Regional Representatives from the Arab Region, Latin America, South Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa have joined the Alliance magazine team, as a part of its goal to improve the globalisation of philanthropy coverage.

Alliance eventually has plans to expand to six regions, including East Asia later in 2022 and a sixth in 2023. These six Regional Representatives will help Alliance achieve greater geographic parity in its coverage of global philanthropy and social investment by bringing in perspectives from outside of Europe and North America, which traditionally receive the most coverage.

The Regional Representatives are:

• Heba Abou Shnief, a socioeconomic development professional specialising in how strategic and private philanthropy can best serve public development policy objectives. She is based in Egypt and will cover the Arab Region.
• Covering Latin America is Agustín Landa, the founder of LANZA, a consultancy focused on social initiatives based in Mexico.
• Ese Emerhi, the Global Network Weaver at Global Fund Community Foundations, is based in Nigeria and will cover Sub-Saharan Africa.
• And Aarti Mohan, a Co-Founder and Partner at Sattva Consulting, is based in India and will cover South Asia.

‘As more Arab philanthropies adopt bolder visions, sustainable practices and integrated efforts, engaging in global philanthropic conversations and knowledge exchange is becoming ever so important to advance good practices and sharpen impact’, said Shnief.

Bringing a wealth of localised philanthropy knowledge, Alliance hopes that globalising its team will help raise the profile of philanthropy in parts of the world where it receives less coverage, recognize visionary philanthropy leaders around the world and spotlight their activities, recognize and encourage innovative and creative forms of philanthropy, provide valuable content on philanthropy in emerging market countries, and provide a space for exchange amongst emerging markets philanthropy practitioners.

‘Alliance prides itself in seeking to take a global view of philanthropy and providing a space for practitioners to exchange news, views, and perspectives. As a critical friend to philanthropy worldwide, the arrival of our regional representatives will help deepen our global network of sources, insights and expertise and shine a light on dynamic changes in philanthropy unfolding around the world’, said Elika Roohi, Alliance magazine Digital Editor.

Funding for the Arab region, South Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa roles comes from Alliance Strategic Partner in this project, Badr Jafar, Emirati philanthropist and CEO of Crescent Enterprises.

‘Over the next twenty years, growth markets will face the largest intergenerational wealth transfer ever – close to $30 trillion. Coupled with a rapid increase in private wealth generation, we will see a corresponding major boost in philanthropy from these regions. By partnering with Alliance to place philanthropy journalists in the Middle East, Africa and Developing Asia, we hope to achieve greater geographical parity, identify champions and nurture locally authentic voices, and encourage greater exchange of information amongst next-gen philanthropists, institutional givers and relevant policymakers in these high-growth markets’ said Jafar.