OAfrica

What OAfrica does

OAfrica is a Ghana-headquartered non-profit organization founded in October 2002 (originally as Orphanage Africa, later OrphanAid Africa, then OAfrica) that operates a portfolio of child welfare programs focused on preventing family separation and de-institutionalizing children in Ghana. Its core offerings include Family Support Services (FSS) for poor families at risk of child separation, Foster Family Care (FFC) including placements for children with disabilities, Young Adult Support Services (YASS), Educational Support, Resilience Advocacy, and the systemic Care Reform Initiative (CRI) executed in partnership with the Ghana Department of Social Welfare and UNICEF. The organization has developed proprietary IT tools for case monitoring, rescue, tracing, reunification, and case management, which it has shared with other local child protection partners.

The business model is donation-driven, with revenue streams from individual donations, corporate sponsorships and grants, and bequests/legacy gifts, accepted via bank transfer, PayPal, Sofort, cheque, and online fundraising platforms. OAfrica operates a network of registered legal entities across seven countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, UK, USA) plus Ghana, functioning primarily as fundraising branches that support program delivery concentrated in Ghana. The organization reached 5,000+ children and young people annually and transitioned all children from its former shelter into family-based care. Following multiple fires at its Ayenyah facility in 2013, OAfrica relocated to Accra and transferred its school and health clinic operations to the Ghanaian government, refocusing on family-based care, care reform policy, and capacity-building for social workers, foster parents, and biological families.

Name

OAfrica

Legal name

OAfrica e. V.

Website

https://oafrica.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

OAfrica is a Ghana-based non-profit founded in 2002 that prevents child institutionalization through family support, foster care, and care reform programs, serving 5,000+ vulnerable children annually via a seven-country fundraising branch network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Child Welfare Non-Profit Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child and Youth Services (624110)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Child Welfare, Foster Care & Adoption Services (BPAGAEAE), Child Protection & Child Rights (BPAGABAG), Family Resource Centers & Wraparound Support Services (EDACALAH)

Keywords

• Child welfare programs
• Family-based care
• Orphan prevention services
• Care reform advocacy
• Foster care placement

Headquarters

HQ city

Accra

HQ country

Ghana

HQ region

Africa

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: OAfrica depends on generous donations from individuals to carry out its work. Donations can be made via bank transfer, PayPal, cheque, or fundraising events.
2. Corporate Sponsorships and Grants: Corporate sponsors provide funding for OAfrica's operations alongside individual donors.
3. Bequests and Legacy Gifts: Donors may leave a portion of their estate to OAfrica through wills or trusts, providing lasting legacy support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

OAfrica provides child welfare and family preservation services in Ghana, helping vulnerable children and families at risk of abandonment remain together or be reunited. The organization runs family support programs, foster family care, young adult transition support, care reform advocacy, and educational support, supported by IT tools for case monitoring and reunification. Funding comes from individual donations, corporate sponsorships, grants, and bequests processed through registered branches in seven countries.

Product overview

OAfrica operates as a non-profit organization implementing a portfolio of interconnected child welfare programs in Ghana. The core offering consists of Family Support Services (FSS) as the primary initiative to prevent child abandonment, complemented by Foster Family Care (FFC) for children who cannot return to biological families, and specialized programs for children with disabilities and young adults aging out of care. Cross-cutting programs include the Resilience Advocacy communication program and the Care Reform Initiative (CRI) for systemic change. OAfrica has also developed IT tools for case monitoring and management. The organization formerly operated as OrphanAid Africa (2002-2012) before rebranding to reflect its family-based care focus.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Family Support Services (FSS) Specially trained social workers locate families, assess reintegration feasibility, and develop individualized care plans including social worker visits, conditional cash transfers, income-generating activities, school fees, nutritional support, housing assistance, parenting skills training, access to government social services, legal support, medical care, and psychological counseling for vulnerable children and at-risk families in Ghana.
• Foster Family Care (FFC) Places children who cannot be reintegrated with their biological families into safe, stable, and loving foster homes with specially trained foster mothers. Designed for children with severe special needs such as cerebral palsy, autism, and psychosis who attend specialized schools and receive daily rehabilitation services.
• Children with Special Needs Program Specialized care program for children born with disabilities such as cerebral palsy and autism who are more likely to be abandoned. Provides care through the Foster Family Care program with adapted foster homes, specialized schools, and daily rehabilitation services.
• Young Adult Support Services (YASS) Support services for vulnerable young adults aging out of institutional care, providing financial support for tuition and school needs, health and psychological support, transport and housing assistance, career guidance and enrollment support, and life skills training to help them become productive adults.
• Resilience Advocacy Program Mass media communication and awareness program that uses youth gatherings, conferences, TV and radio shows, social media, and mobile communication to strengthen resilience among vulnerable youth, and provides certifying courses for social workers, NGOs, parents, and young adults.
• Care Reform Initiative (CRI) Systemic reform program in partnership with the Ghana Department of Social Welfare (DSW), UNICEF, and other child protection agencies, aimed at reducing dependence on institutional care for approximately 4,500 vulnerable children and transitioning to family and community-based care approaches in Ghana.
• Educational Support Financial assistance to help impoverished families pay for children's education including transport, textbooks, pencils, and uniforms from primary through higher education or vocational training. Children with learning difficulties receive tutoring, personalized support, and career guidance.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 5,000 children and young people benefit annually from OAfrica programs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UNICEF GhanacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008OAfrica is a partner of UNICEF Ghana in implementing the Care Reform Initiative over a five-year period to transform care for orphans and vulnerable children. UNICEF has featured OAfrica's shelter in documentaries and reports.
• Department of Social Welfare (DSW) - GhanacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007OAfrica collaborates with the Ghana Department of Social Welfare as a key partner in implementing the Care Reform Initiative (CRI), working to transform how orphans and vulnerable children are cared for in Ghana. OAfrica sits on the Better Care for Children government committee.
• Ghana AIDS CommissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Ghana AIDS Commission supports OAfrica's HIV awareness and maternal health outreach efforts.
• Ministry of Education GhanaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOAfrica collaborates with Ghana's Ministry of Education for construction/rehabilitation of school buildings and scholarships for orphaned and needy children.
• Ministry of Health GhanaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Ministry of Health has supported OAfrica by financing medical services in hospitals and health centers, as well as national health insurance for women and children in need.
• OICI (USAID) GhanaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOAfrica and OICI collaborated through a food program distributing rations to orphans, vulnerable children, and people living with HIV/AIDS.
• National Technical CommitteescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOAfrica is represented on two government steering committees: the National Action Plan Committee for Children Affected by AIDS at the Ministry of Employment, Youth, and Employment; and the Care Reform Initiative (CRI) Steering Committee.
• Better Care NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOAfrica is highlighted in Better Care Network and UNICEF reports as a model for family-based care programs in Ghana.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Lumos: Founded by J.K. Rowling, Lumos works to end the institutionalization of children globally by supporting family-based care and care reform. Closest direct peer in mission and advocacy approach, including government partnership and systems-change methodology.
• ReThink Orphanages: Global coalition advocating against orphanage volunteering and institutional care, promoting family-based alternatives. Closely aligned advocacy mission with OAfrica's Care Reform Initiative.
• Hope and Homes for Children: UK-based charity working to close institutions and develop family-based care for orphaned and abandoned children, primarily in Eastern Europe and Africa. Direct peer in de-institutionalization strategy and government partnership model.
• Family for Every Child: Global alliance of local civil society organizations working to keep children in safe, loving families and out of institutions. Directly comparable model combining local implementation with cross-country learning networks.

Broad incumbents

• Save the Children: One of the largest international child welfare NGOs, with significant programming in Ghana covering child protection, education, and family support. Competes for institutional donor dollars and policy influence on child welfare.
• SOS Children's Villages: Global NGO operating family-based alternative care for orphaned and abandoned children in 130+ countries. Highly comparable mission (de-institutionalization, foster care) but vastly larger scale and broader geographic footprint than OAfrica.

Others

• Better Care Network: Network that promotes quality care for children without parental care and has highlighted OAfrica in its reports; acts as an ecosystem/standards body that validates and amplifies the work of direct peers like OAfrica.
• UNICEF (Ghana Country Office): UN agency that is both OAfrica's partner in the Care Reform Initiative and an independent implementer of child welfare programs in Ghana; dual role as collaborator and potential competitor for policy influence.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/oadeutschland
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/orphanaid-africa

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries8 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 OAfrica