Introducing…the Unconference
Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa are home to our Southern Africa hub partners and were all represented at the recently concluded Segal Connect 2024. The first of its kind (as far as we’re concerned) and a bit of an experiment, this was a gathering of doers and donors held in Lilongwe, Malawi, from July 15-18. Over three days and four nights, our grantee partners in the hub and peer funders with a presence or interest in the region had opportunities to spend low-pressure time with one another, both organic and orchestrated in the beautiful setting of Kumbali Country Lodge. “Through the power of food, dance, music, and art, we aim to highlight the unique and vibrant cultures that make Southern Africa so remarkable,” said Strategy Manager Patricia Malila as she welcomed guests. “Immerse yourselves in the experiences we have curated this week: taste the flavors, enjoy the artistry, feel the rhythm, and let the spirit of the warm heart of Africa inspire you.”
After a vibrant welcome reception on Monday evening, grantee partners and funders convened at separate opening plenaries on Tuesday morning to set the tone for the week. This included panel discussions about organizational growth journeys, site visit hosting tips, and a communications workshop, as well as a donor salon akin to the one we first hosted in Kigali last year. Wednesday dawned with the main opening plenary, bringing all attendees together for umunthu moments* to the accompaniment of live traditional Malawian music. The day then featured funder ask-me-anything sessions, site visits to grantee partner organizations, and netweaving—the building of connections, not merely working them as is the norm at such gatherings. Thursday, the final day of Segal Connect 2024, saw a colorful garden marketplace where grantee partner products were exhibited. After more netweaving and sector-specific conversations, it was time for the closing gala held against the majestic backdrop of the Kumbali castle. The evening was graced by local performing artistes, including energetic dances by Music Crossroads’ flagship troupe Hear Us Children, and capped by a speech from the foundation’s board chair Martin Segal, who regaled us with anecdotes from the family’s visits to Malawi in the early days of their philanthropic journey.
Why, after holding an all-partner general meeting of 600+ last year, did we decide to do something different this time? For one, a convention that size with a carousel of sessions takes away from opportunities for quieter connection—and the sheer number of attendees makes for cutthroat seeking out of funders. We were looking to foster a calmer environment in which our circle of donor friends could be introduced to our grantee partners, minus the pressure to score funding, and for our grantee partners to also get to know one another on a regional level. This approach resonated very well with both parties alike. Ntefeleng Nene of the Bridgespan Group shared that Segal Connect 2024 “really felt like a ‘connect’ conference” without being content heavy. It was, she continued, more about sharing experiences and having conversations. Nene went on to point out that her favorite part was the donor salon, during which she empathized with funders and saw how “mindsets are shifting as Segal Family Foundation’s funding principles rub off on other donors.” Similarly, Longterm Foundation’s Claire Gately voiced appreciation for the knowledge-sharing emphasis “which often leads us to reassess, in a good way, how we interact with and fund companies.”
Such feedback, positive and negative, is important to us as we look to create better avenues for collaboration within our circles and the philanthropy universe at large. We haven’t yet decided whether we’ll retain this “unconference” format, as Peres Were of Next Step Foundation described it, but we do know that our partner Maloto’s Anna Msowoya Keys thinks it was “a great idea to keep the partner summit small” adding that she would love to attend more events of this nature. In a similar vein, Rodney Katongo of Africa Access Water said that the event’s design “ignited a spirit of belonging as partners such that further interaction either with peers or donors became easier and better.” So here’s to channeling our values and trying something new, boldly, in the spirit of building community. And we just might be on to something: Linda Fox of Partners for Equity was “really touched by how much the Malawian partners support each other’s work,” noting that even if a donor wasn’t a fit they would be keen to introduce a friend instead. “It is a real tribute to your incubator and the work you have done here,” Fox said.
*Umunthu is, in the Malawian languages Chichewa and Chinyanja, the broadly African value system of humanity and interconnectedness; “umunthu moments” are a Segal thing. 😉
