Our Programs

MESDA embodies its commitment to economic and social development in
Africa through operation of the following programs:

Law and Welfare (LaW)

Our LaW program is an intervention designed to bridge the gap between traditional legislative frameworks and the community by making justice accessible to marginalised communities. We combine legal aid, strategic advocacy and grassroots education to equip communities with the necessary tools to defend their rights.

Our program is founded on the following core pillars:

  • Community legal education to help locals understand their social and economic rights, so they are better positioned to protect themselves and their families.
  • Direct legal counselling and support to marginalized groups who cannot afford formal representation.
  • Collaboration with relevant stakeholders to identify and address recurring systemic bottlenecks, advocating for policies and legislative reforms that foster structural equity, fairness and transparency.

Business and Human Rights (BHR)

We believe that business activities can drive sustainable development in Africa and recognise that the actions of business enterprises have a direct and often adverse effect on human rights and the environment. Our BHR program bridges the gap between international human rights standards and private sector operations to ensure that economic development does not come at the cost of human dignity and environmental sustainability.


Transforming the marketplace into a space where profit is inseparable from human rights, and the community is a respected stakeholder in investment projects.

Our program is founded on the following core pillars:

  • Community education on land rights, labour standards and environmental conservation.
  • Constructive engagement with policymakers, businesses and relevant stakeholders to promote human rights diligence and adherence to international business and human rights standards.
  • Facilitation of access to grievance mechanisms, legal empowerment and fair dialogue to ensure access to remedy for communities adversely affected by business activities.

Leadership Development (LeD)

Our goal is to invest in the development of Africa’s human capital to cultivate a pipeline of effective leaders at every level in society. We focus on supporting visionary and strategic leadership in all aspects of society by building the individual and collective capacity of community leaders to excel, both professionally and personally. Our LeD program is research based and provides evidence-based advocacy tools that can empower leaders to tackle common leadership challenges.

Our program is founded on the following core pillars:

  • Leadership development, human rights and digital security trainings;
  • Youth development assessments, education and support; and
  • Storytelling, mentorship, collaborative problem solving and meaningful engagement through art, music and media.

Sustainable Empowerment (SEP)

Our SEP program seeks to transition communities from dependency to self-determined prosperity. We engage a dualistic strategy of providing immediate relief while simultaneously building systems and skills that allow a community to thrive independently. We operate through a three-tiered sustainability framework that build individual, community and systemic capacity to shift from aid dependency to self-reliance. This is achieved through strengthening social agency, economic vitality and eco-systemic support.

Our program is founded on the following core pillars:

  • Practical training, financial literacy and resource access to marginalised communities to sustainable generate income and achieve economic independence.
  • Development and implementation of corporate social responsibility programs on behalf of businesses and strategic partners; and
  • Coordination of collective efforts to raise resources and tackle specific development barriers.