On August 28, 2025, the AS-SBC convened a high-stakes, four-hour virtual symposium to address the global crisis in SBC funding, specifically triggered by shifts in foreign aid and the recent freeze on certain international development funds. The session brought together practitioners, donors, and government officials to examine structural weaknesses in current funding models and brainstorm innovative adaptation strategies.
The symposium resulted in an Actionable Roadmap for SBC Financial Resilience, which has been adopted by the AS-SBC Secretariat and shared across all 15 Country Chapters as a strategic blueprint for 2026.
The event directly engaged over 1,200 practitioners and thought leaders from across Africa and the global SBC community.
The primary outcome was the identification of alternative financing models such as social impact bonds and private-sector co-investments that reduce dependency on single-donor grants. It successfully pivoted the continental conversation from “crisis management” to “financial innovation.”