About One Africa Foundation

We believe Africa’s future is built from within.

One Africa Foundation is a pan-African non-profit committed to empowering communities and advancing sustainable development across the continent.

Our Story

One continent. Shared challenges. Collective solutions.

Africa is not a problem to be solved. It is a continent of extraordinary resilience, creativity and potential. Across the communities where we work, people are already building better futures for themselves and their families. What is often missing is not ambition, but access to the resources, partnerships and opportunities that allow local solutions to grow.

One Africa Foundation was established to be that partner. Our work is grounded in the belief that sustainable development must be rooted in communities, guided by local voices and built on local knowledge.

Since our founding, we have grown into a multi-country organisation operating across 25 African nations. Our work spans education, health, livelihoods, climate resilience, governance, gender equality and research — while remaining anchored in the same principle that shaped our beginning: communities understand their challenges best.

Our role is to walk alongside communities, not in front of them.

We are not defined by our size. We are defined by our commitment to locally led, inclusive and evidence-based development that leaves people and institutions stronger than we found them.

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Our Vision

The Africa we work toward.

An empowered, inclusive and resilient Africa where every individual and every community has the opportunity to thrive, lead and contribute to a sustainable future.

Our Mission

How we contribute.

To advance sustainable development across Africa through community-centred programmes, strategic partnerships and evidence-based solutions that improve lives, strengthen institutions and create lasting opportunity.

How We Work

Community-led development from listening to scale.

Our programmes are not designed for communities from a distance. They are shaped with communities, refined through listening and strengthened by local ownership.

01

We Listen

We begin by understanding local priorities, histories, challenges and aspirations through direct engagement with communities and local stakeholders.

02

We Co-Design

We develop solutions with communities and partners so interventions fit the local context, resources and long-term goals.

03

We Collaborate

We work through networks that bring together government, civil society, academia, development agencies and the private sector.

04

We Build Capacity

We invest in people and systems so communities, organisations and institutions are stronger after a programme ends.

05

We Measure

We use research, monitoring and evaluation to understand progress, improve delivery and remain accountable for results.

06

We Share & Scale

We document learning, share evidence and adapt successful approaches so that what works can reach more communities.

Our Values

What we stand for.

These principles guide how we work with communities, manage resources, build partnerships and measure our contribution.

01 • Integrity

We say what we do and do what we say.

Honesty, transparency and ethical conduct are non-negotiable in our relationships with communities, partners and the public.

02 • Excellence

Quality is a standard.

We hold ourselves to high standards in programme design, resource management, community engagement and measurement.

03 • Innovation

We learn and adapt.

We seek new approaches, learn from experience and encourage creative responses to Africa’s changing realities.

04 • Inclusion

No one should be left behind.

We intentionally reach women, youth, persons with disabilities, marginalised groups and remote communities.

05 • Partnership

Progress is collective.

We approach collaboration with respect, transparency and genuine shared purpose because lasting change cannot be created alone.

06 • Sustainability

We design beyond the project.

Every programme is built with local ownership and long-term self-reliance in mind from the very beginning.

Community members gathered for discussion in a rural African village
African students standing with a teacher outdoors
What Makes Our Approach Different

Local ownership is not an outcome. It is the starting point.

We do not arrive with a fixed model and ask communities to adapt to it. Our work begins by listening, understanding context and building on existing strengths.

That means programmes are more relevant, partnerships are stronger and communities have a genuine stake in sustaining what is created. Evidence then helps us understand what works, where adaptation is needed and which approaches are ready to scale.

Explore Our Work →
Our Affiliate Network

Specialised depth. Shared purpose.

Four specialised affiliates bring deeper capability in women’s empowerment, education and skills, research and MEL, and youth leadership — while benefiting from the Foundation’s networks and continental reach.

Women & Community Development

Mama Africa Cares

Women’s economic empowerment, family wellbeing, leadership and gender equality.

Education & Skills

ThinkBig Education Center

Digital skills, TVET, workforce readiness, STEM, teacher development and career pathways.

Research & MEL

ImpactED Knowledge

Research, monitoring, evaluation, learning, policy analysis and knowledge management.

Youth Leadership

Brighter Minds Education

Leadership development, mentorship, career guidance, entrepreneurship and life skills.

Work with a Foundation built around local knowledge and shared purpose.

We collaborate with governments, development agencies, foundations, civil society, academia and the private sector to create sustainable impact across Africa.

Partner With Us →Explore Our Programmes →