What Mo Ibrahim Foundation does

The Mo Ibrahim Foundation (MIF) is a London-headquartered non-profit foundation established in 2006-2007 by Sudanese-British businessman Mo Ibrahim, operationally domiciled as MIF Services UK Ltd. Its mission is to improve governance and leadership in Africa through three integrated pillars: data and research, convening and dialogue, and leadership development. Core outputs include the Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG) Data Portal, which tracks over 300 governance measures across all 54 African countries; the annual Ibrahim Governance Weekend (IGW), which convenes heads of state, policymakers, youth, and international stakeholders; the Now Generation Network (NGN), a pan-African coalition of young and mid-career professionals; the Ibrahim Leadership Fellowships, which place African professionals in mentoring roles at multilateral institutions (AfDB, ITC, UNECA); the Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership; and scholarship programs at partner universities including SOAS and Chatham House.

The Foundation's technology footprint centers on the IIAG Data Portal (iiag.online), a self-serve web platform enabling users to explore and compare governance indicators across the continent. Supplementary digital channels include research publications, data stories, and a webinar series (mif.live). The Foundation is grant-funded and endowment-supported, with no commercial revenue from products or services; all programs, fellowships, and data access are provided free of charge. Funding derives primarily from Mo Ibrahim's personal resources, and the Foundation maintains editorial independence in its research output. The 20th anniversary will be marked at the 2027 Ibrahim Governance Weekend, indicating a mature, established institution rather than an early-stage growth entity.

Name

Mo Ibrahim Foundation

Legal name

MIF Services UK Ltd

Website

https://mo.ibrahim.foundation

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Mo Ibrahim Foundation is a London-based non-profit established in 2006 that conducts governance research and leadership development for Africa. It operates the IIAG Data Portal covering 54 African countries, hosts the annual Ibrahim Governance Weekend, and runs fellowships, scholarships, and the Ibrahim Prize for African leadership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Governance Research & Advocacy

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

akta.pro primary industry

International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH)

Keywords

• African governance research
• Leadership development programs
• Governance data analysis
• Policy research publications
• Youth leadership development

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Foundation Operations: The Mo Ibrahim Foundation is a grant-funded organization established by Mo Ibrahim to improve governance and leadership in Africa through research, convening, and leadership development programs.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Mo Ibrahim Foundation is a private charitable foundation that conducts governance research on Africa and convenes stakeholders to address leadership challenges on the continent. Its core offerings include the Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG), a data portal tracking over 300 governance measures across 54 African countries, the Now Generation Network for youth leadership development, one-year Leadership Fellowships at multilateral institutions, scholarships for postgraduate study, the annual Ibrahim Governance Weekend, and the Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership.

Product overview

The Mo Ibrahim Foundation operates as a research and convening organization rather than a traditional technology product company. Its core offerings include the IIAG Data Portal (providing over 300 governance indicators across African nations), the Now Generation Network (a youth leadership coalition spanning all 54 African countries), Ibrahim Leadership Fellowships (mentoring programmes at multilateral institutions), the Ibrahim Governance Weekend (annual forum), the Ibrahim Prize for African Leadership, and various research publications and webinars. The Foundation functions as a unified platform for governance data, youth leadership development, and stakeholder convening on African development issues.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG): Comprehensive data portal measuring governance across African countries with over 300 indicators
• Ibrahim Governance Weekend (IGW)
• Now Generation Network (NGN)
• Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership
• Ibrahim Leadership Fellowships
• Ibrahim Scholarships

Products and services

• IIAG Data Portal The Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG) Data Portal provides over 300 measures of governance data across African countries, allowing users to explore and compare data on safety and rule of law, participation and human rights, sustainable economic opportunity, and human development. It serves governments, researchers, and civil society seeking continental-level governance benchmarks.
• Now Generation Network (NGN) A coalition of young and mid-career Africans from all 54 African countries committed to moving the continent's development agenda forward, providing leadership development and networking opportunities.
• Ibrahim Leadership Fellowships One-year mentoring programmes at leading multilateral institutions for outstanding African professionals, providing both technical and leadership skills while contributing to research and policy design.
• Ibrahim Governance Weekend (IGW) Annual forum bringing together leading voices from across Africa and beyond to discuss issues of critical importance to the continent's progress, featuring the Ibrahim Forum, Leadership Ceremony, and Now Generation Forum.
• Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership Annual award recognizing exceptional achievement in African leadership, honoring former heads of state who have demonstrated outstanding leadership service.
• Mo Ibrahim Foundation Scholarship at SOAS Scholarship programme at SOAS University of London supporting future leaders committed to Africa's development, providing two awards for full-time taught master's degrees with a total value of £45,479 each.
• Analysis & Publications Research reports, forum documents, and policy analysis publications providing data-led analysis on governance challenges at the continental level.
• Data Stories Visual and narrative presentations of governance data findings, making complex data accessible through storytelling and infographics.
• Webinars Online webinar series featuring discussions on African governance, development, and leadership topics with expert speakers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 43+ Fellows placed at leading multilateral institutions since 2012
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• African Development Bank (AfDB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe African Development Bank hosts Ibrahim Leadership Fellows as part of the fellowship programme. Fellows gain experience within the Bank's development finance operations, working alongside senior leadership.
• International Trade Centre (ITC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe International Trade Centre hosts Ibrahim Leadership Fellows, providing exposure to international trade policy and development work.
• United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNECA hosts Ibrahim Leadership Fellows, offering experience in continental economic policy and development research.
• Chatham HousecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Mo Ibrahim Foundation Academy Fellowship at Chatham House supports African professionals to undertake independent research and develop leadership skills within a global policy environment.
• SOAS University of LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Mo Ibrahim Foundation Scholarship at SOAS provides two awards for students undertaking full-time taught master's degrees, with each award valued at £45,479 covering tuition and maintenance.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Center for Global Development: Independent policy research organization focused on global development and governance — comparable in producing data-driven research and policy recommendations on developing-country governance.
• Chatham House (Royal Institute of International Affairs): International affairs think tank and an actual MIF partner for the Academy Fellowship — comparable in policy research output and convening power on African and global issues.

Broad incumbents

• African Development Bank (AfDB): Continental multilateral development finance institution — comparable as a pan-African institution shaping economic governance, and an actual host partner for MIF's fellowship program.
• Open Society Foundations: Global grantmaking foundation funding governance and rights work across Africa and beyond — comparable as a large international grantmaking institution with governance and accountability themes.
• Brookings Institution: Large US-based public policy research organization producing governance and development research — comparable as an established think tank producing policy research used by governments and multilaterals.
• Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: Largest global philanthropic foundation with significant African programming — comparable as a well-endowed, founder-led foundation producing continent-scale research and convening on development.

Direct peers

• African Leadership University: Pan-African higher education and leadership development institution with campuses serving students from many African countries — directly comparable in mission (developing African leaders) and youth-focused programming.
• Nelson Mandela Foundation: Legacy foundation of a former African head of state focused on social justice, memory, and leadership — comparable as a high-profile African-head-of-state-linked philanthropic foundation driving policy dialogue.
• ONE Campaign: Advocacy and campaigning organization focused on African development, poverty, and governance — comparable as a non-profit driving African policy outcomes through research, advocacy, and convening.
• Tony Blair Institute for Global Change: Global governance-focused institute with a heavy Africa footprint advising African heads of state on governance reform — directly comparable in mission (African governance and leadership) and delivery model (convening, advisory, research).

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mo_ibrahimfdn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-mo-ibrahim-foundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/MoIbrahimFoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Mo Ibrahim Foundation