The Aspen Global Innovators Group Announces the Second Class of Impact West Africa Fellowship
Championing local leaders who are shaping global health and development
Washington DC, (December 5, 2024) – The Aspen Global Innovators Group (AGI) is pleased to announce the second class of the Impact West Africa Fellowship. AGI’s bilingual Fellowship unites West Africa’s Anglophone and Francophone expert voices in addressing development priorities and fosters new cross-border alliances to tackle common regional challenges. This second cohort will join the AGI community of almost 300 leaders in 54 countries.
Our late Executive Director, Lola Adedokun passionately believed that “investing in West African leadership is both a human and economic imperative and amplifying their voices and visions is long overdue.” In alignment with Lola’s vision, this Fellowship equips participants with comprehensive training, tools, and networks to amplify their impact, enhance their visibility, and drive effective change locally and globally. AGI is committed to fostering leadership and collaboration across borders.
The Impact West Africa Fellowship welcomes ten leaders from ten countries: Ghana, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, and Togo, expanding the Fellowship’s reach to two new countries. “These remarkable champions bring a wealth of experience and expertise from various fields across the region, highlighting key issues such as sexual reproductive health, climate and food security, and maternal and child health,” said Sylvia Kalley, Associate Director of Fellowships at the Aspen Global Innovators Group. “They are here to change the single narrative and bring fresh perspectives to the global stage, proving that locally-rooted leadership is the key to solving our most urgent challenges.”
These ten leaders were selected from a competitive pool of 1,116 applicants. “The Impact West Africa Fellows are pioneering breakthrough innovations in health, economic development, food security and rights. We were honored to support this first cohort of Impact West Africa Fellows who are transforming lives and policy throughout West Africa. As we welcome this new class, we carry forward the belief that leadership can spark change that transcends borders and generations,” said Peggy Clark, Interim Executive Director at the Aspen Global Innovators Group.
AGI’s Impact West Africa Fellowship is supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to strengthen the cadre of committed development champions from the West Africa region and bring their essential perspectives into the global development debate.
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Meet the 2024 Impact West Africa Fellows:
Balkissa Daoura, Coordinator at Kandili (Niger)
Emile Bobozi Potoyodi-atom, Director of Program Implementation at Integrate Health (Togo)
Bowel Diop, Project Director at the Baobab Institute for Health Development (Senegal)
Fenny Taylor-Diggs, Regional Project Manager at Medica Liberia (Liberia)
Job Tiguem Poudiougo, Protection Officer at Oxfam International (Mali)
Kaata Minah, Programme Manager at Purposeful (Sierra Leone)
Kerim Youba, Social Reintegration Officer at Noura Foundation (Mauritania)
Mariama Jobarteh, CEO and Founder at Fantanka (The Gambia)
Victoria Mabel Sackey, Chief Operations Officer at MedTrack (Ghana)
Uche Udekwe, CEO and Founder at NATAL CARES (Nigeria)
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The Aspen Global Innovators Group
For more than 20 years, the Aspen Global Innovators Group has championed health and development leaders and innovators from 54 countries across Africa, the Americas, Asia, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Island States to design, champion and advocate for innovative programs, policies and partnerships that result in a safer, more equitable, and healthier future for all people and communities. Our network of 7000+ individuals and organizations has served 200 million people, improving health, well-being, and equity. We identify and amplify the voices of visionary, proven and impactful local leaders, advocates, and practitioners. Join us in building a healthier, more equitable future at https://www.aspenglobalinnovators.org/.
The Aspen Institute
The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization whose purpose is to ignite human potential to build understanding and create new possibilities for a better world. Founded in 1949, the Institute drives change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve society’s greatest challenges. It is headquartered in Washington, DC and has a campus in Aspen, Colorado, as well as an international network of partners. For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org.