Nordic-African Consultancy

We invite anyone with Nordic-African business interests to share the journey with us 

  

About Nordic-African Consultancy 

 

Nordic-African Consultancy is a Danish consultancy company specialised in Nordic-African business relations and activities. We have 20+ years of experience assisting Nordic companies in doing business on African growth markets and, to this day, work towards our goal of forging the most exciting and value-adding connections between Nordic and African business ecosystems, clusters, companies, organisations and investors.We are dedicated to realising the potential in Nordic-African partnerships and believe that Nordic companies can make a significant difference in Africa. 

Who We Are

We are your strategic partner on your path to Africa. 

We are

  • Advisors
  • Consultants
  • Sparring partners

Our promise is

  • Exchange and collaboration
  • Solid experience and hands-on engagement
  • Local approaches and global perspectives

 

What We Do

We identify develop, explore and realise sustainable business opportunities for Nordic companies on African markets. And vice versa. 

We help you

  • Select the right market(s).
  • Formulate a sustainable business plan.
  • Develop a suitable business model.
  • Operate in African business cultures.
  • Identify & obtain external financing & funding.
  • Exchange and engage with the right partners.

 

Nordic-African Consultancy supports the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. To us, this always begins with a commitment to SDG 17, partnerships for the goals:

“Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development”

We wholeheartedly support efforts towards renewed and strengthened partnerships between Africa, Europe and Denmark:

History


Our history in a few numbers

  • 140+ seminars on doing business in Africa
  • 15+ delegations to African markets
  • Operations in 4 Nordic countries
  • 1 African office
  • Worked with 200+ members
  • … In 30+ African markets

Nordic-African Consultancy began its story in 2003. As the untapped potential and emerging business opportunities across the African continent had become too vast to ignore, the boutique consultancy company Nordekon was founded with the objective of guiding Nordic companies on their business trajectories towards Africa. During these early years, AFRICA INNOVATION NETWORK®, a leading private professional network for business interests in Africa, was launched in 2011. Likewise, we published the first Scandinavian magazine dedicated entirely to gathering inspiring business cases and  showcasing innovative approaches adopted by Scandinavian companies that had taken the leap and begun their African business adventures. 

Later, in 2018, as Nordic-African business relations had advanced and matured even further, company activities were increasingly focused on building a foundation of cross-continental and cross-sectoral business connections for the future through network facilitation, development of sectoral clusters and organisation of delegations –  in Africa and the Nordics alike. This spurred a merger of all initiatives under the AFRICA INNOVATION NETWORK® name.

In 2023, as the company emerged from years marked by a pandemic, geopolitical change and ensuing global socio-political shocks, we updated our corporate identity as Nordic-African Consultancy and relaunched all flagship company activities under separate brands. You can find additional information about our professional network, AFRICA INNOVATION NETWORK ® and our Nordic business clusters here, or learn more about our relaunched business magasine africa business insight here. We welcome new members and cases.

You can follow our activities by signing up to our newsletter or following us on LinkedIn and Youtube. For any inquiries about our services and inquiries, please do not hesitate to reach out and contact us.

 

History


Our history in a few numbers

  • 140+ seminars on doing business in Africa
  • 15+ delegations to African markets
  • Operations in 4 Nordic countries
  • 1 African office
  • Worked with 200+ members
  • … In 30+ African markets

Nordic-African Consultancy began its story in 2003. As the untapped potential and emerging business opportunities across the African continent had become too vast to ignore, the boutique consultancy company Nordekon was founded with the objective of guiding Nordic companies on their business trajectories towards Africa. During these early years, AFRICA INNOVATION NETWORK®, a leading private professional network for business interests in Africa, was launched in 2011. Likewise, we published the first Scandinavian magazine dedicated entirely to gathering inspiring business cases and  showcasing innovative approaches adopted by Scandinavian companies that had taken the leap and begun their African business adventures. 

Later, in 2018, as Nordic-African business relations had advanced and matured even further, company activities were increasingly focused on building a foundation of cross-continental and cross-sectoral business connections for the future through network facilitation, development of sectoral clusters and organisation of delegations –  in Africa and the Nordics alike. This spurred a merger of all initiatives under the AFRICA INNOVATION NETWORK® name.

In 2023, as the company emerged from years marked by a pandemic, geopolitical change and ensuing global socio-political shocks, we updated our corporate identity as Nordic-African Consultancy and relaunched all flagship company activities under separate brands. You can find additional information about our professional network, AFRICA INNOVATION NETWORK ® and our Nordic business clusters here, or learn more about our relaunched business magasine africa business insight here. We welcome new members and cases.

You can follow our activities by signing up to our newsletter or following us on LinkedIn and Youtube. For any inquiries about our services and inquiries, please do not hesitate to reach out and contact us.

 

Consultancy / Expertise

 

We are consultants specialised in African business contexts and hold expertise in a variety of fields. Our backgrounds are within finance and sustainable business, and we have worked extensively with international project management. In partnership, we can aid you in preparing and proofing your organisation for the future. The key words are sustainable business and Nordic-African synergies. 

Services
 

We can assist your organisation at every step of the way on your path to Africa – or the Nordics. Wether you have just recentlly considered entering Africa, are now embarking on your journey or have already established your business on the African continent, we can help you explore the numerous business opportunities and untapped potential in African growth markets by: 
 

  1.  Selecting the right market
  2. Designing the best business model
  3. Formulating a sustainable business plan
  4. Identifying suitable local partners
  5. Operating in African business cultures
  6. Obtaining external funding

Getting started

 

Before you take the leap, we can guide you as to the most promising way forward for your organisation and solutions. Selecting the right market(s) in Africa is impressive. Climates, populations, languages, cultures, histories, politics, national strategies, economies, sectoral compositions, mrket sizes and needs differ, and the approaches or solutions that work in one market, might need adaption in the next. 

Our services include preliminary research to help you gain an overview, e.g.:

  •  Country profiling and assessment
  • Market research and analysis
  • Overview of competitive landscapes
  • Socioeconomic or political framework analysis

Likewise, we can support you in narrowing down options through remote/field studies, e.g.:

 

  • Stakeholder mapping
  • Local partner identification
  • Specific feasibility studies 

 

Moving ahead

 

Once you wish to advance on your path to Africa, we can help you exploit the market potential for your solutions and optimise your market entry or expansion. Setting up or scaling your business may be challenging in emerging markets and developing economies with unfamiliar market structures, business cultures and  

     

    We work methodically, carefully and diligently, while drawing on years of first-hand experience. We always take an individualised approach and provide advise tailored to your needs. We offer services within project design and implementation, across the project cycle, for market tests, pilots and longer-term projects:

        • Project conceptualisation 
        • Development of theory of change
        • Baseline studies
        • Design of interventions or initiatives
        • Formulation of project descriptions and plans
        • Determination of milestones, goals & impact objectives
        • Formulation of financial proposals & budgeting
        • Applications for funding & support
        • Project coordination & monitoring
        • Assistance with evaluation & reporting

    Likewise, we provide assistance in relation to direct exports, joint ventures and individual market penetration approaches:

        • Concept development 
        • Business model selection
        • Business plan formulation
        • Strategy development, including go-to-market strategy 

    Regardless of your approach, we offer assistance in relation to:

        • Fundraising
        • Local / project partner search
        • Contact with specialist service providers

    Ready for next steps
     

    We can support you and your organisation as you expand your market presence or advance your business. 

    Working with well connected and established local partners is often crucial for business success; yet identifying and accessing suitable partners can be a challenging and demanding exercise. Collaboration with the public and civil sector or local community improves the long-term viability of your business, but requires know-how and understanding of local conditions and etiquette. And while the need for business sustainability is growing, it may be difficult to transfer sustainability priorities, policies and procedures to an African business context.

    We have a wide network all over Africa, and if we do not have direct expertise or experience in house, our associates likely do. We can refer you to relevant and valuable contacts and help you access the competences you need to establish and scale your business in Africa. This way, we assist you in making the right moves at the right time. This will make your business run smoother and results come faster. 

     Our targeted services include facilitation of e.g.:

    • Partner matchmaking
    • Strategy development processes
    • Business model innovation processes
    • Formulation of sustainability policies 
    • Development of sustainability initiatives
    • Procedures for sustainability data management & reporting
    • Workshops on business cultural understanding 
    • Dialogue with local authorities
    • Contact with international organisations
    • Sparring with diplomatic representatives 
    • Investor pitches

    Other services

     

    We encourage you to reach out if you have specific needs or requests. You can contact us at: 

    For information about how we can connect you with peers or introduce you to specific markets, please check our professional network, business clusters and business delegations.

      The people behind Nordic–African Consultancy

       

      Mr. Flemming Sørensen
      CEO 
      fls@nordic-african.com
      LinkedIn

      Ms. Charlotte Gloerfelt-Tarp
      Director
      cgt@nordic-african.com
      LinkedIn

      Ms. Christopher Balle 
      Member of the Board
      LinkedIn