The theme of this summit was “Unleashing Social Innovation for the Social Transformation of the DRC”. This was the first edition of the DRC social innovation Summit. The summit was held at the Sultani-River Hotel, Kinshasa on 29-30 November 2022. The idea to hold the DRC social innovation summit (DRC-SIS) was conceived by the two key organizers namely AgroMwinda Leadership Academy (ALA) and the Institute of Social Transformation – Tangaza University College, a constituent college of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa. The two organizers visualized this summit as an opportunity to bring together social innovators within and beyond Africa to discuss the opportunities and challenges of social innovation in Africa. Other strategic partners included Ministere de l’entrepreunariat, World Bank Group, Ashoka, PadMPME, PICAGL, NDA and AACOSE. The summit also attracted several sponsors including Equity BCDC, Gracias Group, Surintrants, Vodacom Foundation, Engima Africa, Afiding Capital and DataTv media partner.

The summit achieved a Pan-Africanist collaboration by bringing on board over 300 participants from all over the world and speakers from DRC, Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe. There was a cross-pollination of ideas and the spirit of learning from one another, sharing, connecting and engaging for actions. It was an event that brought together policymakers, government, academicians, practitioners and other social innovators.

This summit was an eye-opener to all the players in the social innovation realm. The call for action is not only to the social entrepreneurs but also the governments in Africa, the leadership in both the public and private sectors, the academicians, the civil society, and also the grassroots social innovators.  The overriding message arising from these discussions is that it is time for change in Africa, the change is for Africa, by the Africans and the channel for achieving this change is social innovation. This can only be achieved if there is an alteration of the models currently in use. The current economic, education and financial models are no longer adequate to bring alternative solutions to the challenges in Africa. Alternative solutions are embedded in social innovation.