Sabrina Dhowre Elba: ‘The old idea of aid is dead’

The Canadian model and Ifad ambassador explains how she and husband Idris Elba hope to make a difference to rural communities in Africa

Since her marriage to British actor Idris Elba last year, Sabrina Dhowre Elba has found her love of Africa being rekindled. But it was her mother who persuaded Elba to take up her new role as an activist.

The actress and Vogue cover model is being credited with convincing the Canadian government to be the first to pledge $6m (3.5m) to a UN agency Covid fund for struggling farmers after a persuasive Zoom chat with ministers while the Elbas were themselves in isolation with mild cases of the virus.