American philanthropy and African education: Toward an analysis

  • 1 January 1970
  • Academic / Journal Article
  • Publisher : African Studies Association
Add to favourites
Add to favourites
My favourites
(Manage fav)
18957
(View all)
This article analyzes the role of American philanthropic foundations, specifically the Carnegie Corporation of New York, in shaping the evolution of education in former British Africa. It argues that foundation officials’ biases often influence funding decisions, leading to the concentration of resources in specific areas or projects. The author attempts to uncover the criteria behind these decisions, highlighting the significant yet often overlooked role of American foundations as institution builders and implementers of foreign policy in Africa. The analysis contributes to understanding the historical impact of external funding on African educational development.

Author(s) :

EH Berman

Yes

Get in touch with authors

No ratings yet

Rate this article

Yes

Key topics

Education and Skill Development

Also found in

Share

Join Our Newsletter

Explore More Articles

Case Study
  • 16 October 2025

Rooted in Trust, Rising Together

In one of Chennai’s oldest urban settlements, over 3,000 families navigate daily challenges marked by poverty, addiction, and instability. Many children return from school to difficult home environments with limited support. Amidst this, one young woman chose to respond— not with sympathy, but with sustained action. Although Vedika was overjoyed, she was left overwhelmed by the amount of work she was putting in. Fundraising, curriculum, operations, team building, trauma counselling—she was doing everything alone. There was no advisory board. No formal governance structure. Just urgency, heart, and a mounting emotional toll on her.
Event Report
  • 1 April 2024

Pune and Mumbai Summary Report: Systems Convening for Philanthropy for Inclusive Development

This report summarises insights from two systems thinking convenings held in Pune and Mumbai in April 2024. Organised by CPID at ISDM, the convenings engaged stakeholders to reflect on challenges and systemic traps in Indian philanthropy, and proposed collaborative, inclusive approaches for sustainable development.
Event Report
  • 1 November 2024

Summary Report: Systems Convening for Philanthropy for Inclusive Development.

This report summarises the first systems convening held by CPID at ISDM in September 2023, where funders, SPOs, and PSOs used systems thinking to reflect on philanthropic dilemmas in India. Themes include trust-based philanthropy, flexibility in funding, community participation, and the use of the Iceberg Model to uncover behavioural, institutional, and belief system barriers.
Blog
  • 8 April 2024

RBPM- The Missing Piece- Why RBPM is Essential for Social Change

Social change initiatives in India are driven by a collective desire to make a positive difference. Billions of dollars are poured into programs aimed at tackling complex issues like poverty, education, and healthcare. But often, the impact of these programs is difficult to measure, leading to a nagging question: are we truly achieving lasting change?This is where Results-Based Program Management (RBPM) steps in as the missing piece. RBPM is a structured approach that equips program managers with the skills and…
We use essential and analytics cookies to operate this website and understand how visitors interact with it. As this site also functions as a login identity provider (IDP) for other ISDM portals, some cookies are necessary to enable secure authentication. By continuing to use this site, you consent to our use of cookies.
Accept & Continue