking what “systems” really mean for social innovators in Africa. From funding and finance to markets, policy, and internal organizational dynamics, these systems shape what is possible and what is not.
Through real examples and practical insights, speakers will help participants see how these systems connect, where key leverage points exist, and how different parts of the system influence long-term sustainability. More importantly, this session will challenge participants to reflect on their own position within these systems and how they can better engage with them to sustain their work.
How do you move forward when systems are complex, shifting, or limiting?
This session explores how organizations navigate real-world challenges, from accessing funding to growing within policy environments not always designed with them in mind. Expect practical, experience-driven insights.
Access and position for long-term capital.
Navigate policy and market environments.
Adapt without losing long-term vision.
What does it take to move forward when the systems you depend on are complex, shifting, or even limiting? This session will explore how African social innovators navigate real world challenges such as accessing funding, entering and growing within markets, and responding to policy environments that are not always designed with them in mind.
How do innovators identify opportunities within constraints, build the right relationships, and make strategic choices that allow their work to continue and grow? What does it mean to adapt without losing sight of long term impact?
Through lived experiences and practical insights, this panel will reflect on how to work within existing systems more effectively, while finding pathways to sustain and scale impact.
Sustaining impact is not just about navigating systems, it is about building them.
This session explores how social innovators and ecosystem actors are shaping the systems they need to succeed, moving from isolated success stories to scalable, sustained change across the continent.
What if sustaining impact is not just about navigating systems, but about building better ones? This session will explore how social innovators and ecosystem actors are shaping the systems they need to succeed.
What does it take to create new pathways for financing, strengthen markets, influence policy, and build supportive networks that enable long term impact? How can different actors come together to design systems that work not just for individual organizations, but for the wider ecosystem? This panel will highlight how intentional system building can move impact from isolated success stories to sustained and scalable change across communities and sectors.
Unlocking long-term capital requires moving beyond the pitch. In this intimate session, we peel back the curtain on the decision-making process of those fueling the African impact ecosystem.
Can't make it to the venue? Explore the Virtual Experience
Align your brand with one of Africa's largest social innovation movements. Partner with us to scale impact and drive sustainable development.
