Event Report: Asia Philanthropy Congress 2024

The Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF) is continuously seeking greater collaboration with the swiftly growing Asian philanthropic sector to better realize its humanitarian goals in the region.

On November 29, 2024, the Asia Philanthropy Congress 2024 was held at the Tokyo Station Hotel. The event was organized by The Nippon Foundation, with SPF playing an important role as a key partner.
 
The congress, which is the third since 2022, aims to gather foundations and other key stakeholders in Asia and facilitate coordination and cooperation among them. The theme of the third congress was to discuss the path to realizing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) in Asian societies – securing development without leaving anyone behind.

After the plenary sessions in the morning, a session organized by SPF titled “The Catalytic Role of Philanthropy in Addressing Regional Challenges” was held in the afternoon. The session focused on the increasing gaps between urban and rural areas in Asia and showcased how philanthropy could bolster problem-solving efforts in this field.

The session moved on to a panel discussion, where Ms. Siti Kamariah Ahmad Subki, Managing Director and Trustee of Yayasan Hasanah, Dr. Darlo Sagun, Vice President at the Bayan Family of Foundations, and Ryoji Kasahara, Director-General of the Fukutake Foundation, each presented on their foundation’s initiatives, followed by an exchange of ideas facilitated by Director Matsuno.
 

The panelists emphasized the importance of collaborating with partners, having a long-term view, and prioritizing the welfare and contentment of local people as the key “outcome” of foundations’ works. The session gave great insight into how we can maintain and create “happy communities” in Japan and other Asian countries.