ABU DHABI: The AVPN Global Conference 2024 opens in Abu Dhabi tomorrow, welcoming more than 1,500 investors, philanthropists, researchers, policymakers, and other impact professionals who seek to unite on critical social and environmental challenges over three knowledge-packed days.
The Conference, the flagship event of AVPN, Asia’s largest network of social investors, journeys to different locations every year, bringing together the region’s social investing ecosystem to learn, connect, and unite in action for Asia.
This year’s Conference takes place in Abu Dhabi from 23rd to 25th April 2024, under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the International Humanitarian and Philanthropic Council.
It represents the most inclusive Conference to date, spanning from the GCC to the eastern reaches of Australia and New Zealand, bridging North, South, East, and West Asia and leveraging the UAE’s unique ability to unite diverse partners in the pursuit of shared good.
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The Global Conference includes more than 70 plenaries and breakout sessions, including live impact showcases, highlighting key social impact areas such as climate solutions, scaling health resilience, youth and women empowerment, and technology-driven impact. Additionally, Day 2 is dedicated to impact investing, underscoring the region’s growing emphasis on amplifying impact through targeted funding.
Highlighted features of the three-day agenda include 3 key sessions. The first, ‘Why We Give: Values, Beliefs, and Motivations that Drive Impact’ (23 April), highlights how beliefs can inspire transformative giving practices across diverse communities, and the role of values-aligned giving in addressing Asia’s most pressing social issues. ‘Forging the Impact Investing Ecosystem and Navigating Emerging Trends’ (24 April) provides first-hand accounts from leading investors on building adaptive and resilient social investing strategies to deepen the impact. Meanwhile, ‘Rapid Response Philanthropy:
Accelerated Giving in Times of Crisis’ (25 April) recognises the need for strategic fund allocation to ensure needs are met in times of crisis. The session will highlight strategies for crisis-driven philanthropy, emphasising enhanced responsiveness, coordination, and impact.
Sultan Al Shamsi, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Development and International Organisations Affairs and member of the International Humanitarian and Philanthropic Council, said, ‘This year’s AVPN’s conference is the first to be held in the Middle East, bringing together diverse stakeholders to mobilise capital, partnerships, and momentum towards social impact across Asia. Its debut in Abu Dhabi reflects the UAE’s legacy and leadership in global development and the country’s unique ability to convene and unite diverse partners in the pursuit of shared prosperity. The UAE has a rich history and culture of giving, rooted in the example of our Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, whose lifelong commitment
to helping those in need shaped the values of our nation – and has served to ensure Emiratis past and present understand their responsibilities as global citizens. Over the coming days, we look forward to dynamic conversations together as we explore opportunities to collaborate, innovate, and forge new alliances in support of humanitarian response as well as sustainable and inclusive development to ensure that no one is left behind.’
Naina Subberwal Batra, CEO of AVPN, said, “Hosting the AVPN Global Conference in Abu Dhabi comes at a crucial moment for the whole of Asia, a region currently navigating through transformative economic shifts with sustainability at their core. This transformation, while ambitious, must also be measured in societal terms. Achieving the targets set by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) demands a significant ramp-up in investments. With a financing gap of US$1.5 trillion urgently needing to be bridged, social investors must collaborate on multiple fronts to ad
dress our region’s socio-environmental challenges swiftly, efficiently, and fairly. The AVPN Global Conference continues to serve as a leading platform for facilitating and accelerating these efforts, and we are encouraged to see numerous stakeholders joining our shared mission towards meaningful social impact.”
Host partners such as the Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation, Reaching the Last Mile, Zayed Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation, Burjeel Holdings, and Alef Education have also lent their support to the Conference, representing the community and enhancing the region’s collaborative efforts. In addition, core partners lending their support and commitment to advancing social impact at the Conference include Emirates Red Crescent and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; while lead partners include The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, Johnson and Johnson Foundation, Visa Worldwide Pte Ltd, Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), Authority of Social Contribution – Ma’an, the Institute of P
hilanthropy, Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority, and First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB).
Source: Emirates News Agency