In 2019, Abdul Gafaru founded SheaMe, a social enterprise supporting women in northern Ghana. By the time he joined the Kofi Annan Changemakers programme in 2021, his network had grown to 53. As of 2025, 125 women across eight communities are part of the initiative.
The Kofi Annan Changemakers programme didn’t just provide momentary support, it helped build the skills, networks, and credibility that continue opening doors,” Abdul explains.
Since joining the programme, Abdul has:
- Increased his network to 125 women across eight communities.
- Targeted support toward single mothers and school dropouts.
- Secured major funding from the Mastercard Foundation.
- Presented at regional conferences on women’s empowerment and sustainable agriculture.
- Studied at the University of Edinburgh and is now pursuing a master’s in Climate Change Finance at Imperial College London with the support of the Macro Advisory Partners Kofi Annan Fellowship.
A grant helped Abdul start, and continued support helped him further develop his initiative and position himself to lead on a global stage.