A Pan-African network of networks · Since 2001
African churches, united for the Great Commission.
The Movement for African National Initiatives catalyses whole-church partnerships in every nation and mobilises the Body of Christ in Africa to disciple the nations and send Africans in mission around the world.
25
Years since the Jerusalem Declaration (2001)
37
African nations that have launched National Initiatives
750M
Christians in Africa — the largest Christian population of any continent
1 in 5
African Christians face some form of persecution
Who we are
A movement of movements, rooted in Africa’s own story.
MANI is a network of networks that catalyses African National Initiatives — whole-church partnerships in every nation — and mobilises the resources of the Body of Christ in Africa for the fulfilment of the Great Commission.
Born in Jerusalem in 2001 out of forty years of national movements, MANI is a movement, not an organisation: people, not events. It prioritises the local African church and refuses any project that perpetuates dependency.
01Catalyse
Affirm, motivate and inspire leaders to launch and strengthen national initiatives.
02Facilitate
Operates as a platform to equip and provide research to local churches in Africa, empowering them to lead their own mission initiatives.
03Network
Link strategic networks, regions and the diaspora into one African mission movement.
2001
Jerusalem
“…that Africa be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.”
Habakkuk 2:14 · The MANI vision
Our work
Strategic networks in motion
Specialist networks carry the vision into every sphere — each led by African leaders and open to partnership.
African Women in Missions Network
Mobilising women as full partners in completing the Great Commission.
Children in Missions Network
Empowering children to play their part in reaching the least-reached.
Emerging Leaders Network
Opening real leadership pathways for the next generation.
Strategic Prayer Network
United intercession for Africa and unreached peoples.
Member Care Network
Caring for missionaries so they stay, thrive and finish well.
Research & Country Assessment
Verified data on people groups across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Go North · S2NAP
Mobilising the African church toward the Sahel and North Africa.
Transformational Discipleship
African Congresses on Discipleship — disciples who make disciples.
Orality Network
Communicating the Gospel with and through oral learners.
Resource Mobilisation
Mobilising and sustaining resources for African mission.
Regions
One continent, many regions — and a global family.
Every region has a coordinator facilitating national initiatives, from Anglophone West Africa to the diaspora in Europe, the Americas and Australasia.
Anglophone West Africa 1
English
Anglophone West Africa 2
English
Francophone West Africa
French
Francophone Central Africa
French
East Africa
English · Swahili
Horn of Africa
English · Amharic · Arabic
Southern Africa
English
Portuguese-speaking Africa
Portuguese
Indian Ocean Islands
French · Malagasy
Diaspora — Europe
Multiple
Diaspora — North America
English · French
Diaspora — Caribbean & Central America
English · French · Spanish
Diaspora — Australasia
English
Country lists and coordinators are indicative, drawn from the current MANI website, and will be verified with each region before launch.
Upcoming events
Join us at the next gathering.
Consultations, trainings, prayer gatherings and webinars across the continent and online.
No events are scheduled at the moment. Subscribe to the newsletter to hear about the next gathering.
Contact usPray today
One people group. One day. Pray with us.
Every day, a people group with little or no access to the Gospel is featured. Pray for them, then ask: could your church adopt them?
Reaching the least-reached is the reason MANI exists. Information mobilises the Church, and prayer opens the door.
Data: Joshua Project
Featured · MANI 2026
The Abidjan Declaration
Five days of plenaries, round tables and prayer produced six strategic priorities — the agenda of the African Church for the decade ahead. Not recommendations, but a commitment.
Dates9–13 March 2026
VenueAbidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
Milestone
5th continental consultation
01
Renewed vision & strategic leadership
MANI reaffirms it is a movement, not an organisation, and carries Abidjan’s momentum into every nation.
02
Missionary mobilisation & training
Africa builds its own sending structures, funds them from its own resources, and launches a Francophone Sahel movement.
03
Unity, collaboration & partnership
Less duplication, shared research data, and a bridge across the Anglophone–Francophone divide.
04
Persecution & instability
One in five African Christians faces persecution. Prepare workers, stand in solidarity, pray and advocate.
05
Transformational discipleship & youth
More than half of Africa is under 25. Disciple Great Commission disciples — and include young people now.
06
Contextual challenges
Unlearn dependency, build a communal culture of giving, and confront the prosperity gospel.
To the Francophone church: your place on the doorstep of the Sahel is a divine assignment. Go North!
Every participating church is called to adopt an Unreached People Group — to give generously, pray persistently and send sacrificially.
Our story
Twenty-five years of walking together.
1997
GCOWE ’97
1,200 leaders from 46 nations gather in Pretoria; national initiatives multiply across the continent.
2001
Jerusalem
320 delegates from 36 nations adopt the Jerusalem Declaration. MANI is born.
2003
Ibadan
A consultation on African indigenous missions documents models and strategies.
2006
Nairobi
520 leaders from 49 nations. The Country Assessment Process is launched.
2011
Abuja
614 participants from 60 countries. Strategic networks are born; “Go North” is heard.
2016
Addis Ababa
The Horn of Africa hosts the continental consultation, after the Heads of Churches Summit in Ghana.
2017–19
Discipleship congresses
African Congresses on Discipleship in Nairobi (2017) and Nigeria (2019).
2021
A pause
The pandemic postpones Abidjan; regions meet online and in person to keep momentum.
2026
Abidjan
First continental consultation in Francophone Africa. Peter Oyugi succeeds Reuben Ezemadu.
Leadership
Servant leaders, a continental team.
MANI is coordinated by a Continental Coordinator, regional coordinators and network facilitators, supported by an international advisory team.
Continental Coordinator
Rev. Peter Oyugi
“Africa is no longer a mission field; we are a Mission Force.”
Rev Peter Oyugi serves as the Continental Coordinator for the Movement for African National Initiatives (MANI) which exists to encourage missions efforts to places that remain least reached by the gospel of Christ. In this pivotal role, he dedicates much of his time to catalysing, mobilising, and mentoring individuals for global missions.
With gratitude
Rev. Dr. Reuben Ezemadu
Led MANI as Continental Coordinator for twenty years, through to the Abidjan 2026 transition.
Esme Bowers
Chair, African Women in Missions Network
Nosa Tukura
Executive Coordinator, AWIMN & CIMN
Dean Carlson
International Liaison & Ambassador
Jon Lewis
Advisory Team
Abidjan 2026
The faces of a movement.
Leaders, delegates, worshippers and young missionaries from across Africa and the diaspora — gathered in Abidjan.
Resources
Documents that shape the movement.
Declarations, strategic frameworks and reports — available in English, French and Portuguese.
The Abidjan Declaration
Six strategic priorities and seven next steps for the African Church.
Vision & Strategic Framework
From Jerusalem (2001) to Abidjan (2026): history, structure, declarations and the mandate for acceleration.
Abuja Declaration
The 2011 consultation declaration — “Africa: the blessings, the challenges, the opportunities.”
2016 Press Release
Report from the African Heads of Churches Summit and the continental consultation.
Presentations from Abidjan
Messages by Peter Oyugi, Reuben Ezemadu, Dean Carlson, Peter Tarantal, David Kiniti, Lloyd Chinn and others.
Conference archive
Handbooks, reports and presentations from MANI 2006, 2008, 2011, 2016 and the discipleship congresses.
News & stories
Latest from the movement
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Abidjan Declaration issued: “From Abidjan to Everywhere”
Delegates from across Africa and the diaspora commit to six strategic priorities for the decade ahead.
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Leadership passes to Rev. Peter Oyugi
A transition that signals the maturing of a Pan-African mission movement.
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Postponement of the MANI 2021 Continental Consultation in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
Because of the uncertainty over cross-border travel during the pandemic, the MANI 2021 Continental Consultation in Abidjan was postponed.
Walking with partners worldwide
Get involved
Find your nation’s unreached people — and adopt them.
Mobilise your church. Invest in younger leaders. Join a network, adopt a people group, give, pray and send. The door is wide open.