The panel discussion ‘Serving the underserved’, as part of the third Philanthropy for Better Cities Forum, brought together a diverse group of experts from around the world. The session, moderated by Bernard Charnwut Chan, Chairperson of The Hong Kong Council of Social Service, explored the multifaceted challenges faced by marginalised communities as they try to access economic opportunities within urban settings.

Defining the scope of marginalisation

The discussion commenced with a critical examination of the term ‘underserved’, revealing its nuanced and complex nature. Panellists acknowledged that marginalised communities are not homogeneous; rather, they comprise diverse layers of invisibility and vulnerability. To illustrate this point, the panel delved into the situation of one of the most marginalised groups: girls and women.

According to Faustina Fynn-nyame, Executive Director (Africa) at the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, rapid urbanisation in Africa has given rise to significant infrastructure challenges in cities. People from rural areas often find themselves compelled to reside in slums until they secure employment opportunities. In this environment, girls and women face pronounced difficulties in accessing jobs and education.

By contrast, India has made remarkable strides in educating girls over the past two decades, yet there has been a surprising decline in female labour force participation rates despite rapid economic growth, which raises questions. ‘In India, eight out of ten top students at schools are girls,’ stated Aditya Natraj, Chief Executive Officer of the Piramal Foundation. While girls excel in schools and receive support from both the government and the market, cultural norms and biases persist. ‘Women are expected to stay at home and take care of children after graduating from college’, said Natraj, ‘but when women don’t work after graduation, it’s a loss of investment.’

The philanthropic approach to systemic change

The panellists collectively emphasised that philanthropy holds a unique position in addressing systemic issues that often elude governments and markets. While governments and markets may focus on addressing the symptoms of problems, philanthropy can delve into the root causes.

‘Philanthropy perceives issues as systemic challenges rather than isolated problems,’ said Pritha Venkatachalam, Partner and Co-Head of Asia and Africa at The Bridgespan Group. Governments and markets may have shorter-term perspectives, while philanthropy can embrace a long-term view necessary for enacting systemic change. This long-term commitment enables philanthropic organisations to navigate the intricate process of altering cultural norms and systems effectively. Philanthropies have the staying power to work with the system and, as Venkatachalam said, to ‘take five steps forward, but then take two steps back’, which is needed to slowly change systems.

Fynn-nyame provided an inspiring example of philanthropy in action through the ‘Food for Education’ project in Africa. This initiative, led by the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, currently feeds 100,000 children in Nairobi County and aims to reach 10 million children across Africa. ‘The solution to poverty is education. School meals give incentive to parents of girls to send them to school. This is when philanthropy comes in and we can take risks. A young lady saw the problem in her community, and we scaled up the solution, ‘ Fynn-nyame recalled.

For philanthropy to do this and maximise its impact, all panellists stressed the importance of actively involving marginalised communities in the design and implementation of solutions. To ensure buy-in and sustainability, solutions must be owned by the beneficiaries. As Fynn-nyame mentioned, while solutions should begin at the systems level to address root causes, they must also be localised for long-term viability.

Panellists also suggested that policy, as advocated by philanthropy, can serve as a catalyst for change and support the first generation in making challenging transitions. Professor Uta Schönberg, Associate Professor at The University of Hong Kong, shared examples from Europe on how parental leave policies in EU countries have influenced attitudes towards male caregiving over the years.

In conclusion, the panellists emphasised the urgency of addressing issues facing marginalised groups, highlighting that philanthropy cannot address these challenges in isolation. Successful solutions necessitate partnerships spanning the public, private and philanthropic sectors. Improved coordination and alignment among these sectors is vital for achieving lasting change and ensuring that marginalised individuals have access to economic opportunities.