GESCI

What GESCI does

GESCI (Global e-Schools and Communities Initiative) is an international non-profit, non-governmental organisation founded in 2003 on the recommendation of the United Nations ICT Task Force, originally headquartered in Dublin, Ireland and relocated to Nairobi, Kenya in 2011 under a Host Country Agreement with the Government of Kenya. The organisation works with national governments — primarily ministries of education, science & technology, innovation, and vocational training across more than 16 African countries plus selected Latin American and Asian engagements — to integrate ICT into education systems and build leadership capacity for Knowledge Society development. Its core product surface is a portfolio of interconnected programs built on the proprietary Digital Schools of Distinction framework, including the African Digital Schools Initiative (ADSI) for whole-school ICT integration in secondary education, the ALICT blended learning leadership programme credentialed by Dublin City University, the African Knowledge Exchange (AKE) creative-media youth skills model, the SIPSE STEM teacher pilot, the ADAPT assessment policy research initiative, and a stream of Expert Consultancy Services covering M&E, policy advice, and capacity building.

Underlying the programmes are several reusable methodologies and frameworks — the Digital Schools of Distinction pathway (e-initial → e-confident → e-mature), the ADSI whole-school model, the AKE Living Lab action-research methodology developed with Aalto Media Lab, and the ADAPT assessment framework — rather than a single software platform; no proprietary SaaS, API, or AI model is offered. GESCI does not sell commercial products. Its business model is grant-funded technical assistance: it secures multi-year grants from institutional donors (SIDA, Mastercard Foundation, Finland's Ministry for Foreign Affairs, SDC, Ireland, Canada) and delivers programs through MoUs with ministries, with services categorised as professional services and donor-funded consultancy. Customer concentration is structurally high — every named counterparty is a government ministry or multilateral body — and revenue is not publicly disclosed. GESCI operates with sales-led direct engagement, has been designated by the African Union as having flagship programmes, chairs the CESA ICT in Education Cluster, and maintains a 500+ member alumni network of credentialed policy-makers across Africa.

Name

GESCI

Legal name

The Global e-Schools and Communities Initiative (GESCI)

Website

https://gesci.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

GESCI is a Kenya-headquartered international non-profit founded in 2003 that delivers grant-funded technical assistance, training programmes, and proprietary ICT-in-education frameworks to government ministries — primarily across 16+ African countries — under flagship designations from the African Union and core funding from SIDA, Mastercard Foundation, and Finland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Education Development Services

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Online/Hybrid Lifelong Learning Platforms & Open Enrollment Programs (EDAAAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Project, Quality & Operations (PMP PDUs, Six Sigma, Quality CE) (EDAAALAM), United Nations System & Specialized Agencies (BPADAAAA)

Keywords

• ICT in education
• Teacher professional development
• Education policy advisory
• Digital skills training
• School ICT integration

Headquarters

HQ city

Nairobi

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Development Funding and Grants: GESCI is primarily funded through grants and funding from international development partners including SIDA (Swedish Development Agency), Mastercard Foundation, Ministry for Foreign Affairs Finland, and other bilateral donors. The organization is a non-profit international NGO.
2. Expert Consultancy Services: GESCI provides technical and strategic consultancy services to governments and ministries including monitoring, evaluation and research services, policy advice, and capacity building and training services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

GESCI is an international non-profit organisation that delivers technical and strategic assistance, capacity building, and ICT-integration programmes to governments and education institutions across Africa and select developing countries. Its offering spans whole-school digital transformation frameworks (ADSI/DSD), leadership development courses for government officials (ALICT), teacher professional development, youth digital skills and entrepreneurship programmes (AKE), research initiatives on 21st-century skills assessment (ADAPT), and direct expert consultancy to ministries.

Product overview

GESCI (Global e-Schools and Communities Initiative) is an international non-profit organization that works with governments and partners to develop and implement models of good ICT-based practice for high-quality education and training. The organization offers a portfolio of interconnected programmes: ADAPT focuses on 21st century skills assessment research; the African Digital Schools Initiative (ADSI) provides whole-school ICT integration for secondary education; the GESCI Digital Schools of Distinction Framework offers a structured methodology for school development; SIPSE pilots innovative STEM teaching approaches; ALICT delivers leadership development for government officials; TVSD and African Knowledge Exchange (AKE) programmes build digital skills and youth entrepreneurship; and Expert Consultancy Services provide technical assistance to governments. These programmes are complemented by teacher professional development, community-based learning, and crisis education initiatives. GESCI's work is grounded in its Digital Schools of Distinction framework and is supported by various policy documents and guidelines.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• African Digital Schools Initiative (ADSI) A comprehensive multi-country programme that transforms secondary schools into digital schools of distinction through whole-school ICT integration, STEM-focused teaching improvement, 21st-century skills development, and teacher professional development. Delivered to government ministries and secondary schools in Africa.
• ALICT - African Leadership in ICT and Knowledge Society Development A nine-month professional blended learning course (six online modules plus three face-to-face workshops) that builds leadership capacity for mid- and senior-level government officials on the role of ICTs in inclusive and sustainable Knowledge Society development. Delivered to government officials from Ministries of Education, ICT, STI, Skills Development, and related agencies.
• ADAPT - Adapting Assessment into Policy and Learning A research project building capacity for integrating and assessing 21st-century skills, supporting utilization of learning assessments at school and sub-national levels. Implemented in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania with academic consortium partners.
• African Knowledge Exchange (AKE) Programme An integrated model for digitally-driven skills development and start-up creation in the creative media sector, covering animation, games design, and music and sound production. Delivered to youth aged 15-25 in Africa with industry mentorship and Living Lab methodology.
• SIPSE - Partnership to Strengthen Innovation and Practice in Secondary Education A pilot programme that uses ICTs to train secondary school teachers to strengthen their pedagogical skills and ability to integrate ICT into teaching practice, with a focus on improving STEM subject teaching quality.
• Technical Vocational Skills Development (TVSD) - Digital Skills and Youth Entrepreneurship Programmes empowering youth through ICT-infused technical and vocational skills development and entrepreneurship development for employment and self-employment, including creative digital media skills.
• Expert Consultancy Services Monitoring, evaluation and research services, policy advice, high-level dialogue facilitation, and capacity building training on ICT integration in education, teacher education, youth skills development, and school and community-based development. Delivered to ministries of education and related agencies.
• Community-Based Learning Programmes Programmes providing relevant learning opportunities to marginalized groups and communities in informal environments using ICT-enabled approaches.
• ICT-Enabled Education for Children and Youth in Crisis Environments Technology-driven education opportunities for children and youth living in refugee camps and crisis environments, providing access to education through ICT facilitation.

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, major and minor.

• African Union CommissionflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerGESCI chairs the CESA ICT in Education Cluster and is a member of STEM and Teacher Education Clusters. GESCI co-developed the Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA) and is central to its ongoing implementation. ALICT programme is an African Union flagship initiative.
• UNESCOmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGESCI has consultancy services, partnerships and collaboration with UNESCO in Africa and globally. GESCI was invited to become a member of the International Task Force on Teachers (ITFT/UNESCO) in 2017.
• UNICEFmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership and collaboration on education initiatives. GESCI collaborated with UNICEF on study of ICT integration in education in West Africa.
• Makerere University College of Education and External Studies (CEES)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium partner in ADAPT project implementing research on 21st century skills assessment in East Africa. GESCI leads the consortium with Makerere University and University of Notre Dame.
• University of Notre Dame Global Center for the Development of the Whole ChildmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium partner in ADAPT project. GC-DWC brings expertise in adolescent development research to the partnership focused on 21st century skills assessment.
• Dublin City University (DCU)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDCU awards Graduate Diplomas in 'Leadership in ICT and Knowledge Society Development in Africa' to ALICT programme graduates. GESCI delivered the programme in partnership with DCU across 16 African countries.
• mEducation AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGESCI was invited to become a member of the Steering Committee of the mEducation Alliance, Washington in 2016.
• Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGESCI is a partner and collaborator with FAWE. GESCI developed the Leadership Development Programme for Women Leaders in collaboration with FAWE.
• Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGESCI is a partner and collaborator with ADEA. GESCI participated in and co-hosted sessions at ADEA's Triennale in Dakar, 2017.
• Millennium@EDUminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGESCI co-hosted a dedicated session on ICT integration and sustainable development in Africa with Millennium@Edu during UN General Assembly week.
• IGAD (Inter-Governmental Authority on Development)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGESCI is a member of the consultative IGAD and core partners on the implementation of the Djibouti declaration and plan of action on refugee education. MoUs in negotiation with IGAD.
• Ministry of Education, Science & Technology (Kenya)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner for ADSI programme implementation in Kenya with 80 schools. Kenya is GESCI's host country.
• Ministry of Education & Vocational Training (Tanzania)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner for ADSI programme implementation in Tanzania with 40 schools.
• Ministry of National and Technical Education (Côte d'Ivoire)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGESCI signed MoU in 2016 with Côte d'Ivoire to implement strategies to integrate ICT in education and facilitate education system reform.
• International Task Force on Teachers for Education 2030minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGESCI was invited to become a member in 2017, contributing to global teacher policy dialogue.
• University of Aalto Media Lab (Finland)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExpert centre on the Living Lab model partnered with GESCI on the AKE creative media programme methodology.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/gesci
• Facebookfacebook.com/GlobaleSchoolsandCommunitiesInitiative
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gesci

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about GESCI