AXUM
Axum’s mission is to drive sustainable progress across Africa, the Middle East, and beyond through expertise and imagination. The firm is dedicated to fostering climate-positive, digitally innovative, and inclusive growth, collaborating with public and private sector organizations on projects that deliver economic and social development, address climate change, and navigate technological disruption.
Theory of Change
Inputs
Local expertise in Africa and the Middle East
Multisectoral partnerships
Funding and investment from stakeholders
Knowledge of local networks, influence, and capacity
Operational staffing and program management
Activities
Designing and implementing programs in economic transformation, inclusion, and digital innovation
Policy and strategy advisory to governments and partners
Capacity development and technical support
Investment support and capital mobilization for impactful sectors
Advocacy, research, and knowledge dissemination
Outputs
Programs and projects operational in multiple sectors (education, health, climate, digital, economic development)
Thousands of lives improved through direct project impacts
Scaling and replication of successful models and interventions
Outcomes
Sustainable, inclusive growth and economic development
Climate and environmentally positive solutions adopted
Expanded digital and technological access and opportunity
Improved governance, health, and education systems
Programs
1. Revolutionizing Surgery in Low-Income Communities
A multi-country initiative to improve safe, affordable surgical care in low- and middle-income countries through leadership development, innovation, and advocacy..
Stakeholder partnerships (governments, health orgs)
Funding support
Program implementation teams
Human-centered design research for program design
Leadership development among health professionals
Launch and advocacy events (e.g. UNGA)
Policy advocacy and partner mobilization
Implementation plan for 3-5 years
Advocacy campaigns and knowledge-sharing
Strengthened surgical workforce and innovations scaled
Policy changes supporting surgical access in Ethiopia, Tanzania, Cambodia
Improved availability of safe surgery
Strengthened global health community focus on surgery
2. Coordinating Large-Scale Vaccination Initiatives
A pan-African effort to increase vaccination uptake through secretariat support, peer learning, and tailored campaigns addressing access and hesitancy challenges.
Funding from partners
Coordination teams
Collaboration with local governments and health ministries
Anchor and coordinate secretariat for vaccination efforts
Engage with community leaders and empower local leadership
Tailor and implement vaccination campaigns
Mobilize funding from public/private actors
Peer learning initiatives
Vaccination programs delivered in multiple regions
Leaders trained to adapt campaigns and mobilize funding
Increased vaccination rates (esp. for COVID-19)
Improved infrastructure for vaccine delivery
Strengthened community engagement in health campaigns
3. Supporting the Skilling of African Youth to Access Economic Opportunities
TVET rollout initiative in DRC, Côte d'Ivoire, and Tanzania, designing industry-relevant curricula and building skill-development pathways for youth.
Partner funding/consortium support
Technical expertise in curriculum development
Access to industry/public sector contacts
Skill gap assessment and curriculum development
Industry partnerships for practical exposure
Capacity building with companies and consortia
Open-source curricula created for public works and mining
Skills gap assessment completed
Capacity building with companies and governments
Increased youth access to industry-relevant training
Improved employability and workforce participation
Boosted economic opportunities for youth
4. Unlocking Economic Growth through Agriculture Sector Transformation
Tanzania-focused program to resolve agricultural sector bottlenecks, strengthen institutions, and improve productivity and livelihoods through embedded government support.
Government collaboration
Technical expertise and funding
Data and knowledge management systems
Embed teams in government ministries
Support tool and system development
Train government officials in sector management
Coordination platforms and knowledge systems deployed
Improved delivery capacity at district and national levels
Increased agricultural productivity and GDP
Improved livelihoods and food security
Strengthened investment in agricultural value chains
Other Information
Core Values
Carbon- and plastic-neutral by design, with a commitment to net zero by 2025 and Paris Climate Accord alignment
Advancement of gender equality and women's rights
Embedding diversity and inclusion, with proactive approaches to challenge discrimination
Commitment to internationally recognized human rights standards
Promotion of Afrocentric, locally grounded problem solving and capacity building
Scale
Nearly 90 staff across 9+ locations in Africa and the Middle East
Impacts millions of youth, thousands of health and creative sector beneficiaries
Example metrics: 18,000 students/260 teachers/40 schools in Rwanda; 20,000 students/200 teachers in Zanzibar; 30,000+ digital jobs connected in Kenya; 175+ renewable energy projects funded
Affected Users
African and Middle Eastern youth (unemployed, under-employed, students)
National and local governments across target geographies
Health workers and public health system recipients
Low- and middle-income communities requiring improved access (surgery, vaccines, jobs, education)
Film and creative industry students from underrepresented regions
Geographical Areas
Kenya
Rwanda
Zanzibar
Uganda
Zambia
Ghana
Sierra Leone
Côte d'Ivoire
Democratic Republic of Congo
Tanzania
Benin
Gabon
Nigeria
South Africa
Lusaka
Johannesburg
Accra
Kigali
Dar es Salaam
Lagos
Abu Dhabi
Nairobi
Lubumbashi
Kinshasa
Zanzibar
Contact Info
To
Robin Miller - [email protected]
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