YALDA BOTSWANA

What YALDA BOTSWANA does

YALDA Botswana (legally, the Youth Alliance for Leadership and Development in Africa) is a non-governmental, non-profit organisation headquartered in Gaborone, Botswana, with a secondary office in Richmond, Virginia, USA. Founded in 2006 by African students at Harvard College, the organisation operates a pan-African networking and leadership-development platform targeting youth aged 18-30, working professionals, and partner organisations. Its core offering is YALDA Connect, an online profile-based networking platform that facilitates connections between youth members, professional affiliates who serve as mentors and advisors, and partner organisations across the African continent. Supporting this are publication products (a quarterly newsletter, a bi-annual magazine, and book publications), the Miles for Youth Empowerment in Africa (M4YEA) flight-mile donation campaign, and a volunteer Video Makers programme for digital content production.

The organisation holds special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) since 2013 and is registered as a 501c3 in the United States, enabling tax-deductible donations from US donors. Revenue is sourced entirely from donations, grants, and in-kind contributions (such as donated airline miles), with no fees charged for membership. Operations are supported by a skeleton staff of 1-10 employees, a distributed volunteer base, an International Executive Committee, and a network of university branches across Africa. The GTM motion is community-led, relying on social media, recruitment drives, university branches, and partner organisations to drive member and affiliate registrations.

Strategic partnerships span multilateral bodies (UN HABITAT, UN Economic Commission for Africa, Commonwealth Youth Programme), academic institutions (Harvard, Stellenbosch University, University of Botswana, University of Buea), financial institutions (Barclays, Standard Chartered, First Bank of Nigeria), corporate sponsors (Mastercard Foundation, De Beers, Debswana, Botswana Investment & Trade Centre), and airlines (Ethiopian Airlines, RwandAir, Brussels Airlines). DFID is listed as a government development partner. The underlying technology is a standard website platform with no disclosed AI capabilities, proprietary models, or significant technical differentiation.

Name

YALDA BOTSWANA

Legal name

Youth Alliance for Leadership and Development in Africa

Website

https://yaldafrica.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

YALDA Botswana is a non-profit, pan-African youth leadership networking organisation founded in 2006, operating YALDA Connect (an online platform), publications, and the M4YEA flight-mile campaign to connect African youth members, professional mentors, and partner organisations across the continent.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Leadership Development

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Leadership, Debate & Model UN Camps (EDAMALAK)

Keywords

• Youth leadership development
• Nonprofit networking platform
• Youth mentorship programs
• African youth empowerment
• Leadership publications

Headquarters

HQ city

Gaborone, South-East

HQ country

Botswana

HQ region

Africa

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: YALDA accepts donations from individuals and organizations interested in supporting African youth leadership development. The organization is registered as a 501c3 in the United States, making donations tax-deductible for US donors.
2. Miles for Youth Empowerment in Africa (M4YEA) Campaign: Initiative that receives donated flight miles to enable African youth to attend cross-border opportunities including conferences and boot camps on the continent.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

YALDA is a non-profit networking organization that provides a forum and online platform for African youth leadership development. The organization operates YALDA Connect, an online networking platform connecting young African members (ages 18-30) with professional mentors and partner organizations. It also produces publications including a Quarterly Newsletter, Bi-Annual Magazine, and Book Publications, and runs the Miles for Youth Empowerment in Africa (M4YEA) campaign that channels donated flight miles to enable cross-border participation in conferences and boot camps.

Product overview

YALDA operates as a networking organisation providing a platform for African youth leadership development. The core offering is YALDA Connect, an online networking platform that facilitates connections between youth members, professional affiliates (mentors), and partner organisations across Africa. Supporting this platform are three publication products: the Quarterly Newsletter (quarterly updates on branch activities), the Bi-Annual Magazine (biannual thematic publication), and Book Publications (leadership guidance books). The organisation also offers membership registration services for youth members (ages 18-30), professional affiliates (mentors/advisors), and partner organisations. Additional programs include the YALDA Video Makers volunteer initiative for digital content creation and the Miles for Youth Empowerment in Africa (M4YEA) campaign for flight mile donations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• YALDA Connect Online networking platform allowing youth members to connect with other youth, professional affiliates, and partner organisations that have complementary needs and interests, building bridges to support youth leadership across Africa.
• Quarterly Newsletter Quarterly publication that updates members on developments, activities, and events of all member branches, including information on professional affiliates and partner organisations.
• Bi-Annual Magazine Biannual publication that consolidates newsletter information along with topics and themes decided by the YALDA International Executive Committee.
• Book Publications Books intended to aid young aspiring African youth leaders, produced by YALDA International Publications staff together with professional writers.
• Youth Member Registration Registration service for young people aged 18-30 to join the YALDA network and access mentorship, networking, and professional development opportunities.
• Professional Affiliate Registration Registration for working professionals to join as mentors and advisors who can provide guidance, funding assistance, and career opportunities to youth members.
• Partner Organisation Registration Registration for organisations working in any field related to African welfare and development to become part of the YALDA network and offer services to youth members.
• YALDA Video Makers Program Volunteer program recruiting video makers, editors, creators, and animators to amplify African youth stories through Instagram Reels, TikToks, and YouTube Shorts.
• Miles for Youth Empowerment in Africa (M4YEA) Campaign that channels donated flight miles to enable promising African youth to attend cross-border opportunities including conferences and boot camps on the continent.

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Mastercard FoundationcoreOthersListed as a past and current partner of YALDA, providing support for youth development initiatives across Africa.
• Commonwealth Youth ProgrammecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernmental/organizational partner supporting youth development across Commonwealth nations in Africa.
• Harvard UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding institution - YALDA was set up by African students at Harvard College. Ongoing institutional partnership.
• UN HABITATcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Nations agency partner supporting urban youth development initiatives.
• United Nations Economic Commission for AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUN regional commission partner supporting economic development initiatives for African youth.
• Stellenbosch UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner supporting youth leadership development programs.
• Voice of Africa's FuturemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia/advocacy partner for amplifying African youth voices.
• Murtala Muhammed FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNigerian foundation partner supporting youth development initiatives.
• Barclays BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFinancial services partner supporting youth economic empowerment.
• First Bank of NigeriaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFinancial services partner supporting Nigerian youth development.
• Standard Chartered BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFinancial services partner supporting youth economic programs.
• De BeersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting youth development in mining/resources sector.
• DebswanaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBotswana diamond company partner supporting local youth initiatives.
• Botswana Investment & Trade CentremajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational investment and trade agency partner supporting economic youth empowerment.
• EOH ConsultingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTechnology consulting partner providing professional services support.
• LEAP AfricamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeadership development organization partner supporting youth leadership programs.
• Ethiopian AirlinesminorOthersAirline partner supporting the Miles for Youth Empowerment initiative.
• RwandAirminorOthersAirline partner supporting the Miles for Youth Empowerment initiative.
• Brussels AirlinesminorOthersAirline partner supporting the Miles for Youth Empowerment initiative.
• Avani HotelsminorOthersHospitality partner providing accommodation support for events.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Tony Elumelu Foundation: Large African philanthropic program funding and training young African entrepreneurs. Overlaps with YALDA's youth-empowerment mission and partnership ecosystem, particularly with First Bank of Nigeria.
• AIESEC: Global youth-led organization providing leadership development and cross-border exchange opportunities with strong African footprint. Comparable to YALDA in target demographic and youth networking model, but with a much larger global scale.
• Commonwealth Youth Programme: Commonwealth's youth development arm supporting young leaders across member states, including significant Africa operations. Listed as a YALDA partner; overlaps in targeting African Commonwealth youth for leadership and capacity-building.

Direct peers

• Global Shapers Community: World Economic Forum initiative of city-based hubs of young professionals driving local impact. Highly comparable structure (city hubs = YALDA's university branches) for networking young leaders across geographies.
• LEAP Africa: Nigeria-headquartered nonprofit focused on youth leadership, ethics, and civic engagement across Africa. Directly comparable mission and target demographic to YALDA, and is listed as one of YALDA's strategic partners.
• African Leadership Network: Pan-African network of emerging and established African leaders focused on accelerating leadership and connection. Comparable to YALDA's professional affiliate and member-matching model across African geographies.
• African Leadership Academy: Pan-African institution developing the next generation of African leaders through university-prep and leadership programs. Comparable to YALDA in mandate around cultivating African youth leadership, but more selective and education-focused.
• One Young World: Global forum for young leaders identified through partner organizations. Highly comparable in mission to gather, connect, and develop young leaders, including through country ambassador networks spanning Africa.

Regional players

• Royal African Society: Africa-focused membership organization based in the UK that convenes professionals, policymakers, and youth around African affairs. Overlaps with YALDA's professional-network model across the African diaspora, especially in the UK.

Emerging players

• Anzisha Prize: African Leadership Academy program supporting young African entrepreneurs aged 15-22 with training, mentoring, and prize funding. Comparable audience (African youth) and capacity-development approach to YALDA's mentorship programs.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/yaldafrica
• YouTubebit.ly/2G90rFT
• Facebookfacebook.com/yaldafrica
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/yalda-botswana
• Instagraminstagram.com/yaldadumela
• TikToktiktok.com/@yaldafrica

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about YALDA BOTSWANA