What is alignAfrica?

Formerly known as Tiruzer Ethiopia for Africa(TEA) , alignAfrica is a local nonprofit organization dedicated to driving sustainable development and creating positive change across Africa. Founded in 2009 by Yonas Mamo, alignAfrica initially focused on empowering communities in Ethiopia through sustainable development, with an emphasis on health, education, youth and women’s empowerment, and peace-building. Today, we operate across key sectors, including health and HIV/AIDS, education, nutrition, economic empowerment, humanitarian relief, peacebuilding, and climate resilience. Our goal is to empower marginalized communities by fostering opportunities for growth through innovation, collaboration, and advocacy.

Why alignAfrica?

The name alignAfrica reflects our mission to unite efforts, resources, and stakeholders for sustainable progress across the African continent.

  • Alignment with Local Needs: We tailor initiatives to meet the unique priorities of local communities, ensuring impact and relevance.
  • Alignment with Global Goals: By focusing on livelihoods, health, education, emergency response, gender equality, peacebuilding, and environmental sustainability, alignAfrica aligns its interventions with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) aimed at creating a more equitable, resilient, and sustainable world.
  • Empowerment through Unity: We bring together communities, governments, and donors to address Africa’s pressing challenges, amplifying the impact of aligned efforts.
  • Commitment to Sustainability: Our focus is on evolving, long-term solutions that meet communities' changing needs and ensure lasting change.

How We Work

The alignAfrica Community-Driven Strategy focuses on Village Ownership, Knowledge Sharing, and Partnerships. It creates lasting change by empowering grassroots communities to lead their own development and collaborate for greater impact.

V - Village Ownership: Empowering Communities to Lead

At the heart of the VIP Strategy is the principle of Village Ownership, ensuring that communities are actively involved in every step of their development. By empowering local leaders and residents, the strategy ensures that projects are not only community-driven but also sustainable in the long term.

I - Impartation, Learning, and Sharing Knowledge: Building Capacity

The Impartation, Learning, and Sharing Knowledge pillar focuses on building local capacity through education and knowledge exchange. By equipping communities with the skills and tools they need, this approach fosters innovation, enhances problem-solving, and ensures that communities can independently tackle their challenges.

  • Scalable Solutions: Knowledge shared across communities ensures replicable solutions and broader impact.
  • Empowered Communities: Skilled individuals contribute to a culture of self-reliance and innovation.
  • Long-Term Results: Capacity building ensures the ability to manage and grow projects sustainably.

P - Partnership and alignafricamwork: Collaborative Action for Greater Impact

Partnership and alignafricamwork are key to ensuring that all stakeholders—local communities, governments, NGOs, and the private sector—work together toward shared goals. This collaborative approach ensures that resources, expertise, and efforts are combined to create a greater impact.

  • Resource Optimization: Partnerships maximize the effective use of funding, expertise, and technical support.
  • Collaborative Impact: Working together leads to more efficient and comprehensive solutions.
  • Sustainability: Strong partnerships create the foundation for ongoing development and growth.

Our Pillars: Educate | Advocate | Engage | Empower

Our work is guided by four core principles:

  • Educate: Empowering individuals with the knowledge and skills to improve health, education, nutrition, immunization, and livelihoods, thereby breaking the cycle of poverty and injustice.
  • Advocate: Driving systemic change by influencing policies and raising awareness on issues like economic empowerment, gender equality, and sustainable development.
  • Engage: Partnering with communities, leaders, and stakeholders to co-create solutions for development, humanitarian needs, and climate challenges.
  • Empower: Building local capacity, fostering innovation, and strengthening resilience to create long-term, impactful change.

Maximizing Impact with Efficiency and Transparency

At alignAfrica, we ensure every contribution makes a difference. Our expert alignafricam rigorously evaluates programs for maximum impact while upholding transparency with accessible reports and strategic plans.

We allocate 80% of our resources directly to support those in need, adhering to the high accountability standards set by CSO watchdogs.

Our Reach: Since 2009, we’ve impacted over 706,781 people directly and 7.5 million people indirectly in Ethiopia through health, education, empowerment, and more—expanding soon to other African countries.

"Join us in creating a brighter future-whether by supporting our cause!"