ETHICORE Group strengthens global growth and international recognition
Pan-African and Near East government, public and corporate affairs consultancy ETHICORE Group has significantly expanded its global capability and stature, following a series of international milestones that underscore the growing prominence of the African and Middle East headquartered advisory firm in shaping policy, investment and strategic influence across the emerging markets of these regions.
Headquartered in Cape Town, South Africa, with a strategic presence in Dubai through its near east subsidiary ETHICORE East, the firm has reinforced its position as Africa’s foremost independent consulting and advisory firms operating at the intersection of governments, markets and society. This has been achieved through its extending its already deep expert public and corporate affairs and communications offerings and new global partnerships, industry rankings and leadership recognition.
Recognition in PRovoke Media’s 2026 Global Rankings
ETHICORE Group has also earned significant recognition in PRovoke Media’s 2026 global agency rankings, further validating its emergence as one of the continent’s most influential independent advisory firms among best-in-class global peers.
The firm was recognised among PRovoke Media’s “11 Best Agencies in Africa” and simultaneously featured among the publication’s “15 Best Agencies in the Middle East” and “Top 100 Best Agencies in the World”, a notable distinction that reflects ETHICORE’s dual-market positioning across Africa and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region and EMEA.
The rankings place ETHICORE alongside some of the world’s most established consultancies and advisory firms in its niche of expertise, underscoring the firm’s increasingly differentiated offering in government and public affairs, regulatory advisory and policy communications driving African investment, trade and partnerships across key economic sectors.
For African and Near East businesses, investors and institutions and its clientele, the recognition highlights the growing sophistication and competitiveness of ETHICORE Group as an African advisory firm delivering integrated, cross-border solutions and strategic counsel on complex economic, investment, policy and political challenges.
ETHICORE Group CEO named to PRovoke Media’s Innovator 25 EMEA 2026
Adding to the firm’s momentum, ETHICORE Group CEO and Founder Abdul Waheed Patel was named to PRovoke Media’s Innovator 25 EMEA 2026, an annual list recognising twenty-five leaders across Europe, the Middle East and Africa who are redefining the future of influence, communications, engagement and reputation management.
Patel’s inclusion acknowledges his pioneering work in advancing ethical influence, government affairs and public policy advisory services across Africa and the Middle East. Under his leadership, ETHICORE has developed a differentiated model centred on integrity, responsible engagement and strategic navigation of increasingly interconnected policy and market environments.
The recognition is particularly significant given the relatively limited representation of African leaders on global communications and public affairs rankings and reflects the growing contribution of African firms to international thought leadership and professional practice.
Top 30 Independent PR Agencies in Africa for Regulatory and Policy Communications
Further reinforcing its specialist credentials, ETHICORE Group has been recognised by Africa PR Week as one of the “Top 30 Independent PR Agencies in Africa” in the category of Regulatory and Policy Communications.
The recognition highlights the increasing importance of policy communications and stakeholder engagement capabilities in Africa’s evolving regulatory landscape, where businesses must navigate heightened scrutiny, rapid policy reform and increasingly sophisticated stakeholder expectations.
ETHICORE’s inclusion acknowledges its expertise in helping organisations understand and engage effectively with governments, regulators, policymakers and societal stakeholders across diverse African markets.
Joining PROI Worldwide’s Global Network
In May 2026, ETHICORE Group became the newest member of PROI Worldwide, the world’s largest partnership of independent communications agencies, comprising leading firms across more than 100 markets worldwide.
The partnership represents a strategic milestone not only for the ETHICORE Group but also for Africa’s public affairs and strategic communications sector. Through the partnership, multinational companies, investors and institutions seeking to navigate Africa’s increasingly complex political, regulatory and policy environments will gain enhanced access to on-the-ground expertise and integrated advisory capabilities spanning Africa, the Middle East and major global markets.
Founded in 2009 by CEO Abdul Waheed Patel, ETHICORE Group has built a distinctive model at the intersection of markets, governments and society, advising corporations, global institutions and sovereign entities on market entry, government relations, public policy, geopolitical risk and strategic communications.
The addition of ETHICORE Group strengthens PROI Worldwide’s global public affairs and policy advisory offering while further integrating its proprietary African market insights, intelligence and unique expertise into international communications and corporate affairs networks.
A Growing African Global Player
Collectively, these achievements reflect a broader trend: the emergence of ETHICORE Group as a uniquely positioned African-headquartered advisory firms with globally connected partnership capability to shape investment, policy and business outcomes across complex and fast-evolving markets.
For investors, multinational companies, international and sovereign institutions operating across Africa and the Middle East and connected global markets, ETHICORE Group’s recent milestones signals its growing capability as a world-class, African-born advisory firm combining deep local knowledge with increasingly sophisticated global insights and strategic reach.
As geopolitical complexity, regulatory transformation and market fragmentation continue to reshape the investment and geo-political landscape, firms capable of bridging governments, markets and society are likely to play an increasingly important role in enabling sustainable growth and responsible business engagement across Africa and beyond.
About ETHICORE Group
ETHICORE Group is a purpose-built international pan-African government, corporate and public affairs consultancy operating across Africa and the GCC. Founded in 2009, the firm specialises in policy advisory, regulatory advocacy, political communications and geopolitical intelligence. ETHICORE Group supports multinational corporations, investors and institutions navigating complex operating environments, helping to shape policy outcomes, unlock opportunity and drive sustainable growth.