New York, N.Y. – On Friday, November 1st, Innovation: Africa’s Founder and President, Sivan Ya'ari, was awarded the prestigious Innovation Award from the United Nations Global South-South Development Expo in Nairobi, Kenya. The Expo hosted over 12,000 attendees from 53 countries, who gathered to discuss cutting edge development solutions to meet the Millennium Development Goals.
(Picture from L to R: Achim Steiner, UNEP Executive Director and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations; H.E John W Ashe, President to the United National General Assembly; Yiping Zhou, UNDP Director for South-South Cooperation)
Innovation: Africa was presented with the award upon speaking about their self-sustaining model, bringing Israeli solar technologies to power rural African schools, medical clinics, orphanages and water pumping systems. Since their founding in 2008, they have completed over 67 solar and agricultural projects in Ethiopia, Tanzania, Malawi and Uganda. Over 480,000 people have been directly impacted by their projects, and over 300,000 children have received properly stored vaccinations stored in their solar powered refrigerators.
Sivan was handpicked at this global gathering of leaders in the field to share Innovation: Africa’s cost-efficient, self-sustaining model for rural electrification, which she has developed over the last 5 years, using Israeli technology and expertise.
Since Innovation: Africa was awarded Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council in June of 2012, they have become active members of the UN community. They have issued formal statements translated into the 6 official UN languages and distributed to leaders from around the world. Innovation: Africa has gone to countless conferences and events, and were invited to speak at the High Level Economic and Social Council Meeting in Geneva.
“After just a year in the United Nations community, we have been recognized as leaders in the field. The Innovation Award is one of only five such honors granted each year at this global summit. We were proud to attend this conference as part of the Israeli delegation, and honored to accept this award in recognition of our efforts these last five years.” Sivan Ya’ari
Among the Conference attendees was Gil Haskel, Ambassador of Israel to Kenya. The Ambassador spoke to impact of Innovation: Africa’s work, stating: "Innovation: Africa is a brilliant concept of combining Israeli creative energy and innovative spirit, with the Jewish concept of 'Tikun Olam' and compassion. Together these characteristics are making a significant difference for so many lives in rural Africa, and building eternal bridges of friendship between Jews, Israelis and Africans.”
(Picture from L to R: Yaki Lopez, Deputy Ambassador of Israel to Kenya. Mully Dor, Chairperson of the Board, AJEEC-NISPED. Sivan Ya'ari, Founder and President of Innovation: Africa. Gil Haskel, Ambassador of Israel to Kenya)
To learn more about Innovation: Africa, visit their website, their online brochure or watch a video from the field.
