About

Our Story


From a 2019 founding vision to a continent-wide policy actor — the African Renaissance Trust is built to challenge the structural forces that hold Africa back.

2019 — A founding vision

African Renaissance was established in 2019 in response to a structural gap in continental development: technical institutions producing analysis without direct lines into AU decision-making, and AU processes lacking the granular evidence to translate ambition into policy.

From its earliest convenings, the organisation positioned itself at the convergence of duty bearers and rights holders — bridging the distance between continental frameworks and the lived realities they are designed to change.

2021 — Registered as a Trust

In 2021, African Renaissance was formally registered as a Trust under Kenyan law, headquartered in Nairobi. Trust status anchors the organisation in a governance form that prioritises long-horizon institutional stewardship over project-cycle deliverables.

2026 — A continental policy actor

Today, African Renaissance Trust operates at the convergence of duty bearers, rights holders, policy, and practice — convening decision-makers, technical experts, and active citizens around the policy choices that shape African lives.

Change starts where power sits.
Milestones

A continental footprint, built deliberately

Five reference points that anchor the institution's trajectory.

  • 2019 Founded in Nairobi as a continental policy actor
  • 2021 Registered as a Trust under Kenyan law
  • 2023 Gates Foundation catalytic capital
  • 2025 ACHPR Sanitation Guidelines partnership
  • 2026 GEYSI Toolkit launch at the 39th AU Summit
Governance & stewardship

How we are structured

African Renaissance Trust is registered under Kenyan trust law, audited annually, and governed by a Board of Trustees. Our governance and financial documents will be published on this page as the site moves out of draft.

01

Legal form

Trust registered under the Trustees (Perpetual Succession) Act, Kenya, 2021. Long-horizon institutional stewardship by design.

02

Audit

Annual external audit and unqualified financial reporting. Donor-compliant tax status confirmed with the Kenya Revenue Authority.

03

Policies

Safeguarding, conflict of interest, and anti-bribery policies in force across all engagements. Document library coming with the live site.

Read our Theory of Change

The methodology behind Connect · Inform · Activate — and how it plays out across our three pillars.