At Africa Practice, we’re not just consultants; we’re catalysts for change, working hand-in-hand with Africa’s visionaries to drive impact-led innovation. For over two decades, we’ve been on the ground, partnering with global investors, development partners, and policymakers to forge a more prosperous Africa. Our approach is rooted in a deep understanding of local contexts, and we know that success hinges on collaboration, inclusivity and trust.
Our impact in numbers
The past year has been nothing short of transformative. From April 2022 to March 2023, our efforts have yielded some incredible results:
- We’ve helped create 10,000 jobs across the continent.
- We’ve unlocked $1.1 billion in new client investments.
- We’ve propelled $10 billion in digital startup growth.
- We’ve defended freedom of expression rights for 31 million citizens from minority groups.
These figures aren’t just numbers; they represent real change in the lives of individuals and communities across Africa. We are incredibly proud of the part we’ve played in making that happen. More than 90% of our income originates from projects that contribute to achieving at least one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Tackling key challenges head-on
Our work spans across four critical areas: digitalisation, climate and energy transition, education, and health. We don’t shy away from complex issues. We are proud to be at the forefront of:
- Addressing Africa’s learning crisis: We are actively supporting efforts to confront the severe learning crisis, with nine out of ten African children unable to read or perform basic maths by age ten. Our comprehensive, multi-stakeholder advocacy campaign is raising awareness and promoting cost-effective solutions, and has already achieved notable results such as increased global awareness of the crisis.
- Forging an African growth agenda aligned with global climate action: Africa Practice was retained by the secretariat of the inaugural Africa Climate Summit to shape the narrative and mobilise support. Our engagements contributed to reframing the global climate discourse and resulted in the multi-stakeholder Nairobi Declaration.
- Removing barriers to financial inclusion: In Nigeria, our long-standing partnership with a global philanthropic foundation has helped make financial inclusion a key tenet of the National Economic Growth and Recovery Plan. We’ve seen a significant increase in the number of Nigerian adults using formal financial services and in the number of people with a National Identification Number (NIN), a key requirement for accessing financial services.
- Promoting clean cooking: We’re working with Koko Networks to tackle the devastating public health and climate impacts of dirty cooking fuels. Our advocacy has contributed to over one million people in Kenya switching to clean cooking, saving lives and forests.
- Establishing a continental Model Law to drive innovation: We designed a draft Startup Policy Framework and Model Law for the African Union, adopted by the continent’s ministers, with the goal of supporting member states to unlock the potential of Africa’s advanced technology sector.
- Regulatory engagement for the gig-economy: In Kenya we designed a policy-testing environment to strengthen employment opportunities and wellbeing for gig economy workers.
Our Approach: People-centred, data-driven
Our solutions are rooted in a deep understanding of stakeholders and systems. We bring a human lens to systems thinking, designing solutions with people, not just for them. Our expertise spans:
- Systems thinking, insights, and human-centred design
- Advocacy and campaigning
- Data & AI-powered insights
- (Geo)political & market insights and public policy solutions
We utilise a three-pronged approach to drive transformative change: reducing capital costs by bridging the gap between perceived and actual risk, mobilising action through evidence-based storytelling, and fostering market growth through innovative policy design.
Looking ahead
We are committed to focusing our efforts on areas that can realise rapid income gains for the majority of Africans. We will continue to collaborate with a diverse array of partners to direct investments towards critical areas such as energy systems, biodiversity restoration, sustainable transportation, universal healthcare, and quality education. By channelling resources into these transformative sectors, we aim to co-create lasting, positive productivity gains that drive prosperity. We will also continue to challenge narratives and promote a culture of curiosity and collaboration, encouraging our staff to draw on indigenous wisdom and to seek out new ideas that challenge us to think and behave differently.
As a certified B-Corporation and a signatory to the UN Global Compact, we are committed to adopting global best practices in environmental, social, and governance performance. We are not just shaping a more prosperous Africa, but also a more sustainable one.
