Africa is home to some of the most creative and innovative social entrepreneurs tackling the continent’s pressing challenges in energy and environment. These young changemakers are not only creating solutions that improve lives and livelihoods but also inspiring others to follow in their footsteps.
One of the platforms that support and empower these social innovators is the Sahara Impact Fund (SIF) Fellowship program, a joint initiative of the Sahara Group Foundation, LEAP Africa, and Impact Amplifier. The program, which started in 2020, aims to equip and fund young African social innovators whose enterprises are dedicated to improving access to clean energy and sustainable environments across the continent.
The program offers a six-month fellowship with training, mentorship, networking, and seed funding for the most outstanding fellows. In its third year, the program welcomed 20 fellows from various African countries who participated in a rigorous selection process and a virtual boot camp. The top 10 fellows have received $5,000 in seed funding to support expanding their socially impactful businesses.
The top 10 recipients of this year’s seed funding are:
- Paul Nnaluo, founder of Gas Monkey (Nigeria), converts organic waste into biogas for cooking, heating, and electricity generation.
- Kehinde Fashola, founder of Fizzle Power Tech Limited (Nigeria), provides affordable and reliable solar power solutions for rural communities.
- Muideen Adegoke, founder of DigitAgric Integrated Limited (Nigeria), a company that leverages digital technology to improve agricultural productivity and market access for smallholder farmers.
- Andrew Mpashi, co-founder of Twalima Agro Solutions Limited (Zambia), a company that produces organic fertilizers from animal waste and promotes sustainable farming practices.
- Philipo Kitungano, founder of Kigoma Eco-cultural Tourism Enterprise (Tanzania), a company that promotes eco-tourism and environmental conservation in the Kigoma region.
- Ainomugisha Shifra, founding director of SOLAFAM Uganda (Uganda), provides solar-powered irrigation systems and clean water solutions for rural communities.
- Joyce Rugano, founder of EcoRich Solutions (Kenya), produces eco-friendly briquettes from agricultural waste and provides clean cooking solutions for households and institutions.
- Muofhe Ratshikombo, CEO of Oumie’s Grandè (South Africa), produces natural cosmetics from indigenous plants and empowers women through entrepreneurship training and mentorship.
- Timothy Munthali, founder of Tawonga Cooking Oil Processing Enterprise (Malawi), produces cooking oil from sunflower seeds and provides income opportunities for local farmers.
- Jolis Nduwimana, executive director of WEGE Company (Burundi), produces biodegradable sanitary pads from banana fibers and educates girls on menstrual hygiene management.
These fellows represent the diversity and potential of Africa’s social innovation ecosystem. They are addressing some of the most critical issues facing the continent, such as energy poverty, environmental degradation, food insecurity, water scarcity, and gender inequality. They are also creating jobs, improving incomes, enhancing health and education outcomes, and contributing to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Sahara Impact, Fund Fellowship programme, is one of the ways that Sahara Group Foundation, LEAP Africa, and Impact Amplifier demonstrate their commitment to supporting Africa’s development by identifying and empowering young, creative social innovators working to create sustainable environments and bridge the energy gap in Africa. By providing them with the skills, resources, and networks they need to scale their impact, they also create a platform for cross-sectoral collaboration and knowledge sharing among stakeholders in the social innovation space.
As Africa faces the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century, it needs more social innovators like these fellows who can harness their passion, creativity, and resilience to transform the continent. They are not only solving problems but also inspiring hope.
Source: Business Day NG
