Mo Ibrahim Foundation

The Mo Ibrahim Foundation is an independent, non-grant foundation established in 2006 by Sudanese-British telecommunications entrepreneur Mo Ibrahim. Based in London and Dakar, it concentrates on the quality of political leadership and governance in Africa rather than operating as a conventional grant-making charity. Its work combines measurement, public debate, leadership recognition and investment in future African leaders. The foundation's best-known research instrument is the Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG), launched in 2007. The index evaluates governance performance across all 54 African countries using data from African and international sources. It presents country, regional and continental trends across areas such as security and the rule of law, participation and human rights, sustainable economic opportunity, and human development. The index is intended to make public-sector performance more visible and comparable, while helping policymakers, researchers, civil-society organisations and citizens examine whether public institutions are delivering public goods and services. The Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership is the foundation's principal leadership initiative. Introduced in 2007, it recognises a former African executive head of state or government who left office within the previous three years after completing a constitutionally mandated term and who demonstrated exceptional leadership. The award is deliberately selective and is not necessarily presented every year. Its financial award is US$5 million paid over ten years, followed by an annual allowance for life. The prize has honoured Joaquim Chissano, Festus Mogae, Pedro Pires, Hifikepunye Pohamba, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Mahamadou Issoufou. The committee's decision not to select a laureate in several years is part of the foundation's effort to maintain a demanding standard rather than guarantee annual distribution. The foundation also convenes the Ibrahim Governance Weekend, a major forum bringing together African political and business leaders, civil society, multilateral institutions and international partners. Its discussions address issues including climate change, migration, urbanisation, democratic accountability and the continent's economic and social transformation. The weekend incorporates the Ibrahim Forum, which focuses on a selected governance challenge, and the Now Generation Forum, which gives younger African professionals and emerging leaders a role in shaping the conversation. Leadership development is supported through Ibrahim Leadership Fellowships and Ibrahim Scholarships. The fellowships place selected young Africans for a year in senior institutional environments including the African Development Bank, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the World Trade Organization's relevant Geneva structures. Scholarships have supported study at partner institutions in fields connected with leadership, public policy and development. Alumni and participants form the Now Generation Network, a pan-African community spanning all 54 countries and linking fellows, scholars and youth-forum participants. The foundation's present identity therefore rests on four connected activities: governance data, recognition of exemplary leadership, convening and debate, and development of the next generation of African leaders. It does not sell consumer products or operate as a listed commercial company. Its influence comes through research publication, agenda-setting, convening power and the public profile of its prize and governance assessments.

The Mo Ibrahim Foundation was created in 2006 by Mo Ibrahim, a Sudanese-British businessman whose career in telecommunications had made him a prominent advocate of stronger African institutions. The foundation was designed as a non-grant organisation focused on the conditions that shape development: political leadership, public accountability, institutional capacity and the delivery of public goods. It operates from London and Dakar and addresses African governance through research, recognition, convening and leadership development. Its first major instruments emerged in 2007. The Ibrahim Index of African Governance created a comparative framework for examining governance across the continent. Rather than measuring only economic growth, the index covers public outcomes and institutional performance, including security, justice, rights, economic opportunity and human development. It has become a recurring reference point for discussions about governance trends in Africa, with data presented at national, regional and continental levels. The Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership was also inaugurated in 2007. The award recognises former African executive heads of state or government who left office after completing a constitutional term, were democratically elected and demonstrated exceptional leadership. The prize is intentionally not guaranteed every year. Joaquim Chissano received the inaugural award for his role in Mozambique's movement from conflict toward peace and democracy, while Nelson Mandela was named an honorary laureate. Festus Mogae followed in 2008, and later laureates included Pedro Pires, Hifikepunye Pohamba, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Mahamadou Issoufou. The committee's decisions not to award the prize in 2009, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019 underscored the foundation's stated preference for selectivity. The foundation expanded its leadership-development work through Ibrahim Scholarships, established in 2007, and Ibrahim Leadership Fellowships, established in 2011. Fellowships provide a twelve-month placement and mentoring experience in major African and international institutions, while scholarships support promising African students through selected academic partners. Graduates and participants are connected through the Now Generation Network, which also includes people involved in the foundation's youth-oriented forums. The Ibrahim Governance Weekend developed into the foundation's principal public convening platform. Held in African cities including Alexandria, Dar es Salaam, Port Louis, Tunis, Dakar, Addis Ababa, Accra, Marrakech, Kigali, Nairobi and Abidjan, the event brings together political leaders, business figures, civil society, international organisations and younger professionals. The Ibrahim Forum addresses a central issue affecting the continent, while the Now Generation Forum brings youth perspectives into the wider policy discussion. Topics have included climate change, migration, urbanisation and the future of African development. During 2020 and 2021, the governance weekend was conducted virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The foundation also published a Now Generation Network survey examining how the pandemic affected young Africans. This reflected its broader approach: combine continent-wide evidence with the experiences of current and emerging leaders. Over time, the Mo Ibrahim Foundation has become associated with governance measurement and leadership accountability rather than charitable distribution. Its prize, index, forums, fellowships and network reinforce one another. The index supplies evidence for debate, the prize creates a public benchmark for political leadership, the forums convene decision-makers and the fellowship and scholarship programmes cultivate future participants in African public life.

• 2020

  Governance Weekend held virtually

  [1]Mo Ibrahim Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  COVID-19 restrictions led the foundation to move its governance weekend online.

• 2011

  Leadership fellowships established

  [1]Mo Ibrahim Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  The foundation created a twelve-month fellowship programme placing emerging African leaders in senior institutional environments.

• 2007

  Ibrahim Index and leadership prize launched

  [1]Mo Ibrahim Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  The foundation launched the Ibrahim Index of African Governance and inaugurated the Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership.

• 2007

  Scholarship programme established

  [1]Mo Ibrahim Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  The Ibrahim Scholarships began supporting the development of young African talent through selected academic institutions.

• 2006

  Foundation established

  [1]Mo Ibrahim Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  Mo Ibrahim founded the independent foundation to promote better leadership and governance in Africa.

Independent, evidence-led African foundation promoting accountable leadership, effective governance and intergenerational policy dialogue.

• Governance research · 2007

  Ibrahim Index of African Governance

  A recurring assessment of governance performance in all 54 African countries. It aggregates data from African and international sources and presents scores and trends across areas including security and rule of law, participation and rights, sustainable economic opportunity and human development. The index is designed as a public analytical tool for comparing outcomes and examining changes over time.

• Leadership award · 2007

  Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership

  A selective award for former African executive heads of state or government who completed their constitutional mandates and demonstrated exceptional leadership. The prize is not necessarily awarded annually. Its published award includes US$5 million paid over ten years, recognising leaders judged to have advanced democracy, rights and sustainable prosperity.

• Policy forum

  Ibrahim Governance Weekend

  A biennial three-day gathering that convenes political and business leaders, civil society, multilateral organisations and international partners. The programme includes the Ibrahim Forum, focused on a major African governance issue, and the Now Generation Forum, which brings younger African leaders and professionals into the discussion.

• Leadership development · 2011

  Ibrahim Leadership Fellowships

  A twelve-month programme intended to identify, mentor and develop future African leaders. Fellows work in executive offices of partner institutions such as the African Development Bank and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, contributing to policy and research while receiving mentoring.

• Alumni and youth network

  Now Generation Network

  A pan-African network linking Ibrahim fellows, scholarship alumni and participants in the Now Generation Forum. Its activities include intergenerational conversations and research on issues affecting young Africans, with membership represented across the continent.

• 2020

  Governance Weekend moved onlineStrategy

  Background

  The COVID-19 pandemic made a large in-person international gathering impractical.

  Action taken

  The foundation delivered the Ibrahim Governance Weekend virtually.

  Aftermath

  The event remained virtual in 2021, allowing the foundation to continue its policy discussions during the pandemic.

  Source

• 2010

  Prize not awardedOther

  Background

  The independent prize committee again decided that no candidate should receive the award.

  Action taken

  No Ibrahim Prize was presented.

  Aftermath

  The repeated non-award reinforced the foundation's emphasis on leadership quality and eligibility rather than annual ceremony schedules.

  Source

• 2009

  Prize committee declines to select a laureateOther

  Background

  The committee considered credible candidates but concluded that no candidate met the award's demanding standard.

  Action taken

  The foundation did not present the Ibrahim Prize for that year.

  Aftermath

  The decision strengthened the prize's selective character and demonstrated that it was not intended to be awarded automatically each year.

  Source

1. 1Mo Ibrahim Foundationen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Official Mo Ibrahim Foundation websitemo.ibrahim.foundation