NTIYISO CONSULTING GROUP: Unlocking African Development Opportunities with African Ideas

Across Africa, communities, cities, and entire countries face challenges that require innovative, practical, and sustainable solutions. For decades, the response has often come from international institutions, arriving with pre-packed strategies and expensive models that, at times, fail to connect with local context. Ntiyiso Consulting, a proudly African management consultancy, is challenging that narrative.

Celebrating 20 years in business, the company has grown into a powerful voice in the sector, advocating for home-grown expertise and implementing systems that are built by Africans, for Africans. “We are an African-based and African-owned firm,” explains Project Manager Emeka Umeche. “That means we understand problems at an intrinsic level. We develop solutions that are unique to Africa based on our own cultural affinity with the continent and the problems that are faced here.”

Three specialist subsidiaries deliver Ntiyiso’s impact. Ntiyiso Revenue Consulting helps institutions improve cash flow by assessing the revenue value chain and closing gaps. Ntiyiso Business Consulting focuses on core management consulting, from ESG and operating models to strategy development and green economy linkages. Ntiyiso Industrialisation Consulting identifies catalytic economic projects, develops infrastructure, and unlocks funding.

With more than 200 people, the company has become known for its depth of experience and ability to get results in complex environments. “Our approach is end-to-end. Unlike other management consultancies that go in and identify a problem and then develop a solution before backing out, we ensure that we go beyond and implement the solutions we develop. That way, we are backing what we put on the table,” Umeche says.

UNIQUE OFFERING

Integration across subsidiaries ensures a holistic service, something that many global counterparts struggle to replicate. “It’s not a case of applying one subsidiary to one problem. We are integrated and ensure functionality across teams,” Umeche states.

The past few years have tested the mettle of all African businesses. But Ntiyiso’s agility has proven to be a critical asset. “With the economic downturn resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic on a global scale, our clients were impacted but as a business, we were resilient enough to show, over the last five years, year-on-year growth,” Umeche says. “We were certainly not exempt from any challenges, we had targets that we did not meet, but overall, the business has been well-managed and robust enough to overcome most of the hurdles.”

That robustness is no accident. Continuous learning and improvement have been central to growth. Executives from Ntiyiso recently attended the Stanford Seed Transformation Program for African Executives, gaining valuable insight into operational excellence. In 2023, the company was invited to Harvard University for partnership discussions – a major endorsement of the firm’s rising reputation.

HOME SUCCESS

The company’s footprint is still primarily in South Africa, with projects in municipalities and public sector bodies that need long-term, reliable solutions. But its ambitions are continent-wide. “Across the continent, our footprint is limited but our strategy is to enter Africa. We do have a minor footprint in Zambia but primarily we are active in South Africa,” says Umeche.

That strategy includes regular attendance and participation at forums such as the Energy Indaba. “Attending those conferences is important because it gives us the opportunity to network. We also like to hear what leaders in the sector are feeling. We can also compare our ideas against others,” Umeche details.

This year, he addressed the Hybrid Renewable Energy Panel, advocating for pragmatic and inclusive energy solutions. “We need to start seeing energy as an economic good. The problems with energy penetration across the continent, driven by limitations in finance and grid capacity, are well documented. But we can see the success of the hybrid approach in Africa and in Europe,” he explains. “It is important to have these discussions now, so that we can put forward African solutions for Africa.”

SUSTAINABLE SUSTAINABILITY

Ntiyiso’s vision of sustainability extends beyond just ideas and buzzwords. “We want sustainable sustainability – not just words,” says Umeche. “We must, in practice, be able to develop on the continent, where possible utilising African expertise, by empowering local people. It’s not just about bringing in clever technologies and putting them in the middle of a Nigerian village and expecting it to work.”

Instead, Umeche champions inclusive models. “There must be local firms to support, there must be an appreciation in the community about how this can benefit, and there must be a focus on the long-term not just the deployment.”

Projects such as a waste-to-energy plant with a major metropolitan municipality demonstrate the firm’s practical focus. “Such technologies are limited even beyond the shores of South Africa, and it is driven by the challenges of basic infrastructure such as space for landfill. We are keen to leverage off the success of our projects here, taking them into the continent and doing similar things,” he says.

These are not easy initiatives. Community engagement, regulatory navigation, and stakeholder buy-in are all part of the journey. “We don’t just want to implement. The business is intentional about unlocking development, and I am very deliberate about outcomes. That has been challenging, ensuring that we get buy-in from stakeholders for that outcome,” says Umeche. “It’s about balancing the outcome of immediate benefit for the local community against the bigger picture of grid strengthening or enhancement of energy systems.”

SUPPLY PARTNERSHIPS

To deliver, Ntiyiso works with a blend of local and global partners. “We have local and foreign suppliers based on the needs of each project. We work with other specialist consultancies, we work with the best IT suppliers, we work to grow our supply chain through mentoring, and we work closely with financial backers who bring projects to life,” Umeche explains.

Strong public-private partnerships are key to success, especially in Africa’s often-fragile investment landscape. Ntiyiso maintains close links to both public and private investment houses that are mandated to fund development. “It’s time for us to enhance local manufacturing in Africa, utilising best-in-class technology that is available,” he says. “We must ensure our supply chains are resilient so we can take advantage of the opportunities that are available.”

The company’s 20-year milestone is more than just an anniversary – it’s a springboard. Despite ongoing economic uncertainty across southern Africa and a lack of large-scale infrastructure projects in some markets, Ntiyiso is resolute in its purpose.

“I am not South African, and I want to see the solutions we have developed here being rolled out in neighbouring countries before eventually having a footprint across the whole continent,” Umeche says.

A team of more than 200 professionals, developed over two decades of growth, provides the bedrock for expansion. Experience, strategy, and local insight are the levers that Ntiyiso will pull as it navigates a demanding yet opportunity-rich landscape.

“We then link back to industrialisation, which is how we grow the economy of Africa and how we take the continent forward,” concludes Umeche.

With a unique blend of cultural connection, technical competence, and real-world experience, Ntiyiso is positioning itself as a leader in the African consulting space – not just for the next 20 years, but for generations to come.