Premier Implementation business joins Axum.
Published: 25th February 2024
Axum is proud to announce that it has acquired implementation capacity to expand its suite of services to further serve clients for greater impact.
Nairobi, Kenya, 25th February 2024 – Steve Kisakye, Winnie Wambugu, and the full staff complement of the entity formerly known as Dalberg Implement, a renowned leader in on-the-ground program implementation with vast expertise in strategy execution, have joined Axum, an Afrocentric impact firm dedicated to fostering inclusive growth across the Global South.
This move comes in response to existential risks that the world is facing that call for rapid shifts in the impact sector, including in the creation of innovative, locally-driven solutions. By joining forces, Axum will amplify impact and empower communities on a larger scale by leveraging combined expertise in collaborative and sustainable initiative-building.
This will establish Axum as a premier impact firm focused on the Global South with a combined strength of 10 partners and over 70 staff with blended capabilities in strategy, program design, and implementation as well as innovative financing. Collectively, this aggregates over 150 years of localized leadership experience in designing and implementing successful and sustainable solutions, having served clients across more than 50 countries in Africa, and 100+ in the world.
“This is a significant leap forward for us and aligns with our ambitions to scale our initiative-building capabilities while retaining our deeply local and systemic DNA that is built on a deep understanding of the development challenges within the communities, we live in and serve. We are excited about the expansion of capabilities that we can harness by joining and strengthening Axum, and the amplified impact that we can achieve collectively, at a time when tackling global challenges requires speed, specificity, and tangibility” Steve Kisakye.
This amplifies the delivery of collaborative initiative building in regions where solutions that are alive and responsive to local realities will be the critical path to unlocking impact. It also creates a world-leading platform that will fully harness these capabilities by providing end-to-end support to both local and global players. It also provides much-needed capacity-building support to homegrown organizations, enabling them to grow into fully-fledged catalysts.
“This represents a significant milestone in building Axum to be the premier partner for governments, industry, civil society, funders, and investors seeking to drive systemic change. With our combined experience and expertise in Africa, the Middle East, and beyond, we offer a unique platform for getting things done. I could not be more excited about the journey ahead for us, and the impact to our communities” Edwin Macharia, Global Managing Partner at Axum.
Former Dalberg Partners from Africa and Middle East form Axum, a new impact firm.
Published: 5 October 2023
Nairobi – Seven out of ten Dalberg partners from across Africa and the Middle East are now trading as Axum, an Afrocentric impact firm.
Axum’s leadership brings over 100 years of experience establishing, building, and running successful advisory organizations across the world, including serving clients across more than 50 countries in Africa and the Middle East.
Edwin Macharia, Managing Partner at Axum, said:
“We firmly believe that the best way for our work to have a positive impact is to put African and Arab people, leaders, and institutions at the centre of project design, decision making, and delivery.
“Axum will not seek to impose ‘one-size-fits all’ practices onto African and Middle Eastern projects. Our role is to help organizations and leaders envision a bold future, build movements, and bring visions to life.
“We are confident that our collective next steps will see us deliver more for the communities and stakeholders we work alongside, while simultaneously providing a better platform for everyone at Axum to develop professionally and do the best possible work. We also know that there will be opportunities for Axum and Dalberg to work together in the future.”
Axum envisions an Africa and a Middle East that are not only prosperous and equitable but also environmentally responsible and globally influential. It sees a future where sustainable development is the norm, where African and Arab leaders and institutions play leading roles in the global community, and where the rightful place of Africa and the Middle East in the world is fully recognized.
Axum is driven by the belief that the potential of our regions is boundless, and together, we can unlock that potential for the benefit of all Africans, all Arabs, all of humanity, and the planet.
The origins of the name – Axum – tie to the ancient African and Middle Eastern civilisation. It represents a history that revolutionized trade and commerce, drove African-led innovation, created new currencies and advanced exemplary cultural production. Its history recognizes and represents the nuance of what it means to support, shape and amplify Africa and the Middle East’s growth and voice
in the world
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Notes to Editors
Axum is an Afrocentric impact firm, working with African and Arab leaders, companies, and institutions, as well as their allies, to envision a bold future, build movements, and bring visions to life.
The leadership and employees are highly experienced at defining and building lasting solutions to the pressing challenges of socioeconomic development, climate change, and technological innovation.
The name Axum was derived from the ancient City, located across Africa and the Middle East, which was renowned for its African innovation and global influence. It represents and recognizes what it means to support, shape and amplify Africa and the Middle East’s growth and voice in the world.
Axum will operate at the intersection of inclusion and climate-positive prosperity for all.