Med-Or’s Italian Foundation./PHOTO; Courtesy
Nairobi will soon host the first international office of the Med-Or Italian Foundation for Africa, a non-profit organisation dedicated to research, education, and cooperation between Italy and African countries.
The official inauguration is scheduled for 8 February, highlighting Kenya’s role as a strategic hub for the Foundation’s work across the continent.
The ceremony will be led by Italy’s Minister of University and Research, Anna Maria Bernini, signalling high-level political support for Med-Or’s expanding presence in Africa.
The Nairobi office represents the Foundation’s first permanent operational base outside Italy, providing a platform for closer collaboration with African governments, institutions, and local stakeholders.
From Nairobi, Med-Or plans to coordinate, scale, and monitor initiatives across the continent, while gaining deeper insight into Africa’s economic, social, and political transformations.
The choice of Kenya reflects its position as a regional centre of diplomacy, innovation, and commerce, with strong connectivity, political stability, and a growing technology ecosystem that makes it a gateway to East Africa and the wider continent.
A Hub for Education, Research, and Development Cooperation
The Nairobi office will function as an operational centre for designing, implementing, and evaluating Med-Or’s initiatives in Africa, focusing on sustainable development, knowledge exchange, and inclusive growth.
The Foundation aims to foster collaboration between Italian and African institutions while promoting partnerships between public and private sector actors.
Minister Bernini highlighted the strategic significance of Med-Or’s presence in Kenya.
“Med-Or’s work in Africa represents a strategic contribution to strengthening partnerships with African countries and with the continent as a whole,” she said.
She added that the Foundation’s presence in Kenya represents a tangible investment in education, research, and innovation.
“The Foundation’s presence in Kenya, developed in close collaboration with the Ministry of University and Research, is a tangible investment in education, knowledge and innovation—key drivers of durable growth,” Bernini said.
According to the Minister, the expansion focuses on building long-term capacity and supporting human capital development.
“Our shared objective is to invest in skills and human capital, supporting economic and social transformation rooted in responsibility, innovation and the empowerment of local communities.”
Working in Africa, with Africa
The Foundation’s leadership emphasised that the Nairobi office represents a shift toward partnership-driven cooperation, rooted in mutual respect and local ownership.
“With the inauguration of the Nairobi office, Med-Or takes a step fully aligned with its vision: to work in Africa, with Africa,” said Marco Minniti, Chairman of the Med-Or Italian Foundation.
Minniti noted that a permanent African presence strengthens the Foundation’s ability to engage meaningfully with local stakeholders.
“A permanent presence on the ground allows us to build stronger, more balanced relationships with governments, institutions and local stakeholders,” he said.
He added that Med-Or seeks to advance “a model of cooperation based on dialogue, expertise and mutual respect,” rather than externally imposed solutions.
Kenya’s Growing Role in International Cooperation
The opening of the Nairobi office also highlights Kenya’s growing importance in global development, research, and education partnerships.
Its status as a regional hub offers an ideal platform for organisations seeking long-term, cross-border collaboration.
Through its Nairobi expansion, the Med-Or Italian Foundation reaffirms its commitment to long-term, structured engagement across Africa, supporting programmes that respond to African priorities while enhancing Italy–Africa cooperation in education, research, and innovation.
