Axum

Social Inclusion and Governance

Axum strengthens institutions and social systems that enable equitable participation and accountable leadership.

We partner with governments, civil society, and communities to expand access, build trust, and support inclusive governance models that respond to Africa and the Middle East's evolving needs.

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Gender Links

Gender Links

Challenge Gender Links aimed to strengthen its organizational planning and improve its positioning as a leading provider of Gender Integration (GI) services across Africa. To do this effectively, the organization needed a clear picture of its internal capabilities, strategic gaps, and areas for improvement. Solution Axum partnered with Gender Links to conduct an internal organizational effectiveness assessment. Using a tailored framework grounded in best practices and Gender Links' existing approaches, the process included stakeholder consultations, staff surveys, and field visits to ensure a comprehensive review of the organization's strengths and gaps. Impact The assessment led to a set of priority recommendations and the development of a detailed five-year action plan. This roadmap is helping Gender Links align its strategy, operations, and internal systems with its long-term goals for regional leadership in GI services.

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Hearth Summit

Hearth Summit

Challenge Social change leaders in Africa often face burnout and disconnection, with few spaces dedicated to inner wellbeing as a foundation for collective action and sustained impact. Solution Axum partnered with The Wellbeing Project to host the Hearth Summit Nairobi, a global series focused on inner wellbeing in changemaking. The 2024 event convened African leaders, artists, and organizers for dialogue around intergenerational and ecological wellbeing. The 2025 edition will focus on burnout causes including trauma, overwork, and disconnection, while showcasing regenerative practices and care cultures. Impact The Summit is helping to shift how leadership and wellbeing are understood and practiced across the continent. It serves as a precursor to the Pan-African Hearth Movement launching in 2026, establishing groundwork for renewed care cultures within social change spaces.

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African Government Collaborative

African Government Collaborative

Challenge Government entities across Africa often operate with limited capacity, constrained systems, and fragmented access to strategic support needed to scale programs and drive long-term development outcomes. Solution The African Government Collaborative (AGC) approaches this challenge by emphasizing that lasting transformation depends on alignment, trust, and shared ownership. Rather than presenting a fixed model, AGC functions as a way of engaging that builds momentum from within public systems rather than around them. The Design–Incubate–Transfer (DIT) model reflects the belief that durable change comes from co-creation, experimentation, and the gradual transfer of ownership. In Tanzania, AGC supported creation of the Private Sector Desk (PSD) within the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, aimed at strengthening sector performance by catalyzing private investment, advancing public–private dialogue, and improving the business environment. Impact Engagement with over 15,000 private-sector actors through training and opportunity promotion Facilitation of approximately $80 million annually in loans for livestock and fish farmers Influence on tax reforms reducing producer costs Mobilization of over $32 million in new investments AGC recently launched in Zanzibar, supporting government teams on priority delivery goals.

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Elimu-Soko

Elimu-Soko

Challenge Africa is the only continent where 70% of the population is under 30. By 2035, over 400 million young people will reach working age. Yet 86% of children in Sub-Saharan Africa lack access to quality education. Education innovations funded by donors frequently remain pilot projects without clear routes to widespread adoption. Governments with limited resources struggle to prioritize scaling these interventions. When donor funding ends, programs typically cease before achieving meaningful systemic impact. Solution Elimu-Soko operates as an African NGO driving government-led education transformation. The organization connects government objectives with validated innovators using Results-Based Investments through: Deep knowledge of government priorities, processes, and constraints Strong understanding of the education innovation ecosystem Evidence-based, user-centered solutions with demonstrated impact The approach leverages experience partnering with African governments and education systems to convert pilot successes into nationally-owned programs. Impact Rwanda initiatives improved foundational learning for 18,000 students, 260 teachers, and 40 school leaders. Literacy proficiency increased from 19% to 46%; numeracy from 18% to 54%. Rwanda's government approved national scaling. Zanzibar reached 20,000 students, 200 teachers across 40 schools with literacy proficiency rising from 6% to 34% and numeracy from 5% to 45%. Expansion planned in Uganda, Kenya, Zambia, Ghana, and Sierra Leone.

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Revolutionizing Surgery in Low-Income Communities

Revolutionizing Surgery in Low-Income Communities

Challenge One of our partners developed an initiative to improve access to safe, affordable surgical care in low and middle-income countries. The initiative needed a skilled implementation team to support its three pillars: Leadership Development, Innovation, and Elevating Ideas. Solution Axum provided implementation support across all three core areas. The team handled design phases, program coordination, and created detailed implementation roadmaps through human-centered design research. Axum planned and executed the official initiative launch as a UN General Assembly (UNGA) side event, and managed and coordinated the expansion of the initiative within sub-Saharan Africa to Southeast Asia. Impact Over five years, the initiative achieved policy advocacy results in Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Cambodia, while strengthening surgical workforce capacity and scaling innovations within global health networks.

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Coordinating Large-Scale Vaccination Initiatives

Coordinating Large-Scale Vaccination Initiatives

Challenge According to the World Health Organization, only 20% of Africans were fully vaccinated against COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic due to inequitable access to infrastructure as well as vaccine hesitancy. Solution One partner established a vaccination network connecting leaders and problem-solvers to address continental vaccination challenges. This network required skilled personnel to manage secretariat operations across Africa. Axum staff coordinated the secretariat, developing and supporting administrative functions and implementation activities. Staff engaged with local governments and health ministries, fostering peer learning to strengthen community leadership and expand vaccine acceptance. Impact The initiative equipped regional and local leaders with capabilities to design vaccination campaigns, support fair vaccine access, and secure funding from public and private sources, plus community-based initiatives involving local stakeholders and health professionals.

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Empowering Creatives to Tell the African Story

Empowering Creatives to Tell the African Story

Challenge Historically, international media has marginalized voices from the global south, leading to biased perspectives and limited representation. Yet, empowering underrepresented communities in the film industry presents an opportunity to promote diversity and inclusion in storytelling. Solution Axum supported partners in designing and implementing a creative equity scholarship initiative for West and Central Africa, distributing funds among 52 film students across Benin, Gabon, Ghana, and Nigeria. Financial support covered tuition and stipends while creating industry networking opportunities. Impact Disbursed over US$400,000 of funds over two years, enabling 52 students from 5 universities in West and Central Africa to benefit from financial aid, building the next generation of African storytellers.

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Alliance for Health Financing in Africa (AHFIA)

Alliance for Health Financing in Africa (AHFIA)

Challenge Many African countries face persistent challenges in financing healthcare systems that are accessible, affordable, and sustainable. Gaps between health and finance sectors have limited the ability to create integrated solutions that can scale. Solution Axum launched the Alliance for Health Financing in Africa (AHFIA) in November 2024, with support from the Gates Foundation, to help address these structural gaps. AHFIA brings together governments, financial institutions, and development partners to co-design innovative funding mechanisms and advance policy, investment, and implementation efforts that strengthen health systems. Impact By bridging the health-finance divide, AHFIA is enabling countries to design and scale more inclusive and resilient health financing models. The initiative supports stronger health systems, improved economic resilience, and greater access to care across the continent.

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Climate Smart Forest Economy Program

Climate Smart Forest Economy Program

Challenge Forest ecosystems in the Global South face deforestation, degradation, and economic underutilization. At the same time, local housing deficits and economic needs persist, creating pressure to extract rather than conserve. Solution Established in 2020, the Climate Smart Forest Economy Program (CSFEP) partners with various stakeholders in low- and middle-income countries in the Global South to develop regional forest product industries. The program employs a forest-first, collaborative approach ensuring forest product industries: Reverse deforestation trends by providing sustainable management revenue Build resilient, climate-smart, regenerative forest economies with accessible biobased materials Create local small businesses and sustainable green jobs along value chains Breakthrough initiatives include co-designing Bhutan's climate-smart forest economy, supporting timber construction startups in Kenya and Uganda, and partnering with Cassa Guatemala on bamboo housing in climate-vulnerable communities. An East Africa Coalition convenes stakeholders across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda in the biobased construction sector. Fiscally sponsored by Dalberg Catalyst; Devang Vussonji serves on CSFEP's Advisory Council. Impact CSFEP is building momentum for climate-smart forest economies that prioritize both ecological integrity and community prosperity.

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