Dalberg Implement, a renowned leader in on-the-ground program implementation with vast expertise in strategy execution, and Axum, an Afrocentric impact firm dedicated to fostering inclusive growth across the Global South, announced a merger on Friday, February 23. According to a related statement, the 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, it is noted, Axum and Dalberg Implement will amplify impact and empower communities on a larger scale by leveraging combined expertise in collaborative and sustainable initiative-building. This merger will establish 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 delivery as well as innovative financing. Collectively, the statement adds, the merger 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 more than 100 in the world. Steve Kisakye, the Global Managing Director at Dalberg Implement, said: This merger 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 through a partnership with Axum, and the amplified impact that we can achieve collectively, at a time when tackling global challenges requires speed, specificity, and tangibility. As noted, the merger 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, and also provides much-needed capacity-building support to homegrown organizations, enabling them to grow into fully-fledged catalysts. “This merger with Dalberg Implement 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 world,” said Edwin Macharia, the Global Managing Partner at Axum. About Axum Axum is an impact firm, working to envision a bold future, build movements, and bring visions to life in the Global South. The team is highly experienced at defining and building lasting solutions to the pressing challenges of social inclusion, economic transformation, investment facilitation, climate action, and technological innovation. The name Axum was derived from the ancient empire located across Africa and the Middle East, which was renowned for its innovation and global influence. It represents and recognizes what it means to support, shape, and amplify the Global South’s growth and voice in the world. About Dalberg Implement Founded in 2011, Dalberg Implement provides implementation services that marry strategy, innovative resource mobilization, capacity building, and the selection and coaching of top talent to design, launch, scale up, and transform impactful initiatives. This process is driven by the Design- Incubate- Transfer (DIT) framework, a highly impactful approach that allows for swift and sustained transformation across the full value chain of strategy and programming. Their work ranges from seeding or hosting complete initiatives to extending management, operational, and technical capacity as well as providing unique stand-alone offerings. Dalberg Implement’s footprint spans multiple regions and leverages extensive experience in financial and digital inclusion, food systems, health, WASH, education to employment, climate change, social enterprise development, organizational effectiveness, gender inclusivity, and more.
