The Michigan Fellows Africa Initiative (MFAI) has entered into a formal partnership with Phos Creatives aimed at advancing African-led solutions to both local and global challenges.
MFAI is a cross-border non-government organization (NGO) in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, and Zimbabwe focused on agriculture development, education, youth and women empowerment, leadership, and civic engagement
The collaboration will focus on promoting leadership, inclusion, innovation, and strategic storytelling, bringing together MFAI’s programmatic expertise and Phos Creatives’ strengths in brand strategy and communications.
Speaking on the partnership, Phos Creatives founder, Rhoda Musiima said the initiative is rooted in the belief that Africa’s most impactful solutions must come from within the continent.
“Africa’s most meaningful solutions will come from Africans who understand the realities, the opportunities, and the urgency of this moment. This partnership allows us to combine creative strategy and storytelling with transformative programming that is already changing lives,” she said.
MFAI’s work spans leadership development, civic engagement, agribusiness, gender equity, social inclusion, and global exchange. Through the partnership, the two organizations aim to strengthen African leadership, expand opportunities for marginalized communities—particularly those involved in agriculture—and enhance the visibility of homegrown solutions.
Founded in Uganda, Phos Creatives has worked with more than 30 brands across countries including Kenya, Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the United States, offering services such as brand strategy, identity development, visual communication, and advisory support.
For MFAI, the collaboration aligns with its broader vision of serving as a hub for innovation across Africa by fostering partnerships with universities, governments, civil society organizations, and diplomatic missions.
The partnership is already taking shape through several initiatives. Among them is the Gender & Development in Contemporary Societies (GRO-GEST) programme, implemented in collaboration with the University of Iceland and the Makerere University Directorate of Gender Mainstreaming. The hybrid seminar is designed to strengthen the capacity of youth leaders in gender and development work.
The collaboration is also reflected in the ongoing New Africa Fund Mushroom Challenge, an initiative led by MFAI chapters in Kenya and Zimbabwe in partnership with Mushroom Angel LLC. The programme seeks to support mushroom farmers through value addition, processing, and export opportunities, backed by matching funding under the New Africa Fund.
Officials from both organizations say the partnership is expected to scale impact-driven initiatives across the continent while amplifying African voices in shaping global development solutions.
