The Africa Grantmakers Affinity Group (AGAG) was established by a group of funders who recognized the need for improving networking opportunities, enhancing collaboration, and highlighting Africa’s opportunities and needs within the philanthropic community.

Each year AGAG sponsors a Retreat for members and other grantmakers supporting projects in Africa. Participants use this opportunity to connect with colleagues they do not see otherwise, and to reflect upon their role as private funders working to support development efforts in Africa.

The February 2008 Annual Retreat in Johannesburg will be held in conjunction with an inaugural Conference.  While the Annual Retreat is open to private funders, which is AGAG's primary audience, the Conference will be open to the broader development funding community of both private and public agencies and organizations.
 
AGAG hopes that holding the Annual Retreat in South Africa will help us to expand AGAG’s membership to include more private grantmakers from Europe and Africa.  The agenda for the Annual Retreat will build on some of the issues raised during the Conference and explore how private grantmakers can be more effective in their niche within the overall development funding community,