African Entrepreneurs take on society's toughest problems By Jane Wales 08-14-2014

From telecomms tycoons to inclusive bankers, Africa's entrepreneurs are pooling ideas and resources to drive progress across the continent. Jane Wales, chief executive of the Global Philanthropy Forum tells us who's who and how they're approaching social and environmental challenges.In fast-growing economies like Africa an increasing number of entrepreneurs are building businesses and forming philanthropic organisations to address some of society’s toughest problems. They are tackling such challenges as endemic poverty, infectious diseases, climate change, food insecurity, violent conflict and government corruption. As entrepreneurs mobilise, strategic giving is a growing trend, with African members joining the Giving Pledge, growing the Synergos’ Global Philanthropists Circle and making the African Philanthropy Forum (APF) the fastest growing affiliate of the Global Philanthropy Forum. So who are these entrepreneurs and what are they doing? Mo Ibrahim: fostering good governance For telecom billionaire Mo Ibrahim, good governance is a primary philanthropic objective. The Sudanese-born founder of Celtel created a multi-million dollar prize, which provides retirement security for African leaders who exit government through a process of democratic elections – and do so without appropriating public resources for private or personal gain along the way. Through the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, he created the Ibrahim Index, which offers quantitative data on governance in Africa, providing the tools to assess government policy and the reliability of the delivery of public goods and services. The values that guide Ibrahim are apparent in the philosophy and philanthropy of his daughter Hadeel, the founding Executive Director of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation. An effective advocate and savvy strategist, she is among the next-gen philanthropists to watch. She shares her parents’ convictions (her mother, Hania, a radiologist, has established a hospital in Khartoum) but is very much her own person. Beyond her foundation obligations, she chairs and champions the new Africa Center, formerly known as the Museum for African Art. It will be housed in a magnificent (and hip) building on Fifth Avenue and 110th Street, on the edge of Harlem and Central Park. Noting that all of humanity has its roots in Africa, her vision for the Center is one of a policy institute, a museum, and a forum to explore and perhaps solve hard problems—together. Aliko Dangote: building resilience in zones of conflict. Patrice and Precious Motsepe: promoting health and development.​ Hakeem and Myma Belo-Osagie: support for values-based leadership. Strive and Tsitsi Masiyiwa: widening access to education. James Mwangi: financial services for the poor. Tony Elumelu: leveraging markets. While the Ibrahims have taken on the improvement of governments, others prefer the more familiar territory of the private sector, taking advantage of their investment prowess to achieve their social goals. By doubling down, they hope to create both financial and social value. Pioneers Post