March 2026
Each month I step back and ask: are we moving the dial on our three missions?
Dear Pharo Family and Friends,
Each month I step back and ask a simple question: are we moving the dial on our three missions, and are today’s decisions setting us up for 2035? This month, broadly, the answer is yes, though building a vibrant, productive and self-reliant Africa takes patience, discipline and constant learning.
In education, the team is refining the long-term Pharo Schools strategy and recruiting three central leadership roles. On water, Somaliland has shifted from building new dams to rehabilitating existing ones for a far better return, while Ethiopia’s rural water projects near completion. In productivity, the edible oil plant ran smoothly through February with promising export talks, and Ken Tuna’s revenue passed KES 2 million.
We are also clear-eyed about what is not working: the Wajale programme needs a significant reset, and we are running an honest post-mortem. One year in as CEO, the lesson is clear: impact in Africa rarely moves in straight lines, but with discipline and persistence, progress compounds.
Onwards, Tom Mason CEO, Pharo Foundation
Breaking the Cycle: Girls’ Education and Opportunity
For International Women’s Day, a film on our work to educate girls in Africa. When girls are educated, they don’t just succeed individually, they bring everyone up with them.
Watch on YouTube →From Homosha to High Tech: a letter from Bethelhem
A Pharo School Homosha alumna on her journey from Benishangul-Gumuz to studying Software Engineering in Addis Ababa.
Read on LinkedIn →CEGA research partnership
Our partnership with the Center for Effective Global Action now supports two studies in the Horn of Africa: AI-enabled learning in Benishangul-Gumuz, and collective grazingland management for pastoralist resilience.
Read on LinkedIn →