Arab Impact Summit brings 650+ changemakers to Amman to connect, resource and shape the region's own solutions

More than 650 social entrepreneurs, investors, philanthropists, practitioners and ecosystem leaders from over 30 countries gathered in Amman on 5–6 October 2026 to join our first Arab Impact Summit – challenging who gets to define impact, rethinking how the region's future is financed, and building the relationships needed to sustain solutions that are being built from within the Arab region every day. 

Across the two days, the Summit brought changemakers from Yemen to Algeria, and from Sudan to Palestine. What emerged was a collective determination to recognise the work being built and rebuilt every day, question the systems that shape it and the conditions that constrain it, and explore what it takes to build impact that is Arab-led, locally rooted and accountable to the communities it serves.

Co-convened by Alfanar Venture Philanthropy, which pioneered venture philanthropy in the Arab region and has supported more than 225 social enterprises, and its sister entity Anara Impact Capital, the Summit was created as a space to come together differently. By connecting those doing the work with those holding resources, it sought to shift the power dynamic, create opportunities for shared problem-solving and open new possibilities for collaboration across borders.

The Summit was organised in partnership with longstanding institutions convening and supporting the region's impact community, including the Arab Foundations Forum (AFF), which marked its 20th anniversary during the Summit, alongside the European Union, Ford Foundation, Impact Europe, BuildPalestine, Danish Refugee Council and the Regional Development and Protection Programme (RDPP). More than 25 supporting partners also contributed through hosting sessions and workshops, sharing expertise and bringing the wider programme to life. Over the course of two days, over 400 organisations took part from 11 sectors, and 60% of attendees were women.

The convening began on 5 October at the Landmark Hotel with discussions examining who gets to define impact, the transition from charity to investment, operating through hardship and moving from resource partnerships towards solidarity. A recurring theme was how to ensure impact approaches reflect the region's own priorities, knowledge and realities. Alongside plenary and breakout discussions, the corridors of the Landmark were filled with people building connections. 

"What stood out to me was how people working across very different realities were asking many of the same questions. For too long, what counts as impact in our region has been defined elsewhere. In Amman, we heard founders working from Sudan to Palestine describe what success really looks like in their communities, and it does not always match the frameworks they are asked to report against. Our responsibility now is to take what we heard back to the people who said it, and to make sure it shapes how we and our partners work to build sustainable solutions for long lasing impact” said Suha Abdul Rahim, Co-Director at Alfanar Venture Philanthropy.

“What made these conversations particularly meaningful was that we weren't ignoring the elephant in the room: the political and structural realities that shape our work. We were acknowledging these constraints while also demonstrating the enormous potential that exists in the region, and why investing in its people and solutions matters for our collective liberation. When people feel represented and understood, they are more comfortable sharing their challenges openly, learning from others facing similar realities, and finding opportunities to collaborate,” said Lama Amr, Executive Director of BuildPalestine.

On Day 2, discussions moved beyond conference rooms into the Houses, streets and community spaces of Jabal Amman. Across five thematic Houses, participants explored how to keep education alive through conflict, protect collective memory, rethink philanthropy and investment, and draw on the region's traditions of environmental stewardship. 

"The challenges facing our region demand different forms of capital, knowledge and experience working together. We brought philanthropists, investors and social entrepreneurs into the same spaces because we recognise that no single approach can meet these challenges alone. The Summit was an opportunity to question how we can invest strategically alongside different partners, and explore how we can finance a future shaped by the region itself," said Nafez Dakkak, Managing Partner at Anara.

Conversations also challenged how we measure and tell our own stories of impact, the role of AI in shaping high-impact sectors, and how to build enterprises that are both financially sustainable and socially impactful. Beyond the Houses, young people worked alongside social entrepreneurs to tackle business challenges, while a session brought ed-tech leaders together to crowdsolve solutions to expand access to e-learning in Gaza.

Post-Summit feedback points to the value of bringing people together across the region to exchange ideas, challenge assumptions and build connections. Of the 129 respondents surveyed:

• 97% gained greater clarity on what it means to define and practise social impact authentically and locally.
• 84% felt significantly more motivated to build or strengthen partnerships with others working to drive change. 
• 87% gained new insights, tools and ideas they can directly apply to their work.

“The Arab Impact Summit provided a valuable platform to connect social enterprises with investors, strengthen partnerships, and explore opportunities to scale innovative solutions that address social and economic challenges,” said Abdel-Karim Odeh Al-Ja'afreh, Area Program Manager, Danish Refugee Council Jordan. Through our collaboration, we are helping bridge the gap between social enterprises and the wider ecosystem, opening pathways to investment, market access, and sustainable job creation. Gatherings like this are essential to turning shared ambitions into tangible impact and building a more inclusive and resilient regional economy.”  

As we look ahead to the next Arab Impact Summit, the focus now turns to building on the relationships, ideas and commitments that emerged in Amman. The Summit marked a step towards a more connected and better-resourced Arab impact movement – one that is better connected, better resourced and increasingly able to define and build its future on its own terms.