The 7th edition of the Sustaining Impact Summit (SIS 2025), held on August 28th – 29th, was nothing short of inspiring. With the theme “African Resourcefulness: Leading Sustainable Solutions from Self to Society,” we brought together voices from across Africa and beyond — social entrepreneurs, ecosystem builders, funders, and impact-driven individuals — to explore bold, grounded, and sustainable impact.
And now, we are more than pleased to announce that Day 1 and Day 2 videos are LIVE on our YouTube channel, here’s your chance to relive every moment of this year’s powerful summit experience.
Here’s a look back at the powerful moments from both days:
DAY 1 HIGHLIGHTS
The summit opened with a warm welcome note from Dr. Adeyemi Adelekan, Director of ASEW, followed by an energizing icebreaker that set the tone for connection and reflection.
Our keynote speakers — Professor Sophie Bacq (IMD, Switzerland) and Debbie Brock (Social Change Innovators) — delivered transformative insights that shaped the rest of the summit.
Professor Sophie’s keynote, “Strategies for Stronger Social Impact: The Role of Collective Action,” emphasized how collective action through the civic wealth creation framework is essential for driving lasting societal change and
Debbie Brock’s session, “Reimagining Systems for Sustainable Solutions,” highlighted the importance of community resilience and shifting mindsets to address systemic issues from the roots — with the goal of influencing frameworks and power structures.
Their talks didn’t just spark conversation — they motivated people to do something positive or reaffirm their dedication to making a difference.
PANEL 1: RESOURCEFUL SOCIETY
Moderated by Naomi Mwasambili (Livy Africa), this powerful conversation featured bold perspectives from Vivian Nwakah (Pfizer), Michael McPherson (Aquarius Foundation), and Tizzita Tefera (Social Enterprise Ethiopia / SEWF Board) on building resilient societies and systems that enable people to thrive — especially in underserved communities.
FROM MALAWI TO THE WORLD
A standout moment came from the Alton Climate Action Network, represented by Jenny Griffiths and James Gomani, who showcased grassroots permaculture projects making real impact in Malawi — their exploration of a model for locally led climate solution that work.
PANEL 2: RESOURCEFUL NETWORKS
Moderated by Daisy Bartlett (Amahoro Coalition), this session connected the dots between collaboration, refugee-led innovation, and building intentional support systems across Africa. Panelists included Oliver Nkunzurwanda, Musa Konneh, and Akufuna Muyunda.
FIRESIDE CHAT: SOCIAL ENTERPRISE UK
Chris Morgan (Social Enterprise UK) and Jane Thiongo (Social Enterprise Zambia) explored the global social enterprise landscape, sharing key lessons African social enterprise networks draw from other successful impact ecosystems such as SEUK.
SOCIAL IMPACT SPOTLIGHT: SIP FELLOWS
We heard firsthand from 2024’s Sustaining Impact Prize Fellows — passionate changemakers like Olasumbo Adeleke, Happiness Adama, and Amb. Meshack Nyaberi — who are transforming their communities with creativity, resilience, and grit.
PANEL 3: RESOURCEFUL SELF & ORGANIZATION
Moderated by Dr. Erick Franck Y. Pathinvo (ICT & Cybersecurity Strategist), this insightful discussion explored how leaders can cultivate personal effectiveness while building values-driven organizations.
Panelists Ms. Cheryl Jacob (Reasonate, South Africa), Fabrice Muchiga (Social Entrepreneur, Systems Change Leader, Network Strategist), and Nike Akerele-De Souza (Co-Founder/Board Member, Teach for Nigeria) shared practical perspectives on leading with authenticity, building trust-based teams, and sustaining purpose in the face of challenges).
DAY 2 HIGHLIGHTS
Day 2 was all about impact, innovation, and sustainability in action.
The spotlight moment of the day was the Impact Prize Presentations, where five finalists took the stage to showcase their groundbreaking solutions. After an inspiring round of pitches, three winners were announced — a celebration of African creativity and determination in solving local challenges.
We also hosted an engaging Virtual Masterclass on Design Thinking and Business Model Innovation, led by Dr. Amandine Robin (Founder, Innovative Matters) and moderated by Dr. Adeyemi Adelekan. The session offered practical frameworks for defining problems and building purpose-driven, financially sustainable enterprises that can adapt and thrive.
Beyond the virtual sessions, the summit also came to life in-person across eight African countries — Nigeria, Zambia, South Africa, Ghana, Tunisia, Côte d’Ivoire, Namibia, and Ethiopia — bringing the spirit of SIS 2025 closer to local communities through discussions, networking, and country-led masterclasses.
READY TO REWATCH OR CATCH UP?
If you missed the live sessions — or simply want to relive the inspiration — both Day 1 and Day 2 videos are now available on our YouTube channel.
Playlist 1: Watch by session: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvqOSMWQ4i80s_U4ziUiBDXHiOY9_F3EH
Playlist 2: Full replay: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvqOSMWQ4i80NQto4pa9GTk2AU1JGVg6G
You can also catch all the behind-the-scenes moments and country highlights on our social media pages, including Impact Prize winner announcements, Masterclass highlights, Speaker shout-outs and participant reflections and Country recaps from our 8-nation rollout.
Don’t forget to subscribe, turn on notifications, and follow ASEW on social media for more post-summit stories and upcoming opportunities.
This was more than a summit — it was a movement.
A celebration of what it means to lead with what we have.
Resourcefulness is not just a theme — it’s Africa’s power.