ACN Selects 6 High-Impact Organisations for the Affiliates Program

Africa Career Networks (ACN) is proud to welcome six new Affiliate Partners into our growing ecosystem in 2025, bringing the network to 15 partners across the continent.  

ACN’s Affiliates Program was established in response to one of Africa’s most urgent challenges: helping young people transition from education into meaningful, dignified work. Across the continent, young people face vastly different economic realities, labour markets, and opportunities. That is why ACN intentionally operates a “network of networks”, partnering with trusted local organisations that deeply understand the cultural, economic, and social landscapes of the communities they serve. 

Through this approach, ACN enables fifteen Affiliate organisations to support Mastercard Foundation Scholars and Alumni and African Leadership Academy (ALA) alumni by facilitating internships, strengthening career pathways, and connecting young people to opportunities within their local ecosystems. Affiliates are institutional partners who expand ACN’s on-the-ground reach and ensure that youth receive support that is relevant, responsive, and rooted in community collaboration. 

The 2025 selection represents organisations that are directly aligned with ACN’s mission and contribute to strengthening our strategic presence across the continent. These partners were chosen for their track records in youth leadership development, employability, digital readiness, entrepreneurship, and inclusion of women, refugees and internally displaced persons, and persons with disabilities. Together, they help us deepen our regional footprint and expand opportunities for Mastercard Foundation Scholars and alumni in the communities where we work. 

The 6 New Affiliates are: 

• Afrika Matters Initiative, Morocco and Egypt 
• Kadiwaku Foundation, DRC
• Kuelimika kwa Africa, Senegal
• Masaf Development Organization, Ethiopia
• Next Africa Youth Leaders for Development, Impact, and Sustainability (NAYLDIS), Côte d’Ivoire and Sierra Leone
• Sahel Development, Niger

Together, they join the first 9 Affiliates: 

• Carifika Network, Rwanda, Cameroon, and Gambia
• Education Matters, Zimbabwe
• Education Needs All, South Sudan
• Konexio, Kenya, and Malawi
• One World Benin, Benin
• Restless Development, Uganda
• Shasha Network, Out of Africa 
• The Academic Success Team, Ghana
• The Afara Initiative, Nigeria

Speaking about the new cohort, Hanifa Mufaro Manda, ACN’s Affiliates Senior Program Manager, shared that this selection represents more than growth. She said, “These organisations carry the heartbeat of ACN’s mission. They are champions of dignity, opportunity, and inclusive pathways to work. Each Affiliate brings deep community trust and experience, and together, they allow us to meet young people where they are with programs that respond to their realities and aspirations of a career of impact.” 

Val Wiggett, Senior Director of Career Programs at African Leadership Academy, reflected on how this expansion strengthens the network’s long-term vision. She said, “Our Affiliates are the bridge between potential and opportunity for graduates. By welcoming these six organisations, ACN expands its reach, relevance, and relationships. They help us serve more Scholars, more alumni, and engage more employer partners across regions where careers are shaped by community, innovation, and resilience. This cohort reflects the future for Africa that we believe in.” 

The Affiliate Partners strengthen our ability to support early-career talent, deepen employer connections, and create learning and work opportunities that respond to local contexts. With their diverse expertise and shared commitment to dignity, inclusion, and youth leadership, they represent a powerful extension of our mission across the continent.  

With these additions, we now partner with 15 leading organisations driving employment pathways and leadership development across the continent. We look forward to working with them over the years.