Africa Initiative

Developing sustainable business leadership in Africa

IESE has built a consolidated presence in Africa in line with its mission to advance ethical, people-centric leadership worldwide.

For more than four decades, the school has played a central role in the creation and growth of three leading institutions across Africa: Lagos Business School in Nigeria, Strathmore Business School in Kenya and MDE Business School in Côte d’Ivoire.

In 2009, IESE launched the Africa Initiative to bring its activities on the continent under one clear, coordinated framework.

Among its activities, the Initiative drives Africa-focused research and delivers programs, exchange modules and faculty development opportunities, working hand in hand with partner schools and other premier organizations across the region.

750+

Alumni who live and work in Africa

480+

African participants in annual IESE exchange modules

100+

Research documents, working papers and business cases

750+

Alumni who live and work in Africa

480+

African participants in annual IESE exchange modules

100+

Research documents, working papers and business cases

Areas of action.

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Research

Development and dissemination of practitioner-oriented knowledge on African leadership and business realities

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Practitioner events

Forums that gather African and international leaders and investors to share knowledge, build networks and explore synergies

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Joint program development

Close collaboration with Lagos, Strathmore and MDE Business Schools to design and deliver educational offerings

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Exchange programs

Executive education modules for African participants on IESE and MBA electives at Strathmore in Nairobi

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Faculty development

Joint teaching, curriculum and mentoring on case study development and other dynamic learning methodologies

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Promoting next-generation leaders

Support for student-led activities organized by the IESE MBA Africa Business Club

Research.

The Africa Initiative generates rigorous research and teaching materials on African business and economic development, with an emphasis on family business, entrepreneurship and governance.

Articles and papers

OCCASIONAL PAPERS

MARTÍ, G., PELIZAN, L., RAHNEMA ALAVI, A. (2021). The Sub-Saharan Africa Energy Sector: An Overview. IESE, OP-626-E.

LETICIA PELIZAN,, GIORDANO, P., LICKTEIG, L., RAHNEMA ALAVI, A. (2019). Promoting Access to Clean Cooking Fuels in Subsaharian Africa Through Entrepreneurial Initiative: Challenges and Strategies.. IESE, OP-312-E.

PELIZAN, L., RAHNEMA ALAVI, A. (2019). The Cooking Fuel Sector in Ghana. IESE, OP-321-E.

PELIZAN, L., RAHNEMA ALAVI, A., MARTÍ, G. (2019). Overview of Ghana’s Fertilizer Sector. IESE, OP-323-E.

PELIZAN, L., RAHNEMA ALAVI, A., LICKTEIG, L. (2019). Solar Home Solutions Using a Pay-As-You-Go Model in Ghana: Exploring the Opportunity. IESE, OP-319-E.

PELIZAN, L., LICKTEIG, L., MARTÍ, G. (2019). Pay-As-You-Go for LPG Supply – Exploring a New Business Model to Enhance Access to Clean Cooking Solutions in Urban Areas in Ghana. IESE, OP-318-E

PELIZAN, L., LICKTEIG, L. (2019). Biofuel Production in Ghana: Exploring the Opportunity. OP-320-E.

PELIZAN, L., KARL D. FIEVE, J., LICKTEIG, L. (2019). Overview of the Power Sector in Ghana. OP-322-E.

PAOLA GIORDANO, LETICIA PELIZAN, RAHNEMA ALAVI, A. (2018). Pay-As-You-Go: Unlocking Access to Energy Services in Sub-Saharan Africa. A Disruptive Business Model Leveraging Mobile Technology to Finance Energy Services for the Bottom of the Pyramid. IESE, OP-303-E.

OPINION AND OTHER

EUFINGER, C. (2018). Could Crowdfunding Be Right for Your Business?. Alternative Financing. IESE Insight(38), pp. 22 – 29.

RAHNEMA ALAVI, A. (2016). Check Your Biases. Africa’s energy debates can generate more heat than light. Follow this advice for a light-bulb moment.. IESE Insight.

ARGANDOÑA, A. (2015). Renew Your Mind. IESE Insight.

TECHNICAL NOTES

BERWART, A., LAGO A., A. (2020). African Markets and Consumers. IESE, PN-509-E.

WORKING PAPERS

BARCELONA, R. G., RONOH, G., TCHÓRZEWSKA, K. B. (2019). Kenya’s Imperfect Fuel Market: Tackling Real Problems With Real Solutions(WP-1200-E). Barcelona: IESE.

GIORDANO, P., ASSOGBA, M., RAHNEMA ALAVI, A. (2018). Accelerating the Green Revolution in Cote d’Ivoire: Fertilizers Against Undernourishment and Deforestation(WP-1204-E). Barcelona: IESE.

PELIZAN PAVLAK, L., SEDJI, S.-I. H., RAHNEMA ALAVI, A. (2018). Powering Côte d’Ivoire. Understanding The Landscape And Exploring Possibilities For Investment(WP-1205-E). Barcelona: IESE.

RAHNEMA ALAVI, A., SANCHEZ, F., SEDJI, S.-I. (2018). Fuel Industry for Road Transportation in Côte D’ivoire(WP-1206-E). Barcelona: IESE.

RAHNEMA ALAVI, A., SANCHEZ, F., KERUBO, L. (2017). Powering Kenya: Understanding the Landscape and Exploring Possibilities for Investments(WP-1180-E). Barcelona: IESE.

RAHNEMA ALAVI, A., GIORDANO, P., OTIENO, I. (2017). Growing Kenya: Exploring Investment Opportunities in Kenya’s Fertilizer Industry(WP-1173-E). Barcelona: IESE.

N’GUESSAN, M. N., ALEGRE, I., CANELA, M. Á. (2017). Crowdfunding In Africa. An Empirical Study Of Kiva Platform Users In Sub-Saharan Africa(WP-1172-E). Barcelona: IESE.

RAHNEMA ALAVI, A., SANCHEZ, F., GIORDANO, P. (2017). Alternative Cooking Fuels in Kenya: How Can Household Decision-making Be Impacted?(WP-1177-E). Barcelona: IESE.

IBARRA GARZA, A., CUGUERÓ-ESCOFET, N., CANELA, M. Á. (2017). Prosocial Crowdlending in Kenya(WP-1166-E). Barcelona: IESE.

NON-REFEREED ARTICLES

IESE INSIGHT, (2015). Ebola: Managing to Save Lives. Two experts on Ebola discuss the importance of preparedness, rapid response, coordination and community engagement in the management of a crisis of global proportions. IESE Insight(24), pp. 67 – 71.

MUDIDA, R., LAGO, A. (2015). Five Pillars for Doing Business in Africa. A Road Map to Opportunities. IESE Insight(24), pp. 15 – 23.

ARIÑO, A. (2015). Strategies That Go the Distance in Africa. Crossing the Divides. IESE Insight(24), pp. 24 – 31.

OVADJE, F. (2015). What Kind of Leader Will Thrive in Africa?. Putting Success in Context. IESE Insight(24), pp. 32 – 39.

IESE INSIGHT, (2013). Vodafone Ghana: Are Profits Just a Call Away?. Focus on Big Picture: Data; Rise to the Challenge; Invest in Entrepreneurship. IESE Insight(18), pp. 64 – 68.

Business cases

CASES

LEE, Y.-T., REICHE, S. (2022). Uwa Ode: Embracing Life and Career across Cultures. IESE, DPO-760-E.

PELIZAN PAVLAK, L., RAHNEMA ALAVI, A., MARTÍ, G. (2021). Ignite Power in Rwanda. Electric Power on a Different Scale…for All? IESE, OP-625-E.

PELIZAN, L., RAHNEMA ALAVI, A. (2019). Compagnie Ivoirienne d’Électricité: Delivering Electricity for All. IESE, OP-314-E.

N’GUESSAN, M. N., ALEGRE, I., CANELA, M. Á. (2019). HR Analytics at Barney. IESE, AD-369-E.

MUNGAI, E., RAHNEMA ALAVI, A. (2018). Public Private Policy Change Engagement: Consumer Choice Limited. IESE, E-189-E.

MORENO, VICTORIA; DE ZULOAGA, JON. (2017) Green Resources: Making Money with Sustainability. IESE, SM-1655-E.

PLANA OLÍAS, A., VACCARO, A., RAMUS, T. (2017). The Indego Africa Project (A). Genesis and launch of a competitive social enterprise. IESE, BE-203-E.

PLANA OLÍAS, A., VACCARO, A., RAMUS, T. (2017). The Indego Africa Project (B). Genesis and launch of a competitive social enterprise. IESE, BE-204-E.

DELONCA, E., BRION, S. (2017). A Sacred Spirits Dilemma (A). IESE, DPO-399-E.

DELONCA, E., BRION, S. (2017). A Sacred Spirits Dilemma (B). IESE, DPO-400-E.

ROSENMÖLLER, M., GAGO, F., JAISWAL, N. (2017). CISM – Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça Manhiça Health Research Centre. Managing Research & Development. IESE, P-1149-E.

MAZZACANI, G. M., LAGO, A. (2017). Equitel: The Battle for Mobile Money in Kenya. IESE, P-1153-E.

NTOI, H., THOMAS, L., VILÀ, J. (2016). The Managerial Dilemma of E-Toll Route Implementation in South Africa. IESE, SM-1643-E.

ARIÑO, A., TATARINOV, K. (2016). Innovis Telecom: Entrepreneurial Internationalization. IESE, SM-1627-E.

VACCARO, A., RAMUS, T. (2015). Samasource. IESE, BE-195-E.

SIEBER, S., LAGO, A., GO, T. (2014). M-Pesa – Mobile Banking in Kenya. IESE, SI-192-E.

LEE, Y.-T., REICHE, S. (2013). Uwa Ode. A Cultural Chameleon or Stranded between Cultural Chairs? IESE, DPO-281-E.

NUENO, P., AKUA AFFUL-KWAW, P. (2012). Vodafone Ghana. IESE, E-153-E.

VERGARA, C., GUTÉS, J. D. (2012). Mara Tower in Naïrobi Kenya. IESE, F-875-E.

CASES WRITTEN BY FACULTY OF ASSOCIATED BUSINESS SCHOOLS IN AFRICA

Lagos Business School (LBS) case collection can be found here.

Strathmore Business School (SBS) case collection can be found here.

MDE Business School (MDE) cases:

N’Guessan, Marie Noelle (2014). INECTO. MDE, M-01-F
Olaye, Ernest (2014). KOFFI YAO. MDE, DA-001-F
Soumahoro, Mory. PAUL IVOIRE. MDE
Olaye, Ernest (2016). SNC-CI. MDE, DA-002-F
Anoh, Léonce. TISA. MDE, MO-001-F
MINI-CAS CORRUPTION. MDE

Exchange programs.

IESE connects African and global business communities by welcoming executive education participants from its partner schools for international modules on its campuses.

Pan-African Executive MBA Module, jointly run by Strathmore Business School and Lagos Business School
Advanced Management Program · MDE Business School
Program for Management Development · MDE Business School
Advanced Management Program, jointly run by Strathmore Business School and Lagos Business School

At the same time, IESE’s Full-Time and Executive MBA students have the option to taking part in elective modules at Strathmore Business School in Nairobi.

Led by both IESE and Strathmore faculty, these immersive experiences explore the dynamics of business, leadership, social innovation and social entrepreneurship in African contexts.