By 
African philanthropist Tsitsi Masiyiwa has urged governments and fintechs to treat diaspora remittances, which topped $60 billion last year, as a powerful form of philanthropy rather than just family transfers.
Masiyiwa, co-founder of Higherlife Foundation, argued that remittances sent daily by millions of Africans abroad should be accorded the same recognition as global charitable giving, noting that they play a vital role in shaping communities across the continent.
“Remittances sent home by millions of Africans abroad should be recognised not just as private family transfers, but as a powerful form of philanthropy. Why do we refer to US giving as philanthropy, but to African diaspora giving as remittances?”.
By Ruvarashe Gora
Her remarks, made after the United Nations General Assembly, come against the backdrop of growing debate over how to value diaspora contributions. She contrasted global attitudes by pointing out that US philanthropy reached $592.5 billion in 2024, of which $35 billion was directed abroad, yet African diaspora inflows of between $40 and $60 billion in the same year received far less recognition.
The numbers are striking at national level. Egypt topped the list with an estimated $22.7 billion in inflows, followed by Nigeria at nearly $20 billion, Morocco at $12 billion and Kenya at over $4 billion, more than 4% of its GDP. Across the continent, the funds cover essentials like school fees, healthcare, housing and even seed capital for small businesses.
Tsitsi Masiyiwa credited African remittance fintechs, including LemFi, Chipper Cash, Flutterwave, Nsano, Mukuru and Grey for revolutionising cross-border transfers by making them faster, cheaper and more transparent. “These platforms are the infrastructure of modern giving. They bring transparency, scale and trust, enabling diaspora generosity to be both private and public,” she said.
She further argued that recognising remittances as philanthropy could unlock new policy support, tax incentives and greater celebration of diaspora generosity.
“The future of the continent will be shaped not just by aid, but by Africans themselves, investing in their families, communities and nations”.
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