Kenya: Bridge International Academies-02/Kenya
Case Tracker
Complaint Overview
Student’s parent
Health and safety, access to information and redress
Project Information
USD 10 million equity investment
Synopsis
In 2013 and 2016, IFC invested a total of US$13.5m equity in NewGlobe Schools, Inc, which owns Bridge International Academies ("Bridge" or the “Company”), Africa’s largest chain of low-cost schools. According to IFC, at the time of its investment, the Company operated 211 schools serving over 57,000 students in Kenya and aims to provide quality education to children from families earning less than $2 per person per day. The investment was intended to support an increase in the number of schools in Kenya and expansion to 3 new countries.
IFC exited its investment in NewGlobe Schools, Inc (the parent company of Bridge International Academies) effective March 3, 2022.
In February 2020, CAO received a complaint from a parent of a student enrolled at the Bridge International Academy Kwa Njenga Msq (Bridge), in Kenya, with support from the East Africa Centre for Human Rights (EACHRights), a Kenyan NGO. The complaint concerns the alleged electrocution and subsequent death of her son, while at school.
CAO announced the eligibility of the complaint in February 2020 and initiated an assessment of the issues raised. In October 2020, after the conclusion of the assessment process, the complainants and the company agreed to engage in a voluntary dialogue process to work towards resolving the dispute.
In December 2020 , the Dispute Resolution process was placed on hold due to COVID-19-related restrictions on travel and social gatherings. CAO resumed the process in May 2021 through virtual meetings, e-mails and phone calls with the company, the complainant, and the supporting NGO. The parties agreed on the ground rules to guide the mediation in December 2021 and started mediation with an in-person joint meeting.
As result of the voluntary Dispute Resolution process, the parties involved reached an agreement on 16 June 2022. A joint statement between Bridge International Academies and the complainant was released on June 27, 2022. The case will now be closed in line with CAO’s Policy.
The conclusion report is now available in English and Kiswahili.
The dispute resolution process and monitoring of the agreement have been completed. The conclusion report in English and Kiswahili and other related documents are available under the “Case Documents” section below this page.
Status as of September 29, 2022