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.