FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: LINC MERGES WITH ACACIA GLOBAL CONSULTING
JANUARY 27, 2026 | WASHINGTON DC, AND ADDIS ABABA
LINC, a leading mission-driven international development consulting firm with a global footprint in over 30 countries, today announced the merger with Acacia Global Consulting, an Africa-based firm recognized for its deep roots in Ethiopia and extensive experience in research, learning, facilitation, market systems, and access to finance. Under the merger agreement, Acacia Global Consulting becomes a wholly owned LINC company, and Ms. Bersabeh Beyene, Acacia’s Founder, joins LINC as Managing Partner.
In her new role, Ms. Bersabeh Beyene will continue to be based in Addis Ababa, serving as Team Lead for the Gates Foundation-funded MLE Anchor project and leading other technical and managerial initiatives in the region on behalf of Acacia and LINC. A respected leader in international development, she brings over two decades of experience in research, program design, facilitation, program and project management. LINC’s headquarters will remain in Washington, DC, while Managing Partner, Rich Fromer will continue to be based in Mexico City overseeing LINC’s Latin America portfolio, reflecting the firm’s distributed global leadership and growing regional presence.
Through this merger, LINC builds upon Acacia’s current portfolio of long-term programs funded by major global philanthropies, including the Gates Foundation and the Mastercard Foundation, demonstrating the firm’s growing collaboration with private funders committed to advancing our mission of locally led development. These programs complement LINC’s existing portfolio and twelve-year track record implementing more than $80 million in resilience, monitoring, evaluation, learning, capacity-building, and collective-action initiatives across Africa, Latin America, Europe, and Asia.
“By joining forces with Acacia, we are combining regional depth with global scale,” said Patrick Sommerville, Washington-based Managing Partner at LINC. “This merger positions LINC to deliver even greater value to our partners as we strengthen collaboration with leading foundations and advance systems-based, locally led solutions.”
Ms. Bersabeh Beyene, Managing Partner at LINC, added: “Acacia and LINC share a passion for learning and local ownership. Together, we will continue to elevate African expertise, deepen our partnerships with communities and funders, and help shape a more inclusive and sustainable development landscape.”
LINC’s other Managing Partner, Rich Fromer, commented: “The merger positions us to serve the new wave of funders shaping development. Philanthropies and impact investors are looking for local insight backed by global systems expertise. With Acacia’s strong regional networks and our shared focus on learning and results, we can help them translate investment into lasting, community-owned impact.”
With this merger, LINC and Acacia are expanding their work across Africa, particularly in Ethiopia, while continuing to strengthen partnerships with global foundations and private sector partners committed to LINC’s mission of working alongside local actors to create sustained change. The combined firm will continue to operate under both the LINC and Acacia Global Consulting brands during a transition period.
About LINC
LINC is a Washington, D.C.–based international development firm that partners with local and global actors to strengthen systems, promote locally led learning, and achieve sustainable impact. Since 2013, LINC has delivered award-winning programs across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, implementing over $80 million in projects funded by leading public and private donors.
www.linclocal.org
About Acacia Global Consulting
Acacia Global Consulting is a consulting firm founded in Ethiopia with deep regional experience in research, learning, facilitation, market systems, and access to finance. Acacia partners with governments, NGOs, and private foundations to strengthen systems and promote locally led development across Africa.
www.acaciagc.com
