Evidence that turns investment into measurable change
We design, manage and evaluate development programmes, from research and M&E to youth employment and enterprise programmes, through a national delivery model.
Support across the full life of a programme
From the first theory of change to placement, verification and the final impact evaluation.
Four pillars, one purpose
When development investment is guided by evidence, designed for results, linked to real work and delivered through capable local institutions, communities see lasting change in livelihoods and wellbeing.
Evidence & learning
Decisions on funding and delivery are guided by credible evidence.
If funders and implementers have timely, credible evidence, they can direct resources to what works and fix what does not.
- Baseline, mid-term and end-line studies
- Outcome and impact evaluation
- Mixed-methods research
- M&E systems and dashboards
Programme design & management
Programmes are built to deliver measurable results from day one.
If a programme starts from a clear theory of change, realistic targets and sound grant management, delivery stays focused on outcomes.
- Theory of change
- Programme and results framework design
- Grant and portfolio management
- Risk and compliance
Youth employment & enterprise
Young people move into decent work and sustainable enterprises.
If skills development is linked to real market opportunities and continues beyond training, young people find work and build enterprises that last.
- Labour market and opportunity analysis
- Skills-to-work programmes
- Placement and enterprise support
- Beneficiary tracking
Institutional strengthening
Local organisations can plan, manage and measure their own impact.
If CSOs, cooperatives and small development agencies have the systems and skills to manage and measure their work, gains last beyond one funding cycle.
- M&E and research training
- Governance and financial systems
- Coaching for CSOs and cooperatives
- Donor compliance support
Trusted by the people who fund and deliver development
Government & public funds
Departments, agencies, public funds and municipalities that need programmes delivered and evaluated.
Social investors
CSI programmes and foundations seeking independent evidence of social return.
Donors & NGOs
International agencies looking for experienced local evaluators and partners.
Delivery partners
TVET colleges, SETAs, employers, CSOs and cooperatives we work with on the ground.
Planning a programme, an evaluation or a jobs initiative?
Tell us what you are working on. We will come back with a proposed approach.
Bridging research and practice
A collective of South African social scientists making sure social investment delivers real results.
Founded in 2021 by two South African academics
NEXI Group brings together researchers and evaluators with backgrounds in sociology, public health, development studies, public management, and monitoring and evaluation.
Before NEXI, our directors and associates worked in senior roles in government, donor-funded programmes and the non-profit sector. Their individual experience includes national poverty eradication strategies, grant funding systems and evaluations of donor-funded programmes. NEXI brings this experience to research, evaluation and the design of youth employment programmes with TVET colleges, SETAs and employers.
Mission
To empower governments, donors and social investors with evidence-driven solutions for effective programme design, sustainable impact and strong accountability.
Vision
To be a leading African development consultancy that ensures social investments translate into measurable change for communities.
What our team brings
Drawn from the team’s work in government, NGOs and donor-funded programmes.
Programme design & theory of change
Certified theory of change practice and design of multi-site development programmes.
Monitoring & evaluation systems
Leading M&E units and building frameworks, indicators and tools for NGOs and government.
Research & fieldwork
Mixed-methods studies, managing field teams, and data cleaning and analysis.
Grant funding & partnerships
Designing and managing grant funding systems and stakeholder partnerships in the public sector.
Public health & community development
Health, water and sanitation, and community programmes in rural areas.
Work, livelihoods & youth employment
Research on work and livelihoods, and design of skills-to-work programmes.
From investment to verified impact
We manage every engagement along the full results chain. Each rand invested can be traced to what it delivers, what it changes and the value it creates, in line with funder logframes and reporting requirements.
Investment & resources
Funding, people, partners and data planned against a costed results framework.
- Costed theory of change
- Budget-to-results plan
- Cost per participant
- Budget absorption
Managed delivery
Training, services and support run to plan, to standard and within budget, with clear quality controls.
- Implementation and risk plans
- Monthly progress reports
- Milestones met on time
- Spend against plan
Verified results
People reached and services completed, recorded at source and checked before reporting.
- Beneficiary tracking (MIS)
- Verified output data
- Participants completed
- Certifications and placements
Changed lives & livelihoods
Lasting change in skills, jobs, income and practice for people and organisations.
- Tracer and outcome studies
- Dashboards for decision-makers
- Job retention and income
- Enterprise survival
Sustained social value
Long-term change in communities, and evidence that shapes the next investment.
- Impact evaluation
- Learning and policy briefs
- Value for money
- Change at community level
Rigorous, and grounded in local context
Senior leadership
Years of senior experience in grant funding, programme design and M&E.
Academic depth
Master’s-level leadership and postgraduate expertise across the social sciences.
National delivery model
Designed to work with local delivery partners, coordinated regionally and aligned to the District Development Model.
Verified results
Strong M&E, beneficiary tracking and independent financial oversight.
Six ways we help you deliver impact
Engage us for a single study, or for support across the whole life of a programme.
Programmes built around real opportunities
We design and manage employment and enterprise programmes that link people to work and markets, and we measure what changes for them.
From question to decision
A disciplined six-step cycle that ends with findings people can act on.
Understand the need
Agree the questions and the decisions the evidence must inform.
Design the approach
Build the framework, sampling and tools to fit context and budget.
Collect the data
Run fieldwork with trained teams across the provinces.
Analyse and verify
Clean, analyse and interpret quantitative and qualitative data.
Report clearly
Plain findings and practical recommendations.
Share and learn
Client workshops that turn findings into decisions.
Experienced people, rigorous methods
Researchers and evaluators with postgraduate training in the social sciences and in monitoring and evaluation.
A team built to deliver
Senior development specialists, supported by regional coordination and independent oversight.
Experienced leadership
Two founding directors with Master’s-level qualifications and senior experience in grant funding, programme design and M&E.
Specialist associates
Researchers and evaluators in sociology, public health, development studies and public management.
Regional coordination
Our delivery model uses regional coordinators and field staff working with local delivery partners.
Governance & oversight
Programme steering committees, a SAIPA-registered accounting firm and external audit of programme funds.
Expertise across the team
Ideas, evidence and stories from the field
Analysis of development practice, and short stories drawn from our research that show what change looks like in people’s lives.
Our first insights and stories are on the way
We will share analysis, lessons and stories from the field here. In the meantime, we would be glad to talk about your programme.
Talk to usLet's build the evidence together
Evaluations, programme design, youth employment initiatives, training, or a partner for a tender. We'd like to hear from you.
Working across South Africa
Helpful to include
A few details help us respond quickly with the right team.
- Your organisation and role
- The programme or question
- Timeframe and budget range
- Any terms of reference or RFP