Pharo Foundation

Pharo Foundation is a mission-driven organization dedicated to investing in Africa’s human and physical capital, with a strong focus on sustainable development and job creation. Guided by the core values of respect, creativity, entrepreneurship, trust, and accountability, the Foundation develops community-rooted ecosystems across East Africa through direct implementation, public-private partnerships, and enterprise development.

Evolutionary Phases & History

| Phase | Strategic Focus | Key Milestones & Activities | | --- | --- | --- | | 2011–2016 | Grant-Making & Early Partnerships | Operated as a grant-making entity partnering with organizations like Amref East Africa, ActionAid, African Education Trust, Windle Trust International, and Medical Aid Films. Key initiatives included funding girls' education in the Horn of Africa, sponsoring 50 postgraduate refugee scholars in the UK, automating national school-leaving examination data in South Sudan, and supporting localized mobile medical training. | | 2016–2023 | Direct Project Design & The 5-Pillar Strategy | Transitioned to direct implementation to improve accountability, efficiency, and depth of impact. Established dedicated schools, early childhood education (ECE) programs, adult literacy initiatives, and vocational centers in Somaliland and Ethiopia (Benishangul-Gumuz and Somali regions). Developed the four-pillar framework (Education, Health, Water, Agriculture) alongside the four-year Socio-Economic Empowerment Programme (SEEP) in Ethiopia, and created the fifth pillar, Pharo Ventures, in 2019 to drive private-sector sustainability. | | 2023–Beyond | Mission-Led & Impact-Driven Development | Shifted to evidence-based, research-driven growth focused on fulfilling three core medium-term missions. Leverages accumulated infrastructure and fixed assets, supported by robust Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) teams, to maximize social return on investment and share institutional know-how globally. |

The Five Strategic Pillars

• Education: Operating proprietary Pharo Kindergartens, primary, secondary, and boarding schools (such as the Homosha boarding school), while collaborating with government ministries on national curricula and public school upgrades.
• Health: Improving healthcare infrastructure and specialized services, including public intensive care access and facilities such as the Pharo Diagnostic Centre.
• Water: Expanding community water supply systems and essential public utility infrastructure (e.g., Assosa Water Supply expansion).
• Agriculture: Supporting agricultural training centers and local farming capacities to enhance productivity and food security.
• Pharo Ventures: Commercial and enterprise arm established in 2019 to promote long-term sustainability, local economic transformation, and job creation.

Core Values

• Respect: Upholding dignity across all community engagements.
• Creativity: Designing innovative solutions for complex development challenges.
• Entrepreneurship: Fostering enterprise, self-reliance, and economic opportunity.
• Trust: Building reliable relationships with communities, governments, and partners.
• Accountability: Ensuring transparency and measurable effectiveness across all programs.