Shift Impact Africa

What Shift Impact Africa does

Shift Impact Africa is a pan-African, women-owned advisory and consulting firm headquartered in Johannesburg with a regional office in Nairobi, founded in 2011. It operates a multi-brand group (the Shift Impact Africa Group) that combines Shift Impact Africa (advisory), Shared Value Africa (advocacy), Shared Value Africa Academy (training), Institute for Competitiveness Africa (research), JamiiTrade (SME community), GRACI (gender risk assessment), and the #ITSNOTOK movement. The core offering is professional services consulting — Shared Value strategy, ESG advisory, gender equality strategy, leadership development, partnership facilitation, and measurement/reporting — sold directly to private sector clients and delivered in partnership with multilateral institutions including IFC, GIZ, USADF, Visa, and AUDA-NEPAD.

The firm's revenue model is professional services: project-based consulting engagements, training programs, events (the annual Africa Shared Value & ESG Summit and the Africa Shared Value Series), commissioned research (Africa Export Competitiveness Report), and a small digital product footprint via the WhatsApp-based USADF Learning Hub. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and engagements appear to be quote-based, tailored to scope. Technology is not a competitive axis; the firm's value proposition rests on African Shared Value expertise, a Harvard-aligned executive training credential, and a high-trust network of corporates, multilaterals, and African Union bodies.

Customer segments are horizontally structured, with primary enterprise clients (private sector organisations across Africa seeking Shared Value and ESG integration), secondary SME and entrepreneur segments (via JamiiTrade and the USADF Learning Hub), and a tertiary government and development organisation segment (AUDA-NEPAD, GIZ, IFC, World Bank partnerships). Visible customer logos are limited but include the Minerals Council of South Africa and a consortium of 20 South African enterprises in the IFC-backed Respect@Work program. No AI/ML capabilities are disclosed and no revenue figures are publicly available.

Name

Shift Impact Africa

Legal name

Shift Impact Africa

Website

https://shiftimpact.africa

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Shift Impact Africa is a pan-African, women-owned advisory firm providing Shared Value strategy, ESG, gender equality, and leadership consulting to private sector clients and development partners across Africa, operating a multi-brand group spanning advisory, training, research, and events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

ESG and Sustainability Consulting

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

ESG, Sustainability & Impact Research (BPAHALAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Research, Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) Partnerships (EDADALAK), Workforce, Employability & Youth Skills Partnerships (EDADALAI), Post-Conflict Recovery, Reconciliation & Social Cohesion Programs (BPADAFAL)

Keywords

• ESG advisory services
• Shared Value consulting
• Sustainability consulting
• Gender equality advisory
• Impact measurement consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Johannesburg

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Advisory and Consulting Services: The company generates revenue through professional consulting engagements, providing shared value and ESG advisory services to private sector organisations. Services include business audits, strategy development, gender equality consulting, and leadership development programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Shift Impact Africa provides Shared Value and ESG strategy advisory, gender equality consulting, leadership development, partnership facilitation, and impact measurement services to private sector organisations, development organisations, and public-sector clients across Africa. Through its sister entities — Shared Value Africa (training and events), the Institute for Competitiveness Africa (research), and digital platforms such as the USADF Learning Hub and JamiiTrade — the firm delivers an integrated advisory-academy-research offering anchored on the African continent.

Product overview

Shift Impact Africa operates as a multi-brand advisory and consulting enterprise offering Shared Value and ESG advisory services, events, research, and digital platforms. The core offering includes consulting services (Business Audit & Gap Analysis, Shared Value & ESG Strategy Development, Gender Equality Strategy, Leadership & Reputation Building, Partnership & Stakeholder Collaboration, and Measurement & Reporting). Under the Group umbrella, key products include: the annual Africa Shared Value & ESG Summit and the Africa Shared Value Series (event portfolio); the Institute for Competitiveness Africa and Africa Export Competitiveness Reports (research); Shared Value Africa Academy (training); USADF Learning Hub on WhatsApp (digital LMS platform); JamiiTrade (SME community platform); GRACI and Respect@Work Program (gender equality tools); WorldSkills Africa framework support; and #ITSNOTOK campaign (social movement). These offerings work together to provide end-to-end support for organizations seeking to integrate Shared Value principles and ESG practices across Africa.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Shared Value Africa: Pan-African advocacy and training entity, regional partner of the global Shared Value Initiative business network.
• Shared Value Africa Academy
• JamiiTrade
• Institute for Competitiveness Africa (IFCA)
• Africa Shared Value & ESG Summit
• Africa Shared Value Series
• GRACI
• #ITSNOTOK

Products and services

• Shared Value and ESG Advisory Services Strategic advisory engagements on Shared Value, ESG strategy, gender equality, leadership development, partnership facilitation, and impact measurement for corporates, development organisations, and public-sector clients across Africa.
• Africa Shared Value & ESG Summit Annual convening platform bringing together business, government, and civil society leaders to advance Shared Value and ESG practice across Africa.
• Shared Value Africa Academy (SVAA) Executive education and training programme delivering Shared Value and ESG capability building to African professionals, corporates, and institutions.
• USADF Learning Hub WhatsApp-based Learning Management System deployed in collaboration with development partners to deliver accessible digital learning to African entrepreneurs and SMEs.
• JamiiTrade Digital trade platform supporting African SMEs and entrepreneurs with information, training, and tools for intra-Africa trade.
• Institute for Competitiveness Africa (IFCA) Research arm producing Africa-focused competitiveness, Shared Value, and ESG research, including the Africa Export Competitiveness Report and related policy analysis.
• GRACI (Gender Risk Assessment Compliance Index) Proprietary gender equality assessment and compliance framework used within the firm's advisory and training portfolio.

Quantifiable outcome

• Supported 20 private sector organisations in South Africa to prevent workplace harassment and gender-based violence through Respect@Work program
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Shared Value Africa (SVA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShared Value Africa is the sister organisation and advocacy/training entity of Shift Impact Africa Group. Together they form a dynamic partnership dedicated to advancing the Shared Value Business Management Concept across Africa. SVA is the regional partner of the global Shared Value Initiative business network.
• AUDA-NEPADflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerShift Impact Africa was contracted by AUDA-NEPAD (in partnership with GIZ) to develop key recommendations for the legal, financial, and operational framework of WorldSkills Africa initiative, including business model, legal structure, membership strategy, and communication strategy.
• GIZflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman development agency contracted Shift Impact Africa to lead development of WorldSkills Africa frameworks alongside AUDA-NEPAD.
• United States African Development Foundation (USADF)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to conceptualize, develop, and deliver the USADF Learning Hub - a groundbreaking WhatsApp-based Learning Management System for African entrepreneurs. Shift Impact Africa played a key role in delivering the 81-day pilot phase in Kenya and Senegal.
• VisaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developed the USADF Learning Hub with USADF, contributing to the innovation and accessibility of business training for African entrepreneurs through mobile platform.
• International Finance Corporation (IFC)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerShift Impact Africa served as implementation partner with Shared Value Africa to develop and deliver the Respect@Work program in South Africa, supporting private sector companies in addressing workplace sexual harassment and gender-based violence.
• African Capacity Building FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on the Africa Export Competitiveness Report 2023 and 2024, with IFCA serving as the research arm providing locally-driven insights for the continent.
• Institute for Competitiveness IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on the first Africa Export Competitiveness report launch, providing international expertise and benchmarking.
• Minerals Council of South AfricacoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerShared Value Africa (supported by Shift Impact Africa) was awarded the contract to develop the Women in Mining Gender Equality Strategy 2025-2027 for the Minerals Council of South Africa.
• Shared Value Africa Academy (SVAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Shift Impact Africa Group ecosystem, dedicated to training and educating organisations on the Shared Value Business Management Concept through bespoke training programs.
• JamiiTradecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA curated connected continental community of SME/SMMEs trading across Africa and beyond. Part of the Shift Impact Africa Group ecosystem focused on capacity-building and peer-to-peer entrepreneurship support.
• Shared Value Gender Equality UnitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnit focused on accelerating progress on gender equality and reducing Gender Based Violence and Femicide, launched through the #ITSNOTOK movement, supporting both public and private sectors.
• Institute for Competitiveness Africa (IFCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch arm of Shift Impact Africa and Shared Value Africa, focused on empowering businesses, governments, and communities with locally-driven insights and Africa-centric research.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Africa Practice: Pan-African advisory firm working with corporates, investors, and DFIs on strategy, communications, and policy across the continent. Directly competes for ESG and stakeholder engagement mandates.
• Shared Value Initiative: Global parent network of the Shared Value concept; Shift Impact Africa's sister organisation Shared Value Africa is its regional African partner. Most direct peer in mission, methodology, and thought leadership.
• FSG (a BCG company): Global leader in shared-value and impact strategy consulting; offers ESG, gender equality, and partnership advisory to corporates and DFIs. Direct competitor for ESG/shared-value mandates, with greater scale.
• Dalberg Advisors: Pan-African/global development and impact advisory firm serving foundations, DFIs, and corporates on strategy and inclusive growth. Closest direct peer in Africa for development-focused consulting mandates.

Broad incumbents

• Accenture Development Partnerships: Global consulting firm running development-focused engagements for DFIs, NGOs, and multilaterals. Broader incumbent that overlaps on impact strategy and capacity-building mandates.
• McKinsey Social Sector & Sustainability Practice: Global management consulting giant with a substantial sustainability and social-sector practice that increasingly serves African corporates, governments, and DFIs on ESG and shared value. Competes for larger enterprise mandates.

Others

• TechnoServe: International non-profit working with enterprising people in the developing world to lift themselves out of poverty, active across Africa with entrepreneur and SME programs. Adjacent on entrepreneur training and shared value in African markets.

Regional players

• Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF): Pan-African entrepreneurship platform running training, mentorship, and seed-capital programs across all 54 African countries. Comparable in mission and target audience (SME/entrepreneurs) but more grant-funded than advisory.

Emerging players

• African Leadership University (ALU): Pan-African higher-education institution focused on developing African leaders and entrepreneurs; overlaps on the leadership development, youth skills, and entrepreneur capacity-building themes Shift Impact Africa serves.
• Impact Hub Network: Global network of impact-focused entrepreneurship hubs including African cities; overlaps with JamiiTrade and SVAA on SME/community building and impact entrepreneurship. Comparable on community/platform model rather than pure advisory.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/shiftimpact
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shift-social-development
• Facebookfacebook.com/ShiftImpact

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries5 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 Shift Impact Africa