AFRICAN CLEAN UP INITIATIVE

Name

AFRICAN CLEAN UP INITIATIVE

Legal name

African Cleanup Initiative

Website

https://africancleanupinitiative.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental & Community Services

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953), Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) (BPAGABAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Solid Waste & Recycling Services Administration (BPAIACAH)

Keywords

• Community cleanup
• Environmental education
• Waste recycling
• Sustainability programs
• Environmental advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Lagos

HQ country

Nigeria

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: ACI operates as a registered NGO sustained by donations from individuals and institutional donors. The GlobalGiving platform is used for online fundraising, with campaigns such as the RecyclesPay Educational Project collecting contributions to support children's school fees via recyclables.
2. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: ACI partners with corporations (Nestlé, Coca-Cola, Access Bank, Wema Bank, Sterling One Foundation, Betking, Oando, OVH Energy, Maggi, Tech Mahindra) who fund or co-implement environmental cleanup, health, and education projects as part of their CSR mandates.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

African Clean Up Initiative (ACI) is a Nigerian environmental nonprofit that organizes volunteer-driven community cleanups, recycling, and environmental education programs across more than 11 Nigerian states. The organization operates initiatives such as the RecyclesPay Educational Project, which enables parents to pay school fees using recyclable waste, alongside training programs, advocacy campaigns, and community development projects.

Product overview

African Cleanup Initiative (ACI) operates as a portfolio of environmental programs and projects rather than a unified software product. The core offerings center around community cleanup initiatives (Cleanup Naija, Green Independence Cleanup, Lagos Cleanup Challenge, Clean For Impact) and educational programs (RecyclesPay Educational Project, ACI Academy, GreenFootprint Project). Secondary offerings include health-focused initiatives (Bottles For Pad, Bottles For Diaper, Sabimidwife), community support projects (Beyond Waste, Wash Related Projects, REAP), awareness events (Africa Cleanup Conference and Award, RecyclesPay Debate Competition), and the Sabi Recycle Project. The RecyclesPay Educational Project serves as a flagship initiative allowing parents to pay school fees with recyclables, while ACI Academy provides both in-person and virtual environmental education. The organization functions primarily as a non-profit implementing grassroots environmental programs rather than selling software or technology products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ACI Academy: An arm of African Cleanup Initiative founded to fulfill the organization's mission of raising environmentally responsible citizens through environmental education, strategy, and community service.

Products and services

• RecyclesPay Educational Project A flagship initiative that allows parents/guardians to offset school fees for their children by collecting and depositing recyclable waste, targeting low-income families and schools across Nigeria.
• ACI Academy An educational and capacity-building program that trains volunteers, community members, and partner organizations on environmental management, recycling, and sustainability practices.
• Cleanup Naija A nationwide community cleanup campaign mobilizing volunteers to clear waste from public spaces, streets, and waterways in Nigerian communities.
• Clean For Impact A service offering targeted at organizations and corporate entities that combines facility-based cleaning and waste removal with environmental impact reporting.
• Bottles For Pad An initiative that enables women and girls to exchange collected plastic bottles for sanitary pads, addressing both waste management and menstrual hygiene needs.
• Bottles For Diaper An initiative that allows caregivers to exchange collected plastic bottles for diapers, supporting low-income families while diverting plastic waste.
• Sabimidwife An information platform supporting maternal health awareness and education, complementing ACI's broader community health and sanitation work.
• GreenFootprint Project A school- and community-based environmental education program that teaches sustainability practices and waste segregation habits.
• Sabi Recycle Project A community recycling initiative that educates households on sorting waste and channels recyclables to collection and processing streams.
• Beyond Waste Project A community support project addressing wider development needs of waste-pickers and vulnerable households, beyond just waste collection.
• Wash Related Projects A Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) program delivering hygiene education, sanitation infrastructure support, and clean water advocacy in underserved communities.
• REAP (Recyclers Economic Advancement Project) An advocacy and empowerment program that supports informal waste recyclers through policy advocacy, training, and economic advancement initiatives.

Quantifiable outcome

• 870+ volunteers engaged; 2,856.4 kg solid waste and 312.5 kg recyclables recovered across 18 cleanups in H1 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

29 partnerships are on record, tiered core, notable and minor.

• Coca-ColacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCoca-Cola is listed as a partner supporting ACI's environmental cleanup and sustainability initiatives. Nature of partnership involves co-implementation of environmental programs.
• Wema BankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerWema Bank supports ACI's environmental initiatives as part of corporate social responsibility. The partnership contributes to cleanup and sustainability projects.
• WecyclerscoreTechnology or IntegrationWecyclers is a Lagos-based waste management company specializing in recyclable collection. Listed as a partner supporting ACI's waste recovery and recycling programs.
• OVH Energy MarketingnotableGTM or Marketing PartnerOVH Energy Marketing partnered with ACI on the Roll Back Malaria Program at Marine Beach, providing treated mosquito nets to community members. Also supports cleanup activities.
• BetkingnotableGTM or Marketing PartnerBetking partnered with ACI for the BetKing Cares Cleanup Project — a cleanup drive carried out in six locations across four states (Lagos, Abuja, Benin, Port Harcourt) from April to May 2022.
• OandonotableGTM or Marketing PartnerOando is listed as a partner supporting ACI's environmental sustainability initiatives.
• Sterling One FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSterling One Foundation is a key partner powering beach cleanup events including the Iwerekun Beach adoption program, Alpha Beach cleanup, and Oniru Beach cleanup. The foundation adopts beaches and funds cleanup activities executed by ACI.
• Nestlé Nigeria / Nestlé CarescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNestlé Cares, in conjunction with Maggi, partnered with ACI for World Cleanup Day 2022, conducting cleanup activities in 10 markets across 8 Nigerian states. Also supports other environmental programs.
• Ven FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVen Foundation is listed as a partner supporting ACI's environmental initiatives.
• Access BankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAccess Bank partnered with ACI for the Alpha Beach cleanup campaign on World Oceans Day 2022, bringing sustainability and climate action to the Alpha Beach community. ACI is listed among partners on the bank's website.
• United NationsnotableGTM or Marketing PartnerThe United Nations is listed as a partner, reflecting alignment with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). ACI works toward the realization of the 17-point UN SDGs.
• Susty VibeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSusty Vibe is listed as a partner supporting ACI's environmental sustainability initiatives.
• GlobalGivingcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGlobalGiving hosts ACI's RecyclesPay Educational Project fundraising campaign. The platform amplifies donations with matching campaigns (e.g., LITTLE by LITTLE campaign in April 2023).
• WAMASON (Waste Management Society of Nigeria)notableGTM or Marketing PartnerWAMASON is listed as a partner. ACI advisory board members hold leadership positions in WAMASON.
• TVC CommunicationsnotableGTM or Marketing PartnerTVC Communications partnered with ACI for the Clean For Impact Project to commemorate World Environment Day 2022 at Ketu Fruit Market. TVC donated waste bins to the market.
• Max FMminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMax FM is listed as a media/partner supporting ACI's environmental initiatives.
• MaggicoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMaggi partnered with Nestlé Cares and ACI for cleanup activities including Oniwaya Market cleanup in Agege, Lagos. Donated cleaning tools to market teams.
• RAN (Recyclers Association of Nigeria)notableGTM or Marketing PartnerRAN is listed as a partner. ACI participates in RAN-organized events and the association supports cleanup programs.
• Tech MahindranotableGTM or Marketing PartnerTech Mahindra initiated the cleanliness drive at Oniru Market (June 2022), with ACI as the implementing partner. Project was done on behalf of MTN Nigeria.
• Nestlé NigeriacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNestlé Nigeria collaborated with ACI on the January–June 2025 Progress Report cleanup activities, as part of ongoing corporate environmental partnership.
• Breet CaresnotableGTM or Marketing PartnerBreet Cares collaborated with ACI on the January–June 2025 Progress Report nationwide cleanup activities.
• Sterling One FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSterling One Foundation collaborated with ACI on the January–June 2025 Progress Report nationwide cleanup activities, continuing the established partnership.
• Green Sustainable Solution (GSS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGSS is a social enterprise partnered with ACI on the Sabi Recycle Project, launched in Ajegunle, Lagos. The project allows community members to exchange recyclables for food items and incentives. FBRA (Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance) and Lagos Recyclers Association also support this initiative.
• Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA)notableGTM or Marketing PartnerFBRA is partnered with ACI through the Sabi Recycle Project with Green Sustainable Solution. FBRA provides support for recycling value chain development.
• WEVOminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWEVO partnered with ACI for the International Youth Day Walk for Recycling and Environmental Sustainability Awareness event in Mushin community.
• Leap AfricaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLeap Africa partnered with ACI for the International Youth Day Walk for Recycling and Environmental Sustainability Awareness event.
• Youth Day of ServiceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerYouth Day of Service partnered with ACI for the International Youth Day Walk for Recycling and Environmental Sustainability Awareness event.
• Yagazie FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerYagazie Foundation partnered with ACI for the International Youth Day Walk for Recycling and Environmental Sustainability Awareness event.
• OVH Energy MarketingnotableGTM or Marketing PartnerOVH Energy Marketing provided 1,000 treated mosquito nets for Lagos communities and 1,000 nets for Rivers state as part of the Roll Back Malaria Campaign implemented by ACI.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Green Belt Movement: Kenyan grassroots environmental NGO founded by Wangari Maathai, focused on tree planting, community empowerment, and environmental advocacy. Comparable mission-driven African environmental NGO with a similar volunteer mobilization model.
• Recycle Points: Nigerian recycling rewards platform that lets households exchange recyclables for points redeemable as cash or goods. Closely comparable to ACI's RecyclesPay recyclables-for-value exchange model and operates in the same Lagos market.
• Waste Management Society of Nigeria (WAMASON): Nigerian professional society for waste management practitioners and listed ACI partner. Comparable in mission to professionalize and promote waste management practices across Nigeria.
• Susty Vibe: Nigerian sustainability-focused organization and ACI partner. Operates in overlapping Nigerian environmental awareness and community engagement space, targeting similar youth and corporate audiences.
• EarthEcho International: Youth-focused environmental education and engagement NGO founded by Philippe Cousteau Jr. Highly comparable to ACI Academy's mission of building environmentally responsible citizens through education and youth mobilization.
• Green Sustainable Solution (GSS): Nigerian social enterprise partnered with ACI on the Sabi Recycle Project, enabling community members to exchange recyclables for food items. Direct operational peer in the recyclables-for-incentives model.
• Wecyclers: Lagos-based waste management company specializing in door-to-door recyclable collection using cargo bicycles. Direct operational peer to ACI in the Lagos waste recovery and recycling space, and listed as an ACI partner.

Broad incumbents

• Greenpeace Africa: Africa office of the international environmental advocacy organization. Operates in the same environmental sustainability space as ACI but with global funding, larger teams, and advocacy-led rather than community-implementation focus.
• African Wildlife Foundation: Large pan-African conservation NGO with significantly greater resources, focusing on wildlife and habitat conservation. Comparable as an established African environmental NGO but operates at a far larger scale and broader geographic remit.
• Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA): Industry-led alliance of major FMCG companies (including Coca-Cola and Nestlé) focused on post-consumer packaging recycling in Nigeria. Listed ACI partner via Sabi Recycle; operates as an industry-wide coalition rather than a single implementing NGO.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/acinigeria
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/AfricanCleanUpInitiative
• Facebookfacebook.com/acinigeria
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/african-clean-up-initiative
• Instagraminstagram.com/acinigeria

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 AFRICAN CLEAN UP INITIATIVE