A consulting firm built for the continent.
Internationale Development Stories (IDS) supports governments, development institutions, and private sector actors to strengthen knowledge systems, institutional learning, strategic communications, and evidence-driven transformation.
- Founded
- Nairobi, 2014
- Presence
- 7 countries, 38 advisors
- Practices
- Governance · Climate · Health · Capital
Mission
To equip African institutions with evidence, narrative, and operational depth.
We translate hard evidence into clear decisions. From multi-country evaluations to programme design, our work helps clients see the continent as it is — and act with conviction.
Vision
An Africa whose institutions write — and own — their own playbook.
We exist to close the gap between what is known on the continent and what is funded, governed, and built. Knowledge, not aid, is the lever.
Transforming data, information and knowledge into wise decisions, systems and impact.
Six core service areas, one integrated practice.
Our work clusters around six core service areas. Together they form a single integrated practice — applied wherever institutions need to learn faster, communicate clearer, and turn evidence into decisions.
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01
Knowledge Management & Learning Systems
Institutional KM frameworks, knowledge hubs, learning systems, communities of practice, and documentation systems.
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02
Digital Platforms & Innovation
Knowledge portals, institutional websites, learning platforms, and digital collaboration ecosystems.
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03
Data-to-Decision Systems
Information management, MIS modernization, research translation, dashboards, and evidence synthesis.
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04
Change Management & Institutional Transition
Organizational transformation, user adoption, capacity building, stakeholder onboarding, and systems integration.
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05
Research, Policy & Thought Leadership
Policy analysis, technical writing, learning papers, sector reports, and strategic convenings.
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06
Strategic Communications & Visibility
Visibility strategies, campaigns, media engagement, development storytelling, and digital communications.
The people behind the work.
A senior bench of practitioners — drawn from government, finance, multilateral systems, and frontline operators. Average tenure in African development: 18 years.
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Amina Okonjo
Managing Partner · Nairobi
Former World Bank country economist. Twenty years across governance, public finance, and African capital markets.
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Tunde Adebayo
Partner, Knowledge · Lagos
Built two of West Africa's largest evidence platforms. Leads our research and learning practice.
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Selamawit Bekele
Partner, Climate & Health · Addis
Public-health physician turned strategist. Advises ministries and Gavi on climate-resilient health systems.
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Kwame Asare
Chair, Senior Advisory Council
Former Minister of Finance, Ghana. Convenes the firm's policy advisory council across the continent.
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Aïssatou Diop
Partner, Capital & Markets · Dakar
Ex-IFC. Structures blended-finance facilities across francophone Africa and leads our capital practice.
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Sipho Ndlovu
Partner, Governance · Johannesburg
Twenty years across South African public-sector reform. Leads governance and institutional design work.
Seven hubs. One operating footprint.
Five African hubs anchor the work. Two outpost offices in Washington DC and London keep us close to funders, multilaterals, and policy conversations.
Africa
5 OFFICES-
Nairobi
HQ · Kenya
Strategy · Knowledge · Research
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Lagos
Nigeria
Strategy · Capital · Comms
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Addis Ababa
Ethiopia · AU corridor
Multilateral · Health · Climate
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Dakar
Senegal · francophone hub
Capital · Governance
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Johannesburg
South Africa
Governance · Public sector
Outposts
2 OFFICES-
Washington DC
United States
Donor engagement
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London
United Kingdom
Policy & philanthropy
Eleven years of building African institutions.
From a four-person research desk in Nairobi to a multi-country firm advising governments, multilaterals, and operators across the continent.
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2014
Founded in Nairobi.
Four researchers, one mandate: produce evidence African policymakers could actually use. The first commission was a regional WASH evaluation across Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
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2017
Knowledge Management practice formalised.
After three years of bespoke work, the firm formalised its KM offering — synthesis, learning, and strategic communications — and won a five-year mandate with a major philanthropy.
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2019
Lagos & Addis offices open.
West and Horn of Africa hubs come online. The firm crosses 25 advisors and begins long-term programme work with three African ministries of health.
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2022
Capital practice launched.
Dakar office opens and the firm formalises a capital and blended-finance practice. Three flagship facilities structured in the first 18 months.
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2024
DC & London outposts.
Northern-hemisphere outposts open to bring funders and policy actors closer to African evidence — without moving the firm's centre of gravity off the continent.
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2026
38 advisors. 7 offices. One firm.
Today IDS operates as a single, continentally-rooted firm — running engagements with governments, multilaterals, philanthropies, and operator-investors across more than twenty African economies.