Dear Brother/Sister,

Today, I write to you as a fellow African. Someone who shares your dreams of a prosperous and self-reliant continent.

For years, we’ve heard the same story—that development aid, particularly from organisations like USAID, is what will uplift Africa. But the truth is much larger than that. In 2022, the African diaspora sent home around $100 billion—far more than the $8 billion USAID allocated for the entire continent that year. What does this tell us? That when we, as Africans, put our minds and resources together, we are our own biggest donors.

Maybe it’s time to ask an uncomfortable but important question: has aid been stunting our creativity and innovation? When we know someone else is coming to fill the gaps, do we slow down the search for solutions we already have within us? One day, if no one comes to “rescue” us—if we have no choice but to find our own medicine, our own books for our schools, and build the infrastructure we need—we may surprise ourselves with what we can achieve.

Already, there are glimmers of this potential. Look around, and you’ll see how initiatives are springing up to connect the diaspora directly with vetted African programs. I recently joined an online platform that I give money to every month towards specific programs that I am interested in. This is philanthropy driven by people who understand Africa’s needs, not external agendas.

But why stop at remittances? Where are the investment funds of the diaspora that could kickstart new ideas, launch innovative businesses, and create homegrown solutions to Africa’s challenges? The freezing or reduction of USAID funding shouldn’t be a cause for concern. If anything, it’s an opportunity—a moment to step up and embrace the potential of African philanthropy and innovation. We don’t need to fill this gap with panic but with purpose.

With the right coordination, transparency, and trust, we can create sustainable systems that channel the resources we already have into initiatives that transform our communities. Let this be the time we take ownership of our progress, investing in our people and our vision.

And importantly, step away from only supporting your family, village, tribe, country- this is also setting us back.

Together, we are far more powerful than we’ve been led to believe.

Yours in solidarity,

Keith Kibirango

Your fellow African brother

African Philanthropy Forum