10 philanthropists from emerging markets who are making a difference

For several years now, there has been significant hype over emerging donors and questions over what their activity means for global development. Much of the conversation has focused on the features that differentiate emerging donors from more traditional donors and the impact these dynamics will have on international development finance. As these fast-developing countries invest in other emerging countries abroad, estimates show they could contribute close to 20 percent of the world’s total aid funding by 2020. An equally significant trend that has drawn less attention is the steady rise of homegrown philanthropy within emerging economies, fuelled by the rise of a new class of affluent individuals. A recent report from WINGS — a network of philanthropic organizations from more than 50 countries — found that in the past decade, an unprecedented number of charitable foundations have been established in Asian, sub-Saharan African and Arab countries. While Americans are undoubtedly at the head of the world’s top philanthropic foundations, wealthy humanitarians from the “global south” are increasingly seeking to lead the fight against global poverty — either through generous local donations or sizable international commitments. For instance, more and more billionaires from middle-income countries are joining The Giving Pledge. Launched in 2010 by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and investment magnate Warren Buffett, the group encourages members to dedicate the majority of their wealth to philanthropy. Based on the list of signatories to The Giving Pledge and funding for well-known global initiatives, Devex identified 10 global development philanthropists from emerging markets who we think our community should know. Mexico’s Carlos Slim Helú Notwithstanding his reticence to join The Giving Pledge based on a firm belief that business is the main driver of social benefits, Mexican telecommunications tycoon Carlos Slim Helú has so far donated $4 billion for health care, digital education, access to improved nutrition and disease prevention throughout Latin America. In 2013, his Fundación Carlos Slim Helú announced a grant of $100 million to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. In the same year, he joined forces with Gates to help Mexico’s International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center — internationally recognized as the cradle of the Green Revolution — to modernize its facilities and develop varieties of crops that can be used to increase the productivity of small-scale farmers. Nigeria’s Tony Elumelu Chairman of Heirs Holdings, Nigerian banker Tony Elumelu made headlines last year when he announced a $2.5 billion investment in U.S. President Barack Obama’s Power Africa initiative. Employing an integrated approach that utilizes impact investments, selective grant making and the advocacy of business-friendly policies, the Tony Elumelu Foundation seeks to support African entrepreneurship — the ultimate goal being the spread of what he calls “Africapitalism.” Within five years, the foundation hopes to help 1,000 emerging entrepreneurs across the continent start pan-African companies like the one Elumelu built. The visionary entrepreneur also plans on opening a world-class business school in Lagos. South Africa’s Patrice Motsepe With a net worth pegged at $2.7 billion by Forbes, founder of Africa Rainbow Minerals Patrice Motsepe marked a major milestone in South African philanthropy when he announced his decision to join The Giving Pledge in January 2013. As part of this commitment, the Motsepe Foundation already earmarked $30 million to support tertiary education and young entrepreneurs in South Africa. A further $20 million is set to be spent in the next three years for women and youth empowerment projects, as well as rural and urban development programs. At the latest World Economic Forum in Davos, the 52-year-old mining magnate also announced a $1 million contribution to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Sudan’s Mohammed Ibrahim As the first African-based businessman to have signed The Giving Pledge, Sudanese-born telecommunications billionaire Mohammed Ibrahim has been dubbed the “Bill Gates of Africa” for his philanthropic efforts to improve governance and generate ethical investment on the continent. The Mo Ibrahim Foundation is entirely funded by the mobile entrepreneur, who has allocated well above 50 percent of all his earnings to the foundation since its creation in 2006. Among the foundation’s most significant activities is the annual release of its Index of African Governance, the most comprehensive collection of quantitative data on governance in Africa. The charity also awards a multimillion prize to retired African leaders who excelled in bringing their countries forward. Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed al-Amoudi “I apply business principles to my philanthropic work so that maximum value is given to the causes I support.” --— Mohammed al-Amoudi As early as 1997, Saudi billionaire Mohammed al-Amoudi was honored by the World Bank and the U.S. State Department for his work as an advocate of responsible investment and agribusiness in Africa and the Middle East. Today, he is setting the standard for philanthropic giving in both regions. His $20 million pledge to the Clinton Health Access Initiative is aimed at sponsoring an integrated approach in the treatment and prevention of HIV and AIDS in Northeast Africa until 2017. In Ethiopia — where he focuses a large part of his donations — his charitable giving includes the construction and operation of a 140-bed hospital in Addis Ababa and support for local programs related to health, food security and poverty alleviation. More recently, al-Amoudi announced a possible partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on agriculture development in Africa. United Arab Emirates’ Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan Abu Dhabi’s crown prince, Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, is well-known in his native emirate for his active engagement in a multitude of local welfare projects. But global health causes are also close to his heart, as illustrated by his decision in 2011 to match the Gates Foundation’s $50 million pledge for the purchase and delivery of vital vaccines to Afghanistan and Pakistan. Two-thirds of the funds were awarded to the GAVI Alliance to vaccinate Afghan children, while the remaining funds were granted to the World Health Organization and UNICEF to deliver polio vaccines in both countries. In 2013, the hereditary ruler also pledged an additional $120 million to the worldwide initiative to eradicate polio by 2018. India’s Azim Premji Days after signing The Giving Pledge in early 2013, Indian tech tycoon Azim Premji announced his biggest philanthropic donation yet, which also happened to be the largest individual donation in Indian history: $2.2 billion to fund his Azim Premji Foundation, aimed at improving the quality and equity of India’s public schooling system. Predominantly active in rural areas, the foundation has opened hundreds of district- and state-level schools in close collaboration with local governments — and is expected to expand its operations in the next five years. It has also set up a university for the poor in the southern Indian state of Karnataka. Pakistan’s Arif Masood Naqvi Founder and CEO of private equity firm Abraaj Capital, Pakistani-born Arif Masood Naqvi is also one of the founding trustees of the Aman Foundation, which he seeded in 2008 with a $100 million donation. Carrying out strategic interventions in the field of health and education, the Aman Foundation engages in venture philanthropy with high-impact organizations active in its core areas of focus. In 2011, the foundation entered a strategic partnership with the David and Lucile Packard Foundation and the Gates Foundation to increase the use of contraceptives by 15 percent in Karachi’s underprivileged communities. AmanTech, the training complex linked to the foundation, is the largest vocational training facility in Pakistan. Malaysia’s Vincent Tan Chee Yioun Vincent Tan Chee Yioun is the former CEO of the Berjaya Group, a resort, gaming and sports conglomerate. Honoring his promise to donate half of his wealth to charity during his lifetime, Tan Chee Yioun revealed in 2013 his intention to hand out $6.3 million to $9.5 million every year to various development goals. Earlier this year, he awarded $8.1 million to 90 charitable organizations through his personal foundation Better Malaysia Foundation and his company’s corporate social responsibility program, Berjaya Cares Foundation. Though he has sponsored a wide range of health and disaster relief projects, the Malaysian investor’s topmost priority is to increase English fluency in his home country, which he believes is essential to Malaysia’s economic development. Indonesia’s Tahir “I don’t for a minute take for granted the many blessings I have received, and in the Christian spirit of it being more blessed to give than to receive, feel compelled to give back as generously as I have received.” --— Tahir CEO of Mayapada Group, banking and real estate magnate Tahir has demonstrated in recent years his unwavering commitment to global health initiatives. In 2012, Tahir pledged $25 million to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. The following year, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria announced investments totaling $65 million from the Indonesian philanthropist through his Jakarta-based Tahir Foundation, with an additional $10 million to provide Indonesian women with access to family planning. In partnership with the Gates Foundation, Tahir also established the Indonesia Health Fund — a health-financing initiative to which he convinced eight other local tycoons to contribute $5 million each. Which other notable philanthropists from emerging markets can you think of? Let us know by leaving a comment below. Check out more insights and analysis provided to hundreds of Executive Members worldwide, and subscribe to the Development Insider to receive the latest news, trends and policies that influence your organization.