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CANADA-AFRICA INNOVATION FELLOWSHIP

Providing systems change leaders and aspiring entrepreneurs with opportunities to innovate solutions to complex environmental challenges

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The Canada-Africa Innovation Fellowship

The UN COP26 Conference has highlighted the urgency and need for bold actions to counter the adverse effects of climate change. 

The Canada Africa Innovation Fellowship (CAIF Fellowship) is an international social change & entrepreneurial program at the intersection of innovation and sustainable development, serving to activate and empower recent graduates from engineering and non-engineering backgrounds from Canada and Sub-Saharan Africa to solve local and global challenges. 

 

At EWB, we know that change doesn’t happen in one place - it happens when we come together. The Canada-Africa Innovation Fellowship program therefore allows us to connect talent cross-continentally,  incubating bold ideas in order to address complex global challenges with scalable and sustainable solutions. CAIF provides a unique opportunity for undergraduate students in Canada and sub-Saharan Africa to work together with three goals in mind: foster strong leadership and entrepreneurial skills, create solutions to global challenges, and provide opportunities to scale their impact. This is coupled with a unique platform for the individual fellow to develop soft skills and connect with mentors and peers from across the world, preparing the next generation of System change leaders.

 

This is a 4 month, in-person international exchange fellowship program, where our Fellows undergo extensive entrepreneurial training, learning what it takes to design, implement, and scale a viable business. The fellows are grouped into smaller cohorts of four students, two from Canada and two from SSA, and spend the first three months of the program designing a collaborative social venture that aims to solve  a climate-based issue.  During the last month of the program, cohorts are matched with mentors who are experts in the area the Fellows have focused their innovation on, helping them to fine-tune their plan into a viable solution. At the end of the program, Fellows have the opportunity to pitch their venture to a panel of EWB staff, community members, donors, corporate partners and advisors - in hopes of gaining an avenue to further pursue and scale  their innovation.  

Becoming a CAIF Fellow offers the following benefits:

  • Gain practical insights and experiences to become a change maker and system change leader

  • Exclusive participation in CAIF sponsored events and learning opportunities

  • Connect to a global network of industry experts, mentors and link minded change makers

  • An International exchange program offering the opportunity to travel to another country and have the opportunity to live both in the urban and rural setting of the country.

  • Attend a graduation ceremony where certificates will be awarded to fellows and be recognized as an EWB Canada fellow / alumni of the Canada-Africa Innovation Fellowship Program, unlocking further networks and opportunities for your professional, leadership and entrepreneurial growth.

2021 Innovations

Fellowship Theme: Sustainable Development Goals

AgriSmart Innovations

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Addressing SDG 2: (Zero Hunger) & SDG 13: (Climate Action) by creating radio programs that provides rural farmers with information on better farming tips and methods (products and services) that they can purchase and use to help fight climate change.

Past Fellow Spotlights

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"As a new member of EWB, I wanted to learn more, become involved in international development, and use the skills I have gained during my years at University to drive progress in an area aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. This fellowship granted me a wealth of knowledge from interacting with my Ugandan fellow colleagues to learn about their lived experiences and their thoughts on how to tackle different humanitarian goals and through the structured and insightful weekly lessons."

Alan Payno Montoya, University of Guelph

Canada-Africa Innovation Fellow '21; Co-Founder of On the Spot

APPLICATIONS & CONTACT

The application deadline for mentors/advisors for the our 2023 cohort is approaching and we are currently looking for sector experts specialized in Climate Change, Renewable Energy and Pollution mitigation! If you are interested, please apply below.

Please direct any other questions to fellowships@ewb.ca

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