In partnership with the International Youth Foundation, the MasterCard Foundation and USAID, Synapse and YouthActionNet have launched the Innove4Africa
Innove4Africa celebrates and rewards the commitment of young African social entrepreneurs by strengthening their organizational and professional skills, improving the quality of their services and ethical practices, and maximizing the social impact of their initiatives.
Its ambition is to create a critical mass of social entrepreneurs working in various sectors and capable of generating real added value for the continent.
For this first edition, 25 entrepreneurs from French-speaking Africa will be selected on the basis of the economic viability and social impact of their projects, with the aim of sustainably improving the quality of life of communities.
Innove4Africa thus marks a key stage in the promotion of social entrepreneurship as a lever of transformation for Africa.
The Innove4Africa program, a result of a partnership between Synapse Center, IYF, and the MasterCard Foundation, led the pilot of 25 innovative projects in 2014, focusing on sectors such as health, agribusiness, ecotourism, the environment, ICT, and social housing, among others. As part of this initiative, 25 young people from 14 African countries participated in the meeting to tackle the challenges facing their communities. An 8-day retreat was organized in Mbodiène to sharpen their leadership and entrepreneurship skills
Program odyssey
Training courses
Facilitator training
Firstly, the rigorous selection and in-depth training of 60 facilitators and 26 coaches, who act as catalysts for the program, to guarantee the quality and effectiveness of the support provided to young beneficiaries. These facilitators and coaches were chosen for their expertise, their community roots and their ability to pass on key skills in leadership, entrepreneurship and personal development.
Youth training
Thanks to intensive training, these professionals have been prepared to accompany young people on their journey, ensuring successful implementation of the program across all stages and target regions.
Next comes the training of 2,400 young people in Passport to Success curriculum modules, which is complemented by the implementation of community service projects.
Community project
The implementation of 100 community service projects (CSP). Community service projects offer young people the opportunity to provide a service to the community, strengthen their community roots and provide solutions to societal problems identified in their communities. For young people, service learning reflects the commitment to community that is traditionally a fundamental aspect of local cultures.
For more information on the program, download the one pager.
Tangible impact and prospects
In 2014, the Innove4Africa program brought together 25 young social entrepreneurs from 14 African countries around a common mission: to address the challenges of their communities through innovative solutions. During an 8-day retreat in Mbodiène, these young people honed their leadership and entrepreneurial skills, piloting high-impact projects in sectors such as healthcare, agri-business, the environment and ICT.
14+
Nationalities
25+
Recipients
25+
Entrepreneurs
25+
Income generating
activities
Past participants’ stories
Dive into the heart of our training program through the inspiring testimonials of those who have lived it. Each story reflects a unique journey, challenges met and opportunities seized. These participants share their experience, their transformation and the impetus they received to realize their ambitions. Their success is our greatest achievement.
Abderrahim BOUROUIS
M-HEALTH
Abderrahim has developed m-health to meet the challenges of detecting cataracts and other retinal diseases. His mobile and accessible invention…
Narcisse ZOO EVINA
CEPROVA
Narcisse set up CEPROVA to promote human rights, particularly those of women, children and people living with disabilities. In addition to strengthening…
Ahmed AYED
FixKairouan
To contribute to the development of his city, Ahmed has launched FixKairouan, an online and mobile system that allows citizens to declare…
Alphonse HAKIZIMANA
NEPCO
Alphonse launched his project to add value to clay and offer his community the possibility of decent, sustainable, low-cost housing…
André Mpungu MOLIRO
Jatropha et GPS
André launched his organization to combat environmental degradation. With his two projects, ”Jatropha and GPS”, he has conducted a vast campaign…
Desire HABONIMANA
YOWLI BURUNDI
Désiré created his Yowli Burundi association to address the high HIV prevalence among young people in his community, and to promote female leadership…
Ilyasse BELKACEM
Smart Aqua Control
ILyasse has developed Smart Aqua Control, to enable growers to optimize their water consumption and make their production…
Kangah Donatien KOFFI
Produits cosmétiques
Koffi has set up his E-Voir media solutions organization to help bridge the digital divide in his country….
Inoussa BAGUIAN
Droitlibre.tv
Inoussa created droitlibre.tv to promote human rights and good governance. Among other things, his report on GMO cotton forced the Burkinabe government to limit…
Maximilien KUNGANA
Compost Congo
Through Compost Congo, Maximilien takes up the challenge of community well-being, by contributing to the management of his country’s ecological balance…
S. D. Fanorenana RAVELOARISON
Lamako Events
A dancer with a passion for art and culture, Fanou created Lamako Events to promote Malagasy culture and put it at the service of inclusion…
Seynabou SYLLA
Cauriolis
Seynabou set up Cauriolis to meet the challenge of making Africa a recognized player in the evolution of the ICT world. Through her company, she creates video games…
Alioune Badara DIOUF
DJIROMAÏT
Alioune Badara Diouf is the promoter of the DJIROMAÏT eco-lodge in Casamance. The hotel employs several people…
Maimouna ILBOUDO
Djikadi
Maimouna created Djikadi to combat malnutrition and help promote local products. After years of research, she mastered and specialized…
Lamyaa YACOUBI
RECYCL’ART
With RECYCL’ART, Lamyaa promotes waste recycling and inspires hope for a better tomorrow among disadvantaged women…
Kouakou Daniel BOUSSOU
PARO CI
Kouakou created PARO CI to provide concrete, sustainable solutions to the issues of health and the environment. To achieve this, he is raising public awareness…
Sekou DOUMBOUYA
Les Amis de l’environnement
Sékou created his association “Les amis de l’environnement” to fight unemployment and engage young people in sustainable entrepreneurship…
Tete ade ADJETE
Champignon
Tété has launched its mushroom-growing project to combat malnutrition and boost the immune systems of low-income populations…
Benjamin BONNELL
Hotai
Through the Hotai eco-lodge, Benjamin offers an “alternative” form of tourism that promotes sustainable development for local communities…
Giresse Mila LOKWA
Agribiz
Giresse has developed Mobile Agribiz, a web and sms application, to promote sustainable agriculture and enable farmers to connect directly to the market…
Gonzague BIRUTEGUZA
IJPDH
Gonzague set up the Initiative des Jeunes pour la Promotion et le Développement des Handicapés (IJPDH), to facilitate the social and professional integration of disabled people…
Gabriel ANDRIARIMANATSARA
Entreprise Artisanal de Lapidairerie
Gabriel’s highly ambitious initiative is to help organize the gemstone industry and improve living conditions for Madagascan households…
Hado Nicaise SAWADOGO
AEPT
For Hado Nicaise, education is a right for all. That’s why, through AEPT, he’s fighting to offer juvenile detainees and out-of-school children the chance to…
Hassane Mahamat Ali KHERDJA
Huilerie Moderne
Mahamat has set up a modern oil mill to add value to local products and promote their consumption. To date, he has produced more than…
Partners
As part of the Innove4Africa program, Synapse has developed a benchmark partnership with organizations just as conscientious and committed to a proactive African youth of social entrepreneurs. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Mastercard Foundation and International Youth Foundation (IYF) have joined the program with the mission of bringing together and training a critical mass of young people concerned with the economic viability and social added value of their projects for the benefit of our communities.
