Adeso

Name

Adeso

Legal name

Adeso

Website

https://adesoafrica.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Adeso is an African non-profit transitioning into a social enterprise, delivering community-led humanitarian programs in Somalia, the Kuja digital platform for Global South civil society, the Durdur Water Enterprise, and the Proximate Fund.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Nairobi

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: Adeso historically received bilateral funding from donors including USAID. The organization has made a strategic decision to end bilateral public funding and transition to diversified revenue sources. Currently fundraising for design and planning grants as well as seed capital for the Proximate Fund.
2. Donations: Individual and organizational donations from supporters globally. Adeso accepts donations through platforms like every.org for their drought response and general operations.
3. Social Enterprise Revenue: Earned income from social enterprises including Kuja platform services and Durdur Water Enterprise. Adeso aims to generate all core operating costs through earned income by 2030.
4. Endowment: Adeso is building toward a $50 million endowment by 2035 as part of long-term financial sustainability strategy.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Adeso is an African social enterprise that implements direct humanitarian and development programs in Somalia (water, sanitation, hygiene, education, livelihoods, environmental protection) and operates social enterprises including the Kuja digital platform (connecting Global South CSOs to funders) and the Durdur Water Enterprise (piped water utility in Northern Somalia). It also convenes global advocacy initiatives — NEAR network and Pledge for Change 2030 — to shift power and resourcing to locally led development actors.

Product overview

Adeso is an African social enterprise with global influence that operates as both a nonprofit organization implementing direct programs in Somalia and an incubator of social enterprises. The portfolio includes Kuja (digital platform with KujaLink, KujaBuild, KujaLearn, and KujaAdvise modules for connecting organizations to funding), Durdur Water Enterprise (water utilities social enterprise in Somalia), Saxansaxo (survivor and community-led response initiative), Proximate Fund (African philanthropy investment fund), NEAR network, and Pledge for Change 2030 (INGO coalition for decolonizing aid). Adeso is transitioning from a grant-dependent NGO to a diversified social enterprise generating earned income through its commercial ventures.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kuja: African social enterprise digital platform powered by Adeso that connects local organizations to funding and operational support through KujaLink, KujaBuild, KujaLearn, and KujaAdvise services.
• Durdur Water Enterprise
• Proximate Fund
• Saxansaxo
• Pledge for Change 2030

Products and services

• Kuja Digital Platform African social enterprise digital platform powered by Adeso that connects civil society organizations in the Global South to funders, networks, and development practitioners for networking, learning, funding, and collaboration.
• Durdur Water Enterprise Water utilities social enterprise providing clean, affordable, and reliable piped water to communities in water-scarce parts of Northern Somalia, reducing water costs by 86% and serving 12,000+ people.
• Proximate Fund Pooled donor collaborative co-created with African Philanthropy Forum and NEAR, channeling resources directly to African civil society and grassroots leaders through nationally governed country funds.
• Saxansaxo (Survivor and Community-Led Response)

Quantifiable outcome

• 86% reduction in water costs for communities served by Durdur Water Enterprise
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Pledge for Change 2030coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Adeso convened and co-founded Pledge for Change in October 2022 with bold INGOs making public commitments to shift power to local organizations in Global South. Focuses on equitable partnerships, authentic storytelling, and influencing wider change. Coalition includes 13 INGOs.
• NEAR (Network for Empowered Aid Response)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Co-founded at the 2016 World Humanitarian Summit. NEAR is a network of local and national aid organizations from the Global South, reaching 227 members. Adeso's advocacy for localization led to the establishment goal of directing 25% of humanitarian resourcing to local actors by 2020.
• African Philanthropy ForumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership of three organizations (with NEAR and Adeso) to co-create the Proximate Fund. African Philanthropy Forum brings African philanthropy expertise to the initiative.
• Local to Global ProtectioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner on sclr (survivor and community-led response) approach, contributing to Saxansaxo co-design workshop and methodology development.
• Casa Socio-Environmental FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-convened UNGA 2024 dialogue on locally led development alongside Adeso, African Philanthropy Forum, NEAR, Alight, and WINGS.
• WINGScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-convened UNGA 2024 dialogue on philanthropy advancing locally led development.
• AlightcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-convened UNGA 2024 dialogue on philanthropy advancing locally led development.
• CARE InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSignatory to Pledge for Change, committed to equitable partnerships with local organizations.
• Christian AidcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSignatory to Pledge for Change, committed to shifting power to local organizations.
• Plan InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSignatory to Pledge for Change with commitment to locally led development through 'All Girls Standing Strong' strategy.
• Save the Children InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSignatory to Pledge for Change, committed to equitable partnerships.
• Oxfam InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSignatory to Pledge for Change, committed to shifting power and resources to local actors.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• BRAC: Largest development non-profit globally with a portfolio of social enterprises across health, education, and finance in the Global South. Directly comparable to Adeso for its dual NGO-plus-social-enterprise model, scale of community reach, and focus on locally led solutions.
• Mercy Corps: Global humanitarian and development organization with significant East Africa operations and growing focus on localization and innovation. Comparable to Adeso for shared donor base, geographic overlap, and participation in Pledge for Change.
• International Rescue Committee (IRC): Major humanitarian aid organization operating in conflict-affected countries including Somalia. Comparable to Adeso for shared operating geography, donor base, and crisis-response programming.
• Direct Relief: Large humanitarian aid organization focused on health and emergency response globally. Comparable to Adeso for similar funding model (foundation and individual donor mix), global footprint, and scale of community-level programming.

Direct peers

• TechnoServe: International non-profit working on economic development in the developing world with enterprise-based solutions. Comparable to Adeso for its use of business approaches to solve development challenges and concentration in East Africa.
• Water.org: Global non-profit combining philanthropic capital with market-based financing to expand water access. Comparable to Adeso for its focus on financial sustainability in water delivery and use of social enterprise mechanisms alongside grant-funded models.
• WaterAid: International non-profit focused on providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene in low-income countries. Directly comparable to Adeso's Durdur Water Enterprise footprint, both in mission (rural water access) and operating geography (East Africa).
• GlobalGiving: Non-profit crowdfunding platform connecting donors with vetted local non-profits globally. Most directly comparable to Adeso's KujaLink for its role as a digital intermediary between CSOs and funders.
• One Acre Fund: African social enterprise serving smallholder farmers with a bundled service model combining inputs, finance, and training. Comparable to Adeso for its African-rooted service delivery, hybrid revenue model (earned income + philanthropy), and rural reach.
• Candid (formerly Foundation Center): Information platform providing data and tools on the philanthropic sector, including Foundation Directory. Comparable to Adeso's KujaLink for providing visibility infrastructure for non-profits seeking funding.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/adesoafrica
• Facebookfacebook.com/Adesoafrica
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/adeso
• Instagraminstagram.com/adesoafrica

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Adeso