083: African Solutions for African Problems: Consulting Strategies with Faye Ekong @ RavelWorks

Summary

How does an African management consulting company that expressly sets itself up to offer African solutions to African problems communicate its identity? 

What are some key differences in organizational development needs and cultural norms between development agencies in the Global South and Global North?

How can concepts like Ubuntu and Ujama inform leadership models in ways that resonate across African contexts?

In this NGO Soul + Strategy podcast episode, I interview Faye Ekong, Managing Director and co-founder of RavelWorks Africa, about designing management consulting solutions rooted in African paradigms and practices.

Faye's Bio

• Managing Director and co-founder of RavelWorks Africa for over 6 years
• Held multiple leadership roles at the NGO Action Against Hunger
• Former trainer and consultant at MDF Management Consulting

We Discuss:

• Faye shares how RavelWorks was founded to counter the prevalence of Western management solutions in African contexts, focusing instead on locally-developed approaches.
• While RavelWorks initially aimed to serve primarily African organizations, their clients now span Europe, the US, and other regions.
• Core clients include humanitarian donor agencies, NGOs, private sector companies, and some government agencies.
• Services offered by RavelWorks include HR, organizational design, system and process improvements, and learning and development, with a future-of-work lens.
• The African paradigm of communalism, exemplified by concepts like Ubuntu (“I am because you are”), prioritizes relationships and the well-being of staff and stakeholders. This contrasts with the Anglo-Saxon focus on task and goal orientation.
• The management and leadership literature has expanded beyond the US and Europe to include countries like India and Japan but still largely overlooks Africa’s unique contributions.
• There has been a significant uptick in the use of niche consulting firms like RavelWorks in the Global North, but European NGOs still tend to exhibit a control-oriented approach compared to their US counterparts.
• Faye emphasizes that Global North consultants can still play a meaningful role if they adopt humility, curiosity, and a willingness to understand African ways of working.

Quotes:
“If you lead an organization, choose courage over comfort” (Brenee Brown)

Resources

Website

Faye's LinkedIn profile

YouTube video of this podcast

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