Africa-America Institute
Educating People | Connecting Worlds
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Transformational Leadership Program (TLP)
Transforming Leadership and Management in Africa
In 2006, the Africa-America Institute (AAI) created the Transformational Leadership Program (TLP) in partnership with The Coca-Cola Africa Foundation (TCCAF) and a select group of university partners. Since its inception, the TLP has transformed the caliber and sustainable impact of social sector service delivery to local African communities.
Future Leaders Legacy Fund
Providing scholarships and innovation to African students and universities
Young people are Africa’s greatest asset. With the world’s youngest population at 200 million-strong, investing in the next generation of African leaders will accelerate the development of the African continent.
Today, African youth between ages 14-35 make up more than 50% of the continent’s population. By 2030, they will represent 41% of the world’s youth. If offered the right prospects and opportunities to strengthen their skills and talents, African youth can transform Africa – and, indeed, the world.
The AAI Future Leaders Legacy Fund provides scholarships to bright, yet underresourced African students, who would be the first in their family to attend university, with the opportunity to study in top-performing African universities and colleges to earn bachelor’s degrees and vocational and technical training certifications.
EADB Math, Science, Technology and Engineering University Scholarship Program
East African Development Bank has launched the EADB Math, Science, Technology and Engineering University Scholarship Program, in partnership with The Africa-America Institute. Multiple fast-track, 12 month scholarships will be available to experienced teachers and lecturers with a bachelor’s degree in math, science, technology and engineering with an interest in pursuing a graduate degree in those fields in the United States at Rutgers University a world-class university less than an hour away from New York City.
State of Education in Africa
Bringing together educators and innovators from Africa and the U.S., the education conference highlighted bold approaches to improving the quality of education at all levels to advance development progress and bolster Africa’s global competitiveness and economic growth.
The overarching goals of the State of Education in Africa conference aims:
To have a solution-driven conversation with policy-makers, educators, administrators, philanthropists and those interested in capacity-building about the challenges and opportunities in education on the African continent.
To elevate and mainstream the conversation on education as a key component of the economic development narrative of Africa.
To use AAI’s convening power, visibility and thought-leadership to uniquely identify both the primary obstacles and the practical interventions, which must be implemented to improve the educational landscape in Africa.
AAI Speaker Series
The AAI Speaker Series provides an engaging forum for prominent AAI alumni and U.S., international and African thought leaders to offer fresh insights, perspectives and viewpoints on issues relevant to African domestic policies and U.S. and international policies toward Africa.
The Speaker Series offers a platform for African perspectives to be highlighted in a public forum to inform and shape U.S. and international policies. Speakers will bring their expertise and insights about Africa for increased engagement and dialogue on key sectors and important issues of mutual concern to the continent and United States.
JIM OVIA FOUNDATION LEADERS SCHOLARSHIP
The Jim Ovia Foundation Leaders Scholarship (JOFLS) is a partnership between the Jim Ovia Foundation and AAI that will have a long-term impact in creating a better and brighter future for young Africans. The JOFLS is funded by the generous donation of $2 million pledged by Mr. Jim Ovia, Founder/Chairman of Zenith Bank and the Jim Ovia Foundation, on behalf of the Foundation. Through our University partners, Covenant University in Nigeria and Ashesi University in Ghana, the Jim Ovia Foundation Leaders Scholarship provided to select high achieving students, from under resourced backgrounds, a full education that will offer them with the necessary skills for a dynamic and innovation-driven career
School Services Program
AAI’s School Services Program works with K-12 communities to ensure that students have the educationally enriching and transformative experience of learning about Africa and its global Diaspora. The program provides a comprehensive array of supports that enable districts and schools to successfully: 1) design curricular content on Africa and African diaspora that is scholarly and free of bias and misinformation; and 2) deliver classroom instruction that supports student learning, self-leadership, and academic achievement and excellence.
Schools Services was created to meet the dual challenges of eliminating: the harmful K-12 educational practice of introducing students to Africa solely through the lens of European domination (enslavement and colonization); and the persistence of poor educational outcomes, particularly among black students.
AFRICAN DIPLOMATIC ORIENTATION AND ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM
Endorsed by the Washington African Diplomatic Corps, the African Diplomatic Orientation & Engagement program is designed to equip both new and experienced Ambassadors with the tools needed to ensure their ongoing success. The unique program convenes African Ambassadors in a conductive environment where they can learn from each other, and sectoral experts, on how to best maximize their impact as international representatives in the United States.
During the program, African Ambassadors are provided the opportunity to interact with key African and American governmental, academic and business leaders who have a strong interest in both promoting growth and prosperity in African countries and facing the challenges confronting the continent. The immersive program also provides significant interaction with sectoral leaders, senior Administration officials, Members of Congress, and American businesses leaders.
Where we work
External reviews
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, It is difficult to find the ongoing funding to support feedback collection
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Africa-America Institute
Board of directorsas of 11/14/2022
Ms. Christal Jackson
Mosaic Genius
Kofi Appenteng
Nik Amarteifio
Peter McKillop
Humble Lukanga
Khumo Shongwe
Robert McCarthy
Michelle Gavin
Mamadou Beye
Ousseina Alidou
Becky Edwards
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Not applicable -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Not applicable -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
We do not display disability information for organizations with fewer than 15 staff.
Equity strategies
Last updated: 11/14/2022GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.