International Relations Society of Kenya

What International Relations Society of Kenya does

The International Relations Society of Kenya (IRSK) is a non-profit professional society founded in 2020-2021 and headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya. It serves as Kenya's self-described premier professional body for international relations and diplomacy practitioners, catering to diplomats, scholars, political leaders, policymakers, and international organization representatives across Kenya and the broader COMESA region. The organization operates with a small staff of 6 and maintains a Secretariat and Council governance structure.

IRSK's offering comprises five core programmatic initiatives — African Women in Diplomacy and International Affairs (AWIDIA), the City Diplomacy Initiative, the Foreign Policy Research and Dialogue Initiative, the IRSK Speaker Series, and the Young Diplomats Forum — complemented by a portfolio of events including an annual conference (drawing 130-200+ delegates from multiple countries), specialized forums (Geopolitics, Geo-Economics, Geo-Security, Career & Mentorship), webinars (Foreign Policy Outlook series), and the Kenya Annual Diplomatic Awards. The organization also produces scholarly publications including annual conference reports, issue briefs (e.g., political risk analysis on Gen Z in Kenya), and books in the African Regional Integration Series. Revenue is generated through individual membership subscriptions, event registration fees, and institutional partnerships and sponsorships with organizations such as COMESA, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, and ACCORD.

Name

International Relations Society of Kenya

Legal name

International Relations Society of Kenya

Website

https://irskenya.or.ke

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The International Relations Society of Kenya (IRSK) is a nonprofit professional society based in Nairobi that serves diplomats, scholars, and policymakers through membership programs, annual conferences, forums, publications, and the Kenya Annual Diplomatic Awards, focused on Kenya's role in international affairs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Nairobi

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Revenue generated from individual membership subscriptions, with members gaining access to networking opportunities, discounted conference registration, publications, and professional development resources.
2. Conference and Event Registration: Revenue from ticket sales for annual conferences, forums, workshops, and professional development events. The 2025 IRSK Annual Conference and 2024 conference featured paid registration through online ticketing portals.
3. Sponsorships and Partnerships: Joint events and partnerships with organizations such as COMESA, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, ACCORD, and other partners provide funding and resource support for programs and activities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

IRSK is a professional membership society that serves Kenya's international relations and diplomacy community through individual memberships, recurring programs (such as the Young Diplomats Forum, AWIDIA, Speaker Series, and Foreign Policy Research Dialogue), flagship annual events (including the IRSK Annual Conference, Nairobi Geopolitics Forum, Geo-Economics Forum, Geo-Security Forum, and Career & Mentorship Forum), scholarly publications (reports, issue briefs, and books), and recognition events such as the Kenya Annual Diplomatic Awards. The organization's offerings are designed for diplomats, scholars, policymakers, and practitioners engaged in international affairs, with a regional focus on Kenya and the COMESA bloc.

Product overview

The International Relations Society of Kenya (IRSK) operates as a professional society offering a portfolio of programs, events, and publications rather than a unified technology product. Its core offerings include five programmatic initiatives: African Women in Diplomacy and International Affairs (AWIDIA), City Diplomacy Initiative, Foreign Policy Research and Dialogue Initiative, IRSK Speaker Series, and Young Diplomats Forum (YDF). These programs are complemented by flagship events including the annual IRSK Conference and Kenya Annual Diplomatic Awards, scholarly publications (reports, issue briefs, and books), and membership services providing networking and professional development opportunities. The organization functions as a professional body for diplomacy and international affairs, not as a software or technology product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• IRSK Professional Membership Professional membership program for international relations practitioners offering networking opportunities, discounted event access, publications, scholarships, research grants, and participation in policy dialogues.
• African Women in Diplomacy and International Affairs (AWIDIA) Program featuring research, networking, and policy dialogue initiatives to empower and advance African women in diplomatic roles and international affairs.
• Young Diplomats Forum (YDF) Youth engagement program designed to develop the next generation of diplomatic leaders through mentorship, training, and networking opportunities.
• City Diplomacy Initiative Program exploring the role of cities in international relations and diplomacy, examining how urban centers engage in cross-border cooperation and governance.
• Foreign Policy Research and Dialogue Initiative Research and dialogue program focused on analyzing and discussing foreign policy issues affecting Kenya and the African continent.
• IRSK Speaker Series Recurring speaker series featuring experts and thought leaders in international relations and diplomacy addressing current global affairs topics.
• IRSK Annual Conference Annual flagship conference bringing together diplomats, scholars, policymakers, and practitioners to discuss international relations and diplomacy topics relevant to Kenya and the COMESA region.
• Kenya Annual Diplomatic Awards Annual awards ceremony recognizing outstanding contributions to diplomacy, peacebuilding, and international cooperation in Kenya and the region.
• IRSK Publications (Reports, Issue Briefs, Books) Scholarly publications including annual conference reports, issue briefs on political and diplomatic topics, and books on regional integration and international affairs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 130 delegates from multiple countries participate in annual conferences
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 August 2025COMESA co-hosts the IRSK Annual Conference with IRSK and other partners. The partnership focuses on promoting integration and cooperation in the COMESA region through international relations and diplomacy. COMESA is the largest Regional Economic Community with 21 Member States, established in 1994 to replace the former Preferential Trade Area.
• Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) - Kenya OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 August 2025KAS, a German political foundation committed to promoting democracy, rule of law, social market economy, and international cooperation, co-hosts the IRSK Annual Conference. The foundation supports political dialogue, policy research, and leadership development.
• African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 August 2025ACCORD, a civil society institution working throughout Africa since 1992, co-hosts the IRSK Annual Conference. ACCORD brings creative African solutions to conflict challenges and aims to generate knowledge on conflict prevention, management, resolution, and transformation.
• Acacia Dialogue Center (ADC)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 August 2025ADC is a pan-African think tank and policy advisory organization rooted in indigenous African traditions of dialogue and community. The center promotes peacebuilding, climate resilience, good governance, and inclusive development through research and strategic partnerships.
• African Centre for the Study of the United States (ACSUS)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 July 2024ACSUS at the University of the Witwatersrand is the leading hub for African-generated knowledge on the US. Established in 2018, it addresses the gap in dedicated US studies in sub-Saharan Africa and provides insights into political diplomacy, internal US dynamics, diasporic matters, and the US's role as a global political leader.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Council on Foreign Relations: US-based nonpartisan membership organization for foreign policy professionals, scholars, and government officials. Closely comparable to IRSK in mission, membership structure, events, and publications, though operating at much greater scale.
• Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS): US-based bipartisan policy research organization on international affairs, defense, and diplomacy. Comparable to IRSK in convening role and policy dialogue output, though operating at significantly greater scale.
• Chatham House: Royal Institute of International Affairs, the world's leading international affairs think tank with a membership model and convening programs. Highly comparable to IRSK as a membership-based international relations organization, though far larger and UK-based.
• International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS): World-leading institute for security and international relations research, with membership programs and high-profile conferences. Comparable to IRSK in mission and convening function, though far more established globally.

Direct peers

• African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD): Civil society institution working throughout Africa on conflict prevention, management, and resolution since 1992. Both a co-host partner and a structural peer to IRSK in convening African diplomats and conflict-resolution practitioners.
• Institute for Security Studies (ISS Africa): African think tank providing research, policy advice, and training on human security across the continent. Overlaps with IRSK in international relations/diplomacy audience and convening role, though security-focused and more research-driven.
• African Leadership Centre (ALC): Pan-African institution focused on developing African peace, security, and development leaders through research, training, and convening. Comparable to IRSK's Young Diplomats Forum and policy dialogue programs in target audience and African focus.
• Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA): Nigeria's official institute for international affairs, diplomacy, and foreign policy research. Direct peer to IRSK as an Africa-based national professional institute focused on international relations.
• South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA): Africa's leading foreign policy think tank and membership organization based in South Africa. Direct peer to IRSK in mission, structure, and target audience, though more established and better resourced.

Others

• Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS): German political foundation promoting democracy, rule of law, and international cooperation through political dialogue and policy research. Functions as a core IRSK partner and a comparable funder/convener of international relations programs in Africa.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@irskenya
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-relations-society-of-kenya

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about International Relations Society of Kenya