Fondation BENIANH International

What Fondation BENIANH International does

Fondation BENIANH International is a non-profit foundation of public utility headquartered in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, founded in 1996 by Noël AKOSSI BENDJO. Its mission is to identify and develop talented Ivorian students into an elite leadership pipeline for Africa, with a portfolio of eight interconnected programs: the Programme Bourses d'Excellence (PBE) for international scholarship funding, the Programme Leadership Féminin (PLF) for women in higher education, the Programme Caravane de l'Excellence (PCE) for mobile school outreach, the Programme d'Immersion Communautaire (PIC) for rural community field research, the Programme d'Appui aux associations d'étudiants (PAA) for student association support, the Programme Tests et Examens Internationaux (PTEI) operating as the official West African testing center for SAI, TAGE MAGE, and partner French business schools, the Programme Jeunes Talents en Fiscalité (PJTAF) co-developed with TOP TAX International for tax-career incubation, and the Yango Fellowship STEM scholarship with Yango Group. The foundation operates as a public utility under Côte d'Ivoire law, with a small staff of approximately 10 employees supplemented by a 100-member network of development actors and an alumni community of 450+ laureates placed at institutions and firms including HEC Paris, ESCP Europe, EM Lyon, Georgia Tech, EY Paris, Islamic Development Bank, BNP Paribas (BICICI), and Caterpillar West Africa.

The foundation funds its scholarship disbursements (over 4 billion FCFA, ~6+ million EUR, since 1996) primarily through corporate donations and partnerships with large Ivorian and multinational firms including BICICI (BNP Paribas), Deloitte, EY, NSIA Banque, Petro Ivoire, Interfroid, and Yango Group, complemented by individual patron donations in FCFA, EUR, and USD. Application fees are nominal (20,000-25,000 FCFA) and cover administrative costs only. The foundation also generates ancillary revenue streams through international exam administration (capacity of 150 students per session) and corporate training partnerships. Marketing is conducted through a WordPress-based website, LinkedIn-driven hashtag campaigns, an annual AWARDS ceremony, the Marché des Business Schools et Universités (MBSU) forum, and direct in-person engagement at its Abidjan (Cocody-Riviera Bonoumin) headquarters. Distribution is single-country, Côte d'Ivoire, with selected alumni activities extending to France and more recently to the Democratic Republic of Congo via PJTAF.

The organization's underlying technology is minimal — primarily a web-based information and application portal, basic donation forms, and an alumni profile site (laureat.fondationbenianh.org) — with no proprietary AI/ML, software platform, or data flywheel. Its competitive moat derives from its regulatory status as a recognized public utility, its 27+ year operating history, the West African exclusive testing-center arrangement for SAI and TAGE MAGE, and the self-reinforcing alumni network in which former laureates return as corporate sponsors, partners, and instructors.

Name

Fondation BENIANH International

Legal name

FONDATION BENIANH INTERNATIONAL

Website

https://fondationbenianh.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Fondation BENIANH International is a non-profit foundation of public utility in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, founded in 1996 to identify and fund Ivorian students for international higher education and leadership development. It serves scholars, female students, and student associations through scholarships, leadership training, and international exam administration.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education and Talent Development Foundation

NAICS

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

akta.pro primary industry

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH), Research Grants, Fellowships & Stipends (International) (EDAIAOAJ)

Keywords

• Higher education scholarships
• Student leadership programs
• International exam testing
• Talent development foundation
• Community immersion programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Abidjan

HQ country

Côte d’Ivoire

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Others, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Mécénat: The foundation relies on donations from individuals, companies, and patrons ('mécènes') who support its education-focused programs. The website features a donation form accepting contributions in FCFA, Euro, and USD.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Fondation BENIANH International is a private nonprofit foundation of public utility that identifies, funds, and develops top Ivorian talent for international higher education and leadership. Its core offerings include merit-based study scholarships (Programme Bourses d'Excellence) up to 5 million FCFA, women's leadership development (Programme Leadership Féminin), international admission exam administration (PTEI), community immersion field programs, support for student associations, and specialized taxation-talent incubation co-developed with TOP TAX International.

Product overview

Fondation BENIANH International operates as an education and professional development foundation recognized as a public utility in Côte d'Ivoire since 1996. Its portfolio centers on a suite of interconnected programs targeting talent identification, scholarship funding, leadership development, and community engagement. The core of its offerings is the Programme Bourses d'Excellence (PBE), which awards merit-based study grants to top Ivorian students for international university admission. This is complemented by the Programme Leadership Féminin (PLF), which runs multi-month training cycles for female university students, and the Programme Caravane de l'Excellence (PCE), which delivers career guidance directly to schools. The Programme d'Immersion Communautaire (PIC) sends alumni and young professionals into interior localities for field research, while the Programme d'Appui aux associations d'étudiants (PAA) supports student organizations with resources and networking. The Programme tests et examens internationaux (PTEI) serves as a regional testing hub for international business school admissions, and the Programme Jeunes Talents en Fiscalité (PJTAF) — developed with TOP TAX International — provides specialized tax career incubation. The Yango Fellowship adds a technology-oriented scholarship track. Together these programs form a vertically integrated pipeline: talent identification (PTEI, Caravane) → financial support (PBE, Yango Fellowship, PJTAF) → skills development (PLF, PIC, PAA) → alumni community engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Programme Bourses d'Excellence (PBE) Annual scholarship program that awards excellence-based study grants to Ivorian students admitted to renowned international universities and grandes écoles. Maximum awards are 4 million FCFA for European destinations and 5 million FCFA for the Americas, with tuition paid directly to institutions. Candidates must be under 35, hold a minimum BAC+4, and submit applications between March 1 and June 15 annually, with a 20,000 FCFA non-refundable application fee.
• Programme Leadership Féminin (PLF) Annual three-month women-only leadership development program targeting active female students in Ivorian university associations. Combines conferences, workshops, enterprise immersion days, and community projects in health, education, and employability. Has run from 2018 through at least its 5th edition (July–August 2025 at Hôpital Saint Jean-Baptiste de Bodo).
• Programme Caravane de l'Excellence (PCE) Mobile outreach program that travels to secondary schools and universities across Côte d'Ivoire to provide career guidance, share alumni experiences, and connect students with HR professionals and companies. Aims to narrow the gap between academic training and employment.
• Programme d'Immersion Communautaire (PIC) Field immersion program in which alumni and young Ivorian professionals spend three-day stays in interior localities to study local development potential, engage with community stakeholders, and produce investment-readiness reports for partner companies. Three destinations are selected annually.
• Programme d'Appui aux associations d'étudiants (PAA) Program providing material, equipment, and capacity-building support to student associations in Côte d'Ivoire and France that demonstrate excellence-promoting activities. Includes networking at foundation events with business leaders. Works with nine student associations including CGE, AEJCI, ADEPHARM, AIESEC, OITHA, GIEPHCI, BINKELEN, JCI, and AECPDEC.
• Programme tests et examens internationaux (PTEI) Program organizing international admission test sessions and proctored exam centers for grandes écoles and universities including HEC Paris, ESCP Europe, EM Lyon, Audencia, SKEMA, SAI, TAGE MAGE, and others. Since 2006, the foundation has served as the official testing center for West Africa, accommodating up to 150 students per session.
• Programme Jeunes Talents en Fiscalité (PJTAF) Taxation talent development and incubation program targeting Master's 2 graduates in taxation and business law, providing practical training, professional apprenticeships, and career placement support. Co-developed with TOP TAX International; funds 15 scholarships per cohort with a 25,000 FCFA application fee. Previously deployed in the Democratic Republic of Congo and expanded to Côte d'Ivoire in 2026.
• Yango Fellowship STEM scholarship program jointly operated with Yango Group in Côte d'Ivoire, awarding 600,000 FCFA per beneficiary along with personalized mentoring, co-development workshops, and community engagement requirements. Applications open February–March annually.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 450 students awarded scholarships totaling more than 4 billion FCFA since 1996
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TOP TAX InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 January 2026TOP TAX International, led by founder Paul Koffi Goli (a 2006 laureatus), co-launched the Programme Jeunes Talents en Fiscalité (PJTAF) 2026-2027 with the foundation. TOP TAX funds and co-develops the program, which provides 15 young talents in Côte d'Ivoire with fiscal training and professional immersion. The program has previously been deployed in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
• YANGOcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025YANGO Group partnered with the foundation to launch the Yango Fellowship scholarship program, promoting STEM excellence and technology education in Côte d'Ivoire. Each beneficiary receives 600,000 FCFA plus personalized mentoring and co-development workshops. Applications open February 18 to March 31, 2025.
• UberminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022Uber partnered as a mobility sponsor for the 3rd edition of the Programme Leadership Féminin in 2022, facilitating the transportation of 25 participants across Abidjan for program activities. Marjorie Saint Lot, Uber's Country Director, and Athanase Ogou Okaingni, DGA of the Foundation, formalized the partnership.
• Clinique PROCRÉAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPROCRÉA Clinic hosted the 4th edition of the Programme Leadership Féminin's health and wellness transmission conferences on September 23, 2023, offering young women leaders the opportunity to discover a procreation specialty clinic and a reference in West Africa.
• Hôpital Saint Jean-Baptiste de BodominorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnered with the foundation for the 5th edition of the Programme Leadership Féminin (July-August 2025), hosting 15 student participants for immersion in rural healthcare settings, with support from the Embassy of the Order of Malta.
• TgMastercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTgMaster, founded in 2013 by former PBE laureates, co-organizes the Marché des Business Schools et Universités (MBSU) forum and provides coaching for international entrance exams (Tage Mage, GMAT, TOEFL) to foundation beneficiaries. Achille Koukou, a 2007 laureatus, is co-organizer.
• Conférence des Grandes Ecoles (CGE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCGE groups engineering schools of INP-HB Yamoussoukro and Abidjan, ENSEA, ESCAE. The foundation works with CGE for student engagement and selected its members for the 3rd edition of the PLF program. Jean Steve Tian was President of CGE during his studies.
• AIESEC Côte d'IvoirecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation of Economics students partnered with the foundation for the Programme Leadership Féminin. Bintou Bance was an active member of AIESEC Abidjan-Nord and led several projects within the committee.
• BINKELENminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBINKELEN is an association of 750+ former students of Grandes Ecoles in France (formerly EX CIEGE), partnering with the foundation for student support and networking activities.
• Fin'ElleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFin'Elle partnered with the foundation for the 2nd edition of the Programme Leadership Féminin, providing 4 inaugural conferences to boost participants' skills and professional development.
• HEC PariscoreOthersHEC Paris partners through the SAI (Service d'Admissions Internationales) exam administered by the foundation in Côte d'Ivoire since 2006. Multiple laureates (Issa Sidibé, Jean Steve Tian) pursued studies at HEC Paris with foundation scholarships.
• EM Lyon Business SchoolcoreOthersEM Lyon Business School participates in the SAI exam administered by the foundation and has accepted multiple scholarship recipients including Achille Koukou (2007).
• ESCP EuropecoreOthersESCP Europe partners with the foundation through the SAI exam and has admitted laureates including Lancina Soro (2005) and others.
• Audencia NantesminorOthersAudencia Nantes participates in the SAI exam administered by the foundation in Côte d'Ivoire, one of five partner French business schools.
• SKEMA Business SchoolminorOthersSKEMA Business School participates in the SAI exam administered by the foundation in Côte d'Ivoire.
• Ministry of Women and Family (Côte d'Ivoire)minorOthersThe Ministry of Women and Family provided financial and institutional support for the 4th edition of the Programme Leadership Féminin, alongside corporate sponsors.
• YouscribeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouscribe partnered with the foundation in May 2019 to provide Ivorian students and pupils with subsidized access to its online library of 100,000+ books, audiobooks, and press titles, enhancing knowledge and employability.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Mo Ibrahim Foundation: Foundation focused on African leadership development and governance, including the prestigious Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership. Comparable in its focus on cultivating and recognizing African leadership talent, though operating primarily at the senior leadership/governance level rather than student scholarships.
• Aga Khan Foundation: Global development foundation with extensive educational programs across Africa and Asia, including scholarship programs and university partnerships. Comparable as a broad-incumbent educational grantmaking foundation with international scope, though operating at much larger scale and across multiple sectors beyond higher education.

Direct peers

• Mandela Rhodes Foundation: South Africa-based foundation providing scholarships and leadership development for African students pursuing postgraduate study. Comparable in its scholarship-plus-leadership-program structure targeting African talent for international higher education placements.
• Mastercard Foundation: Operates one of the largest scholarship programs in Africa (Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program) sending African students to top global universities. Directly comparable as a scholarship-focused foundation targeting African students for international higher education, though at significantly larger scale.
• African Leadership University (ALU): Pan-African higher education institution focused on developing African leaders through undergraduate and graduate programs, with campuses in Mauritius and Rwanda. Comparable to Fondation BENIANH's mission of developing African talent and leadership, though delivered through direct institution operation rather than a scholarship funding model.
• African Leadership Academy: Pan-African institution identifying and developing high-potential African youth for leadership through scholarships, leadership curriculum, and university placement. Directly comparable to Fondation BENIANH's PBE scholarship-plus-leadership development model, though focused on secondary-to-university transition rather than university-to-international-grandes-écoles.

Regional players

• Fondation Children of Africa: Ivorian foundation focused on the welfare and education of children in Côte d'Ivoire and West Africa. Comparable as a Côte d'Ivoire-based public utility-style foundation running education and development programs in the same geographic market, though with a child-welfare rather than higher-education focus.
• Ashesi University Foundation: Ghana-based educational foundation supporting Ashesi University, which develops African leaders through liberal arts and sciences education. Comparable as a West African educational foundation developing leadership capacity, though operating as a university endowment rather than a scholarship grantmaker.

Others

• Campus France: French public agency promoting international student mobility to France and managing application processes for French universities and grandes écoles. Comparable as an ecosystem enabler that supports the same candidate pool applying to the French institutions (HEC Paris, ESCP, EM Lyon) where Fondation BENIANH's laureates study, though operating as a government agency rather than a scholarship foundation.

Emerging players

• MTN Foundation: Corporate foundation of MTN Group operating across West Africa, running scholarship and education programs in multiple African countries including Côte d'Ivoire. Comparable as a corporate-affiliated foundation funding scholarships for African students, representing the same corporate-CSR-driven funding model that BENIANH relies upon.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fondation-benianh-international

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Fondation BENIANH International