About Us

Who We Are

Empowering Africa’s youth to create livelihoods and lead transformation.

paNhari is a Pan-African youth empowerment network and social-impact consulting firm. We equip and connect young Africans — especially those most excluded — to create livelihoods, lead transformation, and drive climate-positive, inclusive futures. We act as a catalyst proving what’s possible when youth are trusted and supported.

Our Mission

To empower young Africans by equipping them with skills, tools, and pathways to reach their peak potential.

Our Vision
An Africa where youth create sustainable livelihoods, lead transformation, and drive climate-positive, inclusive futures.
Our Aspiration
To become a leading Pan-African network and consulting firm that bridges potential with opportunity.
Our Role
We act as a catalyst — equipping, demonstrating, connecting, and amplifying youth-led solutions so that youth, partners, and funders can scale transformation across Africa.

Our Core Values

Ubuntu

I am because we are. We succeed by lifting others, and our work is always people-centered.

Youth-First Leadership

We believe young people are not just beneficiaries but co-creators, decision-makers, and drivers of change.



African Identity

Our work is proudly rooted in African realities, culture, and innovation while connecting globally.

Equity & Inclusion

We intentionally create space for marginalized voices: women, youth with disabilities, displaced youth, and indigenous communities.



Systems Thinking

We look beyond quick fixes to design solutions that shift whole systems for lasting impact.

Integrity & Accountability

We are transparent in our actions, accountable to each other and our communities, and committed to ethical leadership

Innovation & Adaptability

We embrace creativity, experimentation, and learning to stay relevant in fast-changing contexts

Who We Serve

paNhari serves young Africans aged 18 to 35 — with a deliberate focus on those who are marginalized, rural, displaced, living with disabilities, or women and girls. Our reach is Pan-African: anchored in Zimbabwe and South Africa, with active and emerging partnerships across Kenya, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, and beyond. Over the past 15 years, we have engaged more than 5,000 young people across 10 African nations and 8 countries worldwide, helping them unlock opportunity, agency, and purpose. Our vision is bold: to transform the lives of 10,000 youth within the next five years — cultivating a generation of ethical leaders, innovators, and green-job creators driving Africa’s sustainable future.

Theory of Change

We believe that young people, when equipped with the right skills and supported with tools, networks, and trust, can build sustainable, dynamic solutions that drive social and economic impact. paNhari’s theory of change rests on two convictions:

01

Youth at the centre: Young people must be drivers and autonomous systems thinkers. Our model identifies motivated youth and introduces them to experiential learning, custom skills building and values‑based leadership tools. We then connect them with mentors and opportunities to power their innovations into social‑impact initiatives.

02

Collective action: The Africa we want can only be realised through collective care, cross‑movement collaboration and deliberate cross‑border solidarity. By weaving together peer mentoring, expert guidance and global networks, we create an ecosystem where youth ideas come to life and scale.

This ensures continuous growth and a supportive community for young changemakers.

paNhari’s Journey

paNhari began as a student led initiative at the University of Zimbabwe. The name “paNhari” comes from the Shona word for “the peak,” reflecting our commitment to helping youth reach their highest potential. For over a decade, we have grown from a small group of volunteers into a Pan African network that bridges knowledge, action and leaderships:

Founded by University of Zimbabwe students leading civic engagement and entrepreneurship projects.

Expanded mentorship and enterprise training; early alumni launched youth-led ventures and community initiatives.

Formally registered as a youth-led organization. paNhari (“the peak”) was born.

Launched incubator and acceleration programs, including the Youth Economic Participation Initiative (YEPI) funded by the Mastercard Foundation—training 1,900+ youth and creating 50+ ventures.

Implemented Stepping It Up (World Bank-funded), advancing youth leadership and green entrepreneurship.

Evolved into a Pan-African network, connecting young innovators, mentors, and partners across borders.

Rolled out Next Generation Leaders (NGL), mentoring 36 emerging leaders from 18 countries to co-design civic and climate solutions.

Co-implementing the For Youth, By Youth (FYBY) movement with the Talloires Network (Tufts University) and the Mastercard Foundation, centering youth solidarity and conscious leadership.

Co-created the Climate Impact Fellowship, a program set to equip youth with climate-justice frameworks, systems-change skills, and policy influence tools.

Expanding as a Pan-African catalyst for visionary changemakers, bridging potential with opportunity and scaling youth-led innovation.

From our origins, we’ve held space for young people to move from the margins to the centre of development, highlighting the potential of Africa’s most vulnerable and unheard voices. Today, paNhari epitomises youth led, ethical AI for digital transformation, climate smart agrifood systems and resilience focused models for Africa’s climate positive growth.

Our Team and Board

paNhari is powered by a diverse collective of young professionals and seasoned experts working across Africa and the diaspora. From agronomists, educators and AI ethicists to finance managers and policy advocates, our team reflects the breadth of our mission. Many collaborate virtually across time zones while others anchor our hubs in Zimbabwe, South Africa and partner countries—blending local presence with global reach. This cross disciplinary, multicultural mix fuels our ability to innovate, adapt and scale youth led solutions. Our advisors provide specialist guidance across ethical AI, climate finance, leadership development and social enterprise, ensuring paNhari benefits from world class expertise while staying grounded in community needs.

Our board ensures accountability, governance and strategic alignment with paNhari’s mission. It comprises leaders in education, entrepreneurship, finance, agrifood innovation and social impact from across Africa and the diaspora. This group champions our long term vision and provides oversight as we expand into new regions and sectors.

The Youth Advisory Council is a new initiative that brings young voices to the heart of paNhari’s leadership. We believe youth must not only participate but lead in shaping programmes, strategy and messaging. The YAC is composed of young changemakers aged 18–30 from across Africa and the diaspora. Members are selected for their commitment to community, fresh ideas and lived experience in leadership, entrepreneurship, climate justice, digital access and youth wellbeing.

Council members:

  • Offer insights on emerging trends and issues facing young people across the continent.
  • Help shape paNhari’s strategy, programmes and campaigns.
  • Serve as connectors between youth on the ground and our leadership team.
  • Influence how we show up to funders, partners and global audiences.

Structure:

  • 1–2 year terms (renewable once).
  • Quarterly virtual meetings plus optional workshops or events.
  • Participation is non paid but meaningful; members gain mentorship, networking and a platform to co create the future of youth led impact.

We are committed to inclusion and representation—youth from across Africa and the diaspora, young women and gender diverse leaders, displaced youth and youth with disabilities. 



Allies & Partners