Edwin Macharia

Edwin is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Axum, where he works with leaders across government, philanthropy, and the private sector to shape strategy, design programs, and direct capital toward initiatives that drive lasting impact. His work spans development, climate innovation, and inclusive economic transformation, with a focus on building systems that enable African leadership and resilience.

He leads the Alliance for Health Financing in Africa (AHFIA), an Axum-led initiative focused on unlocking sustainable healthcare financing solutions across the continent. In 2025, he co-hosted The Hearth Summit in Slovenia, where Axum and Tostan launched the Pan-African Movement for Wellbeing in partnership with The Wellbeing Project. The platform brings together African leaders, funders, artists, scientists, and policymakers to elevate well-being and lived experience in the continent’s development agenda. Edwin was also recognized at the 2025 Africa Soft Power Summit for his leadership in advancing climate innovation and economic transformation.

Before co-founding Axum, Edwin spent 16 years at Dalberg Advisors, where he helped establish and grow the firm’s presence across several regions. He served as the firm’s Global Managing Partner, leading global teams and shaping high-impact engagements. Earlier in his career, he worked with the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) and McKinsey & Company.

He is based in Nairobi and serves on the boards of organizations that reflect his commitment to meaningful, long-term change, including The Nature Conservancy, Mozilla Foundation, Nabo Capital, The End Fund, Prudential Kenya, and The Wellbeing Project.

Edwin believes deeply in Africa’s capacity to influence global systems and standards. His work is driven by the vision of a self-reliant and sustainable continent where African institutions, leaders, and innovations thrive and shape global conversations.

He holds a degree in biology from Amherst College. He has been recognized as a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, a Desmond Tutu Fellow, and one of Forbes’ 10 Most Powerful Africans in 2015.