Page 492 - INVESTOPIA ENGLISH PR REPORT FEBRUARY - MARCH 2025

Office of Development Affairs hosts two sessions at

Investopia 2025 on future of philanthropy

Story by TF / MA
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2 min read

ABU DHABI, 1st March, 2025 (WAM) -- The Office of Development Affairs (ODA) at the Presidential
Court held a discussion session and a round table on the future of philanthropy at the fourth edition
of Investopia 2025, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan,
Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court.

Organised under the slogan “Harnessing MegaForces”, Investopia 2025 brought together a host of
global leaders and change makers. The sessions held by ODA stressed on maximising the social
impact of philanthropy in developing countries and bringing about positive transformations in the
lives of millions of people across the world.

The session on “Capital for Good: The Future of Philanthropy” emphasised on the importance of
donors diversifying their philanthropic activities and working together with relevant organizations
and institutions to engage different segments of beneficiaries and find apt and innovative solutions
to the various challenges.

Badr Jafar, the UAE’s Special Envoy for Business and Philanthropy, Baroness Ariane de Rothschild,
CEO of Edmond de Rothschild Group, Switzerland, Tsitsi Masiyiwa, President of the Higher Life
Foundation and Delta Charitable Foundation in the United Kingdom, and Dr. Alfonso Garcia Mora,
Regional Vice President for Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean were on the panel.

Reflecting on the future of philanthropy and the necessity of sustainable financial models, Badr
Jafar remarked, “Philanthropy is entering a new era, one defined by innovation, strategic capital
deployment, and measurable impact. The UAE has emerged as a global hub for philanthropy,
leveraging its position as a convener of cross-sector collaboration and its deep commitment to
technology and innovation. AI and digital platforms are transforming how we mobilise and scale
giving, shifting from traditional donations to catalytic capital that unlocks new resources and drives
systemic change.”

The roundtable, meanwhile, focused on the future of impactful charitable investment by harnessing
modern and innovative methods to maximize positive impact and social progress. Titled “From
Niche to Norm: The Future of Impact Investing,” the interactive roundtable featured high-level
government leaders, CEOs, investors, and civil society representatives, who explored the
mainstream adoption of impact investing, emphasizing the role of transparency, data-driven impact
tracking, and blended finance models in scaling the sector. With trillions in wealth transfers
expected over the coming decades, the roundtable highlighted how impact investing is shaping the
future of finance.

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