Akili Dada

Founded in 2005, Akili Dada emerged in Nairobi, Kenya, as a response to the deep systemic barriers preventing girls and young women from accessing quality education and leadership opportunities. The founders recognized that despite high potential, thousands of adolescent girls from under-resourced communities were being locked out of meaningful participation in social, political, and economic spaces. From the outset, Akili Dada aimed to close this gap by nurturing the next generation of African women leaders who could transform their communities and societies.

What began as a small scholarship program has since evolved into a dynamic, award-winning leadership incubator that combines access to education, mentorship, and experiential learning. Over nearly two (2) decades, Akili Dada has grown into a respected feminist organization with regional reach, working with girls and young women across Kenya and East Africa. Its alumnae now number in the thousands, many of whom are driving impact in grassroots movements, civil society organizations, the private sector, and public service.

Akili Dada’s history is defined by adaptability and innovation: evolving from traditional scholarship support into a holistic ecosystem that integrates leadership development, economic empowerment, psychosocial support, digital literacy, and social justice advocacy. The organization’s growth has mirrored the changing realities of African girls’ and women’s lives, positioning Akili Dada as both a pioneer and a trusted partner in advancing gender equality.

Mission and Goals

Mission: To nurture transformative leadership among girls and young women in Africa by providing access to quality education, leadership training, mentoring, and opportunities for meaningful participation.

Vision: A world in which girls and young women in Africa live in just, equitable societies where they thrive as leaders and decision-makers.

Core Goals:

1. Expand Access to Education – Support adolescent girls and young women to complete secondary and tertiary education as a critical foundation for empowerment.

2. Develop Transformational Leadership – Equip girls and young women with leadership skills rooted in feminist values, social justice, and community accountability.

3. Advance Economic Empowerment – Create pathways for young women’s sustainable livelihoods through entrepreneurship training, incubation, and access to resources.

4. Foster Agency and Participation – Enable girls and young women to participate meaningfully in civic, political, and economic spaces.

5. Strengthen Ecosystems of Support – Build movements, partnerships, and communities that amplify women’s voices and create enabling environments for lasting impact.

Past Activities and Achievements

Over the years, Akili Dada has implemented flagship programs that have directly reached thousands of girls and indirectly influenced communities across East Africa.

1. Scholarship and Education Support

• Provided hundreds of scholarships to high-achieving but economically disadvantaged girls, enabling them to attend and complete secondary school.

• Offered wrap-around services including mentoring, career guidance, psychosocial support, and community service placements to strengthen holistic development.

2. Mentorship and Alumnae Networks

• Pioneered structured mentorship programs linking young women with role models from diverse sectors.

• Established strong alumnae networks that provide peer support, career development, and community-based impact projects.

3. Leadership and Civic Engagement

• Developed the Angaza Leadership Program, which trains young women in advocacy, movement building, and feminist leadership practices.

• Supported alumnae to spearhead initiatives addressing gender-based violence, climate justice, education equity, and women’s political participation.

4. Social Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment

• Launched the Washa Economic Empowerment Program, offering seed grants, incubation, and mentorship for young women entrepreneurs.

• Created pathways for financial literacy, business development, and access to resources to increase economic independence.

5. Community-Based Innovation

• Through the Manyatta Homeschooling Initiative (MHI) during COVID-19, Akili Dada reached over 500 rural girls with digital tablets, psychosocial support, and community tutors, ensuring continuity of learning and achieving a 93% retention rate.

• Designed the Urithi Transition Program, which has supported over 1,000 girls to transition successfully into vocational training, tertiary education, or employment. Evaluations in 2023 showed a 30% increase in digital literacy and a 40% rise in career confidence among participants.

6. Movement Building and Advocacy

• Positioned itself as a regional thought leader by convening feminist roundtables, coalitions, and dialogues with other women-led organizations.

• Partnered with UN agencies, foundations, and grassroots groups to influence policy and resource flows toward girls’ and young women’s initiatives.

Through these initiatives, Akili Dada has received international recognition, including awards for innovation in education, feminist leadership, and youth empowerment. The organization’s alumnae are evidence of its impact: they are activists, entrepreneurs, educators, and leaders shaping Africa’s future.

Current Activities

As of 2025, Akili Dada continues to expand its work through integrated programs that respond to contemporary challenges faced by girls and young women:

1. Education Access and Retention

• Scaling secondary and post-secondary scholarships.

• Embedding digital literacy, STEM, and career readiness into learning pathways.

2. Leadership Incubation

• Running Angaza for feminist leadership training.

• Establishing mentorship pipelines with seasoned African women leaders.

• Supporting alumnae advocacy initiatives on gender-based violence, reproductive health, and political participation.

3. Economic Empowerment

• Growing the Washa Program to incubate women-led businesses, particularly in digital, green, and care economies.

• Offering entrepreneurship training, access to micro-grants, and financial literacy workshops.

4. Teacher and Community Leadership

• Expanding the Teachers’ Fellowship Program to train educators as feminist mentors and role models.

• Building school and community ecosystems that reinforce gender equity.

5. Advocacy and Partnerships

• Strengthening its role in pan-African feminist coalitions.

• Engaging in global advocacy spaces such as UNGA, UNFCCC Climate Week, and Spotlight Africa to amplify African girls’ and young women’s voices.

• Leading resource mobilization efforts, including diaspora and continental philanthropy, to sustain women-led movements.

Future Planned Activities (2025–2028 and Beyond)

Looking ahead, Akili Dada has charted a bold path to scale its impact regionally and globally:

1. Scaling Education Equity

• Expand the Urithi Transition Program to reach 5,000 girls by 2028 with structured support for transitions into higher education, vocational training, and dignified employment.

• Deepen digital literacy initiatives and expand STEM pathways for girls, especially in rural and marginalized areas.

2. Transformational Feminist Leadership

• Institutionalize Feminist Futures Roundtables, bringing together young women leaders, donors, and policymakers to co-create decolonial approaches to funding and partnership.

• Build a pan-African alumnae advocacy network, empowering graduates to lead cross-border campaigns on gender justice, education, and climate resilience.

3. Economic Empowerment and Sustainability

• Scale the Washa Program into a continental women’s social entrepreneurship incubator.

• Introduce blended finance models and partnerships with private sector actors to expand funding opportunities for young women entrepreneurs.

4. Movement Building and Advocacy

• Lead coalition work on technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) through AFD- and EU-supported consortia.

• Strengthen collaborations with feminist organizations, UN agencies, and funders to advance African-driven, trust-based philanthropy.

5. Institutional Sustainability

• Develop a Giving Circle and Community Endowment to secure long-term financial sustainability through diaspora philanthropy and African philanthropy networks.

• Celebrate Akili Dada’s 20th Anniversary in 2025 with a global campaign highlighting its alumnae impact stories and future vision.

6. Global Advocacy and Visibility

• Continue to showcase alumnae voices in international spaces such as UNGA, COP, and regional feminist forums.

• Position Akili Dada as a thought leader on the intersection of education, feminist leadership, and economic empowerment in Africa.

For nearly two (2) decades, Akili Dada has stood at the forefront of advancing gender equality in Africa by investing in girls and young women as transformative leaders. With a strong legacy of impact, tested models of leadership incubation, and an ambitious vision for the future, Akili Dada continues to evolve as a trusted partner in the fight for justice, equity, and sustainable development.

Through its past, present, and future work, Akili Dada embodies the belief that when girls and young women are educated, mentored, and resourced, they not only change their own lives but also drive lasting social change in their families, communities, and nations.