Bees Abroad

What Bees Abroad does

Bees Abroad is a UK-registered charity (No. 1108464) founded in 1999 and headquartered in Wotton-under-Edge, UK, that supports rural communities across sub-Saharan Africa through sustainable beekeeping training and mentorship. The organization operates a community-led model in which rural African communities apply for beekeeping support, are reviewed for sustainability and viability, and then receive training delivered through local partners and in-country trainers over a typical three-year project cycle. As of the latest reporting period, Bees Abroad has 50 live projects across 7 countries (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Nigeria, Ghana, and Sierra Leone), has trained 2,328 beekeepers, supported 151 communities, and reached an estimated 18,414 beneficiaries including indirect household members. The beneficiary mix skews toward women (58%) and youth under 25 (15%), with deliberate programming for people with disabilities and smallholder farmers.

The organization offers a unified programme comprising core beekeeping training and mentorship, free beekeeping manuals in 7 languages, the Hive Twinning solidarity programme (£60 per hive per year), the Pollinate Progress campaign targeting Nigeria, and annual impact reports. Its underlying methodology combines traditional beekeeping knowledge with modern techniques adapted for rural African contexts, emphasizing train-the-trainer approaches and long-term community ownership. There is no proprietary technology platform; delivery is facilitated by a network of 32 in-country partner organizations and local trainers.

Bees Abroad generates no commercial revenue and is funded entirely through charitable donations. Income streams include individual donations (700+ supporters), organizational donors (100+), corporate partnerships (20+ corporate supporters including Hive Twinning and gift-in-kind arrangements), legacy gifts, and the Hive Twinning programme. Operations are supported by approximately 2.5 paid staff and 29 volunteers. The organization holds membership in One Percent for the Planet and has partnerships with entities including the Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers, LIDEFO (Uganda), and Wild Survivors (Tanzania). No parent company, institutional funding rounds, or commercial product sales are present.

Name

Bees Abroad

Legal name

Bees Abroad

Website

https://beesabroad.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bees Abroad is a UK-registered charity that trains rural communities across 7 sub-Saharan African countries in sustainable beekeeping over three-year cycles, funded entirely by donations and delivered through 32 local partner organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Beekeeping Programs

NAICS

Apiculture (11291), Apiculture (112910), Support Activities for Animal Production (115210)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Beekeeping Training, Education & Advisory Services (AFAEAHAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Honey Production & Extraction (AFAEAHAA), Apiary Management Services (Contract Beekeeping, Hive Maintenance) (AFAEAHAJ), Organic Apiculture (Beekeeping) (AFAEAMAG)

Keywords

• Sustainable beekeeping training
• Community development programs
• Rural livelihood support
• Charitable beekeeping initiatives
• African agriculture training

Headquarters

HQ city

Wotton-under-Edge

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations from Individual Supporters: Bees Abroad receives donations from individual supporters who contribute to fund beekeeping projects. The organization mentions 700+ individual donors.
2. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: Companies partner with Bees Abroad through initiatives like gift-in-kind donations, employee volunteering, and Hive Twinning programs. Over 20 corporate supporters and 100+ organizational donors are mentioned.
3. Legacy Gifts: Supporters can leave bequests in their wills to Bees Abroad, creating lasting charitable legacies.
4. Hive Twinning Program: Individuals and organizations can twin with specific beekeeping projects starting from £60 per hive per year, receiving exclusive updates and certificates in return.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Bees Abroad delivers sustainable beekeeping training, mentorship, and equipment to rural African communities over a three-year project cycle, funded through donations from individuals and corporate supporters. The organization provides beehives, mobile honey shops, locally appropriate training, and ongoing mentoring delivered via in-country partner organizations and local trainers, helping communities generate income from honey and beeswax products while improving crop yields through natural pollination.

Product overview

Bees Abroad is a UK-registered charity (No. 1108464) operating since 1999 that supports communities across Africa through sustainable beekeeping. The organization offers a unified programme of beekeeping training and mentorship, delivered via local partners over a three-year project cycle, complemented by the Hive Twinning programme for direct community support, the Pollinate Progress campaign targeting Nigeria specifically, and free beekeeping educational resources in multiple languages. Projects span 7 countries with 50 live initiatives, supporting communities to generate sustainable income, protect local environments, and build self-reliance through beekeeping skills.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hive Twinning: A program where individuals or organizations can twin with a beekeeping project for £60 per hive per year, receiving exclusive project updates and a welcome pack.
• Pollinate Progress

Products and services

• Beekeeping Training and Mentorship Programme
• Hive Twinning Programme

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 30% increase in crop yields through natural pollination
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers19 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and moderate.

• Wild Bee CompanycoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026The Wild Bee Company, founded by Moni, has twinned with the Ifelodun Beekeepers Farmers Association in Nigeria for the full three-year project duration. This is a sustained partnership where the company follows the progress of the women-led project from initial training through first harvest and beyond, providing ongoing support alongside the community.
• LIDEFOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLIDEFO is the local implementing partner in Uganda, led by Daniel Ngangasi. They deliver beekeeping training and support to communities in the Kasese region, including the Rwenzori Tuyihimbe Agro and Eco-Tourism Association. Bees Abroad's Partnership Manager Mark Wilcox works directly with LIDEFO to oversee five incubator projects.
• World VisionminorOthersWorld Vision has provided additional support to communities previously trained by Bees Abroad. When the Kyakiiza Women's Group's original hives needed replacement, World Vision stepped in with new hives, demonstrating continued support beyond initial project cycles.
• Wild SurvivorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Wild Survivors to implement elephant bee fences - an innovative approach to reducing human-wildlife conflict while creating beekeeping income opportunities. The project includes tree planting and supporting women's honey and beeswax micro-enterprises in Tanzania.
• One Percent for the PlanetmoderateGTM or Marketing PartnerBees Abroad is a member of One Percent for the Planet, an organization of businesses committing to donate 1% of revenue to environmental causes. This membership provides visibility and credibility among environmentally-conscious consumers and businesses.
• Wax Chandlers CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers is a historic London livery company supporting Bees Abroad through the Master Lynda Marston-Weston. They have provided venue space (Wax Chandlers Hall) for lectures and expressed support for Bees Abroad's innovative project model.
• Pam GregoryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPam Gregory is a beekeeping author whose books have inspired beekeeping advocates in Nigeria. Her published works are used worldwide to empower people through beekeeping, including by Mrs Afuape who was inspired to become a beekeeper after reading her books.
• Talusier (Hydromellerie Tal)moderateGTM or Marketing PartnerTalusier, a mead producer based in Quebec City, Canada, has twinned with the Bee Farmers on Crutches project. As a 1% for the Planet member, they use honey from 150 hives to craft carbonated meads and support Bees Abroad's mission to empower disenfranchised communities through beekeeping.
• Wirral Beekeepers AssociationmoderateGTM or Marketing PartnerWirral Beekeepers Association in the UK is twinned with three Bees Abroad projects: Bee Farmers on Crutches, Biringo Women, and Umutara Deaf School. Members receive personal updates and are closely connected to these projects.
• Jo Hemsley / Corporate TwinmoderateGTM or Marketing PartnerJo Hemsley, Director of Corporate Sales, has twinned rooftop beehives with the Kome Island Women Beekeepers in Tanzania. The partnership has also led to a 'Bee Our Guest' package combining hospitality services with donations to Bees Abroad.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• One Percent for the Planet: Network connecting member businesses with environmental nonprofits, including Bees Abroad as a listed partner. Adjacent as a funding/distribution partner rather than a competitor.

Direct peers

• Farm Africa: UK charity delivering sustainable agriculture, enterprise, and market access programs across eastern Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Uganda, DRC). Highly comparable in targeting East African smallholders for income diversification, though not beekeeping-specific.
• Self Help Africa: Ireland/UK-registered NGO delivering enterprise and agricultural development across sub-Saharan Africa. Comparable target geography and rural smallholder livelihoods focus, though broader than apiculture.
• Traidcraft Exchange: UK charity tackling poverty through smallholder enterprise and trade in Africa and South Asia. Comparable donor-base structure and rural-income-generation focus, though not beekeeping-specific.
• Send a Cow: UK charity supporting rural African families with sustainable livelihoods including beekeeping. Similar donor-funded model, volunteer-led ethos, and three-year project cycle approach.
• Twin and Twinings Foundation: UK charity supporting smallholder producer cooperatives in Africa and Latin America, notably in beekeeping/coffee/cocoa. Closely comparable in beekeeping smallholder focus, though also broader commodities.
• Bees for Development: UK-based nonprofit that supports beekeeping livelihoods in developing countries, particularly Africa. Shares the same mission of poverty alleviation through apiculture, similar community-training model, and a comparable donor-funded charity structure — the closest functional peer to Bees Abroad.
• Vita (Irish NGO): Ireland-based international development charity working with rural African communities on sustainable livelihoods including beekeeping. Comparable mission, community-training approach, and donor-charity structure.

Broad incumbents

• Practical Action: UK charity using technology to tackle poverty in developing countries, including some agricultural and beekeeping programming. Comparable donor-funded international development posture at significantly larger scale.

Emerging players

• World Bicycle Relief: UK/US charity funding livelihood tools (bicycles) for rural African communities. Comparable UK-donor-funded small-charity operational model targeting sub-Saharan African smallholders, though different sector.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BeesAbroad
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@beesabroad
• Facebookfacebook.com/beesabroad
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bees-abroad
• Instagraminstagram.com/beesabroad

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Bees Abroad