A united Africa where citizens are free to innovate, build solidarity and exercise power for their collective advancement.

We exist to empower and support movements of ordinary citizens through learning and building solidarity to effectively use non-violent struggle to restore dignity and justice and true power for all Africans.

Each member of the coaching network is embedded in a movement or several movements in their home country where they play the dual role of activist and trainer. This allows them to provide social movements with ongoing sustained support as their challenges and needs evolve, going beyond the typical ‘fly in fly out’ model of activist training – and enables them equip movements with the skills and knowledge they need to effectively organize themselves, plan strategically, and maintain non-violent discipline.

Close relationships and frequent communication between members of our network enable cross-pollination of social movement learning across the continent, making the coaching network to effectively function as a ‘guild’ of trainers for purposes of mutual learning and solidarity. Our network structures also enable trainers to support one another, learn from continental experience, and collectively design training curricula that can be adapted to each context and modified through iterative rollout.

Each coach’s role in their respective countries is unique, but coaches use the same core curriculum as the foundation of their First Exposure Trainings for social movements.

Africa has a rich history, albeit bloated by epochs of slavery, colonialism and in today’s world, the devastating effects of political repression, patriarchy, environmental destruction, global financial relations, economic bondage and the resultant inequality we see in our towns, villages, cities, deserts, plains and everywhere else the oppressed find themselves.

Guided by values of non-violence, solidarity, transparency, accountability and dignity, the African Coaching Network has over the past three years collaborated and worked with social movements, activist networks, trade unions, artist collectives, religious organizations, feminists and environmentalists to build people power and enable communities take the lead in the quest for a more just and free Africa.

Our strategy as a network is informed by our zeal to empower and support movements of ordinary citizens; foster continuous learning and growth; promote a culture of non-violence; and build solidarity for African communities and movements to exercise their collective power.

We provide activists with necessary tools for mapping, analyzing and understanding power dynamics within their communities to facilitate effective organizing.

ACN Coaches are activists, trainers or movement building professionals embedded within movements and work to support those doing community organizing.

We provide advocacy campaigners with the tools to effectively map support within their communities, map targets and brainstorms ideas for effective action planning.

There are similarities but also differences between movement building and traditional programming. We assist NGO professionals develop a “movement mindset”.