Partnerships

We have a proven track record in transforming government and commercial organizations in Africa. We have worked with hundreds of organizations from different sectors in matters of strategy, operations, standards, management and research, among others. We are a growing consulting firm, driven by the desire to see our clients succeed and the assurance of mutual success is what we bank on. This is our philosophy and it is the promise we deliver, every time.

Urban growth throughout the country has created a challenge for financing infrastructure. Investment in infrastructure is needed to provide basic services for newly developed parts of urban areas. It is needed to meet the demand for a safer and more reliable water supply, higher standards for the removal and treatment of wastewater and solid waste, and the transportation requirements of a population whose expectations of mobility rise with household incomes. Infrastructure investment also is essential to the economic productivity of cities.

Traditionally, urban infrastructure has been financed from three sources: the operating savings of local governments, grants from higher levels of government, and borrowing. Each of these financing sources now faces constraints. Local budgets are hard pressed to finance basic operating services, including adequate maintenance of existing infrastructure. Higher levels of government must often limit grants to cities in the interest of prudent fiscal management. As decentralization policies have transferred service responsibilities downward, local governments are being asked to finance more of the urban capital budget from their own resources. Local borrowing has helped finance growth in urban infrastructure investment, but the local government revenue base is often insufficient to service a significant expansion of local government debt.

Global pandemics and economic downturns are impossible to predict and sure as sunrise. Build resilience now, because when the sun comes up, you'd better be moving. Our teams move fast to help clients stabilize crises and deliver an integrated response while maintaining performance.

The ACAL Think Tank is an independent and non-partisan think-and-do tank, mainly engaged in research in the areas of public policy and strategy, aimed at promoting evidence-based problem solving and decision making.

OUR MISSION

Conduct in-depth research that leads to new ideas for solving problems facing society at the local, national and global level.

FROM DATA GENERATION TO AN EVIDENCE BASED APPROACH

Generate quality research that can inform and influence public policies through quality data and rigorous research methods. Analyse available data, draw insights and develop viable policy and strategy proposals . Finally, it is important to discuss those findings and proposals with relevant stakeholders of policy and business communities.

We combine diverse expertise to connect dots and see around corners where others can’t. Build strong relationships at the highest levels of government and the private sector to shift barriers and catalyse transformative partnerships. We use our broad expertise and experience to help navigate digital transformation, and design and invest in breakthrough ideas that make an impact on society and deliver financial returns.

NEW GOALS FOR A NEW CENTURY

As we confront the manifold challenges of this new century, we have resolved to change the way we do business, attempting to do everything better and some things quite differently. The necessary adaptations fall under five goals.

1. Tighten our focus on the complex of governance issues as an organizing theme of our priorities, activities, products, and partnerships and thereby seek to be a leader in addressing the primary challenges of our time.
2. Enhance our influence and relevance by engaging new audiences and building new partnerships around the world. This means exploiting more vigorously the tools of the digital age. It also means using new and more effective branding and messaging to clarify who we are, what we do, why it matters, and how citizens can be part of the solution to the major problems of our time.
3. Promote a culture of collaboration across the Institution and with our clients, since the governance problems we deal with are interdisciplinary, multifaceted, and often shared by other major powers.
4. Advance inclusion and diversity in all its aspects — in our community as a whole, and, in particular, within our scholarly ranks and management.
5. Reinforce efficiency and sustainability through disciplined decision-making on how to allocate our resources, whom to hire and for how long, and whether to start or sunset projects.