Lets move forward and understand the history of CEMREST.
About us
About CEMREST
CEMREST is a Community Empowering Movement for a Responsive Society ( CEMREST) was born in 2011. The Organisation was legalized and registered in Belgium in 2012 as a non-profit organization supporting African rural communities towards development.
CEMREST follows an empowerment model, which promotes capacity building, economic independence and sustainable development. CEMREST envisions a society in which all people will have equal rights and access to potable water, sanitation, health and improved income status without gender discrimination.
Since its inception, CEMREST has been working towards achieving an equitable society free from all forms of discrimination. The organization has provided access to STEM education, healthcare, water and sanitation, food security, agriculture, Technical Vocational Training, livelihood improvement, disaster response, and climate change adaptation. We are also ensuring good governance, women’s empowerment, child protection, ethnic minorities’ rights, and strengthening local governments.
At CEMREST, we recognize the invaluable contributions of Africans in the diaspora. We mobilize their financial, intellectual, and political assets, channelling them to drive economic growth and social development in Africa. Your involvement is crucial in this process, as it enhances the capacity of actual and potential investors and actively influences international policies to address the real needs and root causes of underdevelopment and poverty on the continent.
Our Organizational Structure
CEMREST is a registered non-profit organization headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, with regional hubs and field offices across 12 African countries. Our work is guided by a diverse, multinational Board of Directors composed of respected scholars, policymakers, and civil society leaders.
At the executive level, CEMREST is led by our Co-Founders and Co-CEOs, Dr. Amina Khalil and Mr. Bakari Samba. They are supported by a talented team of over 250 full-time staff, as well as a vast network of local community organizers, technical experts, and volunteer advisors.
This robust, decentralized structure allows CEMREST to stay closely connected to the communities we serve, while also leveraging global expertise and resources to magnify our impact.
Our Core Values and Guiding Principles
Community Ownership: We believe that lasting, meaningful change can only occur when local stakeholders are empowered as the primary drivers and decision-makers. Our programs are designed in close collaboration with community members to ensure relevance and long-term sustainability.
Equity and Inclusion: CEMREST is committed to addressing the entrenched inequalities that continue to marginalize women, youth, ethnic minorities, and other vulnerable groups across Africa. Advancing social justice and inclusive development is at the heart of our mission.
Environmental Stewardship: We recognize that environmental protection and community resilience are inextricably linked. CEMREST’s work prioritizes sustainable natural resource management, climate change adaptation, and biodiversity conservation as vital components of holistic, community-driven development.
Collaborative Partnership: Rather than imposing top-down solutions, CEMREST seeks to cultivate transformative partnerships with governments, private sector entities, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders. By aligning incentives and pooling resources, we can achieve far greater impact.
Innovation and Adaptability: In an ever-changing world, CEMREST believes in the power of creative, entrepreneurial approaches to social impact. We continuously experiment with new ideas, learn from our experiences, and evolve our strategies to stay responsive to emerging challenges and opportunities.
These core values guide every aspect of CEMREST’s work, from project design and implementation to monitoring and evaluation. They form the foundation for our steadfast commitment to empowering marginalized African communities as agents of their own sustainable development.
Our Mission
Our Mision
Our Vision
Our Vision
Our values
Other values
Our Goals
Other goals
Important objectives
Our objectives
By working towards these ambitious yet achievable objectives, CEMREST aims to catalyze transformative, sustainable change across Africa in the years ahead.
Increase the climate change
Increase the climate change resilience and food security of 1 million smallholder farmers and pastoralists through sustainable agriculture and natural resource management.
Quality education
Improve access to quality education, skills training, and economic opportunities for 500,000 marginalized youth and women.
Effective advocacy
Strengthen the capacity of 1,000 community-based organizations to effectively advocate for their rights and participate in local governance processes.
Conservation initiatives.
Protect and restore 2 million hectares of critical ecosystems, including forests, wetlands, and rangelands, through community-led conservation initiatives.
Conflict resolution
Facilitate cross-border cooperation and conflict resolution between 50 communities affected by resource-based tensions and violent extremism.
Establishing CEMREST
Establish CEMREST as a globally recognized leader in community-centric, systems-level development solutions, through thought leadership, strategic partnerships, and policy influence.
