Aspen Global Innovators Group Impact West Africa Fellowship 2024 – The Aspen Global Innovators Group, in collaboration with the Senegal-based, international advocacy, public affairs, and campaigns firm Niyel, launched the Impact West Africa Fellowship program.
This initiative aims to elevate the voices of leaders with proximate and lived expertise by providing a fellowship experience that centers the expertise of West African leaders. The inaugural Impact Fellowship program was launched in Senegal in 2023, opening an exciting and unique avenue to develop a new generation of powerful African development advocates, in order to advance Africa’s own development priorities.
This program will spotlight advocates from French-speaking and English-speaking West African countries, highlighting West Africa’s Francophone and Anglophone key issues. Fellows will be individuals with a proven passion for advocacy and solid track records in activities related to improving lives and influencing meaningful change across the West African region.
Aspen Global Innovators Group Impact West Africa Fellowship 2024 Program ComponentsÂ
The Impact West Africa Fellowship program equips changemakers from the region with the skills and support needed to tackle common challenges that affect close to half a billion people across the region’s 17 countries. Each Impact Fellow will participate in an intensive 12-month journey to help them advance their individual advocacy goals. Throughout the year-long program, Fellows continue their professional commitments while receiving tailored mentorship, attending two immersive convenings, and participating in quarterly online training sessions between convenings.
Key program details include:
2 in-person week-long convenings
Advocacy- Participants will engage in intensive sessions aimed at introducing and exploring various aspects of advocacy, including key elements of advocacy, strategies for effective advocacy, and the role of advocacy in driving social change.
Strategic Engagement for Advocacy- fellows will delve into communication tools essential for effective advocacy work. Fellows will not only refine their communication skills but also explore fundraising and networking strategies vital for effective advocacy work.
Quarterly virtual trainings
Each quarter, fellows will engage in a series of online training sessions tailored to address the specific needs of the cohort. These sessions will cover a diverse range of topics aimed at enhancing their skills and knowledge, further empowering them as change agents within West Africa. Example of possible trainings include the following:
- Community Mobilization and Engagement
- Coalition Building
- Arts and activism
- Harvesting Outcomes (Advocacy and measuring impact)
- Narrative Change
- Media and Digital Advocacy Strategies
- Community-Led Advocacy Campaigns
- Policy Analysis and Influencing Decision-Makers.
Professional mentorship support
Mentoring and coaching of fellows will be core aspects of the fellowship. Each fellow will be paired with an exp.
BENEFITS
NetworkÂ
As a Aspen Global Innovators Group fellow, you will gain access to a global network of around 300 like-minded innovators, experts and champions. This community provides a space to form connections, collaborations and opportunities for partnership, helping foster growth and impact on a global scale.
Visibility
By participating in the fellowship, fellows will have the ability to participate in various platforms, events and initiatives where they can gain exposure to key stakeholders, funders, and policymakers, amplifying the reach and recognition of their work.
Peer Support
Our fellowships offer a supportive environment where fellows can freely exchange ideas, share challenges and offer mutual support. Having this peer-to- peer interaction is integral to creating a culture of learning, resilience, and collaboration, empowering fellows to navigate complexities and drive meaningful change together.
Knowledge Building
By participating in workshops, seminars, curated content and curriculum, fellows get the opportunity to deepen their understanding of pressing global issues, emerging trends, innovative solutions, equipping them with the skills and resources to catalyze equitable transformations in health and development.
Selection Criteria
Impact Fellows will be individuals:
- Who demonstrate a passion and commitment for advocacy that addresses key issues affecting the West African region
- Have a solid track record of using bold, innovative ideas that contribute to improving the lives of the individuals within the communities they serve
- Have a clear vision of how their initiatives will demonstrate impact and transformative change
- Have a proven record of leadership and accomplishment in business or entrepreneurship, civic engagement, and/or public/government service
- ​Have a strong desire to strengthen their communication skills to advocate for change through storytelling, speaking engagements and written communication
- Have a commitment to use the skills gained from the the fellowship to strengthen their organization and the movements that they serve
Have demonstrated a commitment to coalition building or have strong collaborative skills
Have organizational support, in the form of a letter, to fully engage in the fellowship experience.
To Apply: Visit the website for Aspen Global Innovators Group Impact West Africa Fellowship 2024
