Forbes Africa features Mary Dinah Foundation for community development, philanthropy
The Mary Dinah Foundation (MDF) has been spotlighted in the October–November 2025 edition of Forbes Africa for its pioneering approach to sustainable philanthropy and community-driven development across Africa.
Founded in 2005, the Foundation has become a leading force in addressing food insecurity, maternal health and women’s empowerment in vulnerable communities.
Its flagship Zero Hunger Programme, initially launched in partnership with USAID and supported by the US Government, the Foundation has delivered more than 55 million meals across North-East Nigeria, the far North of Cameroon, Chad’s Lac Province, and the Borders of Sudan.
The initiative has also connected thousands of mothers to antenatal care while providing children with life-saving vaccinations.
Forbes Africa described this approach—dubbed the “Mary Dinah Model”—as a practical blend of local leadership, data-driven impact, and sustainable community systems.
In the past two decades, MDF has expanded its focus beyond food aid, integrating nutrition, mental health and empowerment into its programmes.
Its Mother and Girls Voices initiative has reached over 351,000 women in 83 rural communities across Africa, improving breastfeeding and antenatal attendance rates and encouraging safer deliveries.
Building on its success, the Foundation recently launched the Maternal and Newborn Fund (MNF) to improve maternal outcomes in low- and middle-income countries.
Through its flagship project, BirthStrong, the Fund aims to provide multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS) to five million women by 2030, supporting stronger national health systems and local production hubs to reduce costs and create jobs.
Speaking on the recognition, Mary Dinah, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, emphasised the importance of community empowerment in achieving lasting development.
“Lasting change is never delivered — it’s discovered within communities empowered to lead. Our role is to trust, equip, and step back so their systems can endure,” she said.
The Forbes Africa feature also highlights other major players in global philanthropy, including UNICEF’s Child Nutrition Fund, the World Food Programme (WFP), the African Development Bank (AfDB), Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), the Association Mondiale des Amis de l’Enfance (AMADE), and Edesia Nutrition.
Together, these organisations represent a growing movement to transform philanthropy across the continent — from emergency relief to long-term sustainability, focused on prevention, dignity, and opportunity for Africa’s future.
