Applications Now Open
LDI Africa’s Global Fellowship Program
Deadline: November 30, 2016
http://www.ldiafrica.org
We are pleased to open applications for the LDI Africa Spring 2017 Global Fellowship Program!
LDI Africa is seeking dynamic leaders for our prestigious fellowships. These fellowship programs connect professionals from around the world to Africa, and African business leaders to the United States. Applications are now open for our Spring 2017 Fellowship:
Emerging Institutions Fellowship Program connects global professionals to serve Africa’s best profit and nonprofit organizations. Fellows serve organizations such as One Acre Fund in Malawi, Startup Your Life in Morocco, and Generational Enterprise in Nigeria. During this yearlong program while making a difference on the continent, Fellows receive travel assistance, medical insurance and a paid work-placement opportunity. This program is ideal for a global professional seeking on the ground experience in an emerging market, particularly Africa.
To Apply: Qualified candidates should APPLY on our website. For more details about eligibility requirements and the application process, please visit ApplyLDIAfrica2017. To make further inquiries about the fellowship, please email .
LDI Africa is an award winning social enterprise that connects African organizations, entrepreneurs and professionals to the global marketplace using the expertise of skilled volunteers.
We need your help to identify rising business and social enterprise leaders to apply for the fellowship positions at LDI Africa particularly the opportunities listed below. Fellows will have the unique opportunity to work with Africa’s best investment funds and position emerging businesses towards the path of sustainable growth. You can help either through word of mouth, social media, or email communication.
Interested candidates should send cover letter and resume to with the interested position in the subject line of the email by May 30, 2016. Earlier submissions will be given priority.
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Esoko is an information and communication service for agricultural markets in Africa. Through partnerships with businesses, governments and NGOs provide advice to farmers (in the form of market prices, weather forecasts, and growing tips) to help them increase yields and profits.
Description: Fellows will serve at Esoko as Commerce Solutions Lead, and Director of International Sales and Marketing.
Commerce Solutions Lead: We are looking for someone with extensive experience managing complex projects in the design, development and deployment of mobile applications, especially digital financial services and/or m-commerce
Director of International Sales & Marketing: We are looking for someone who is equally strong on strategy and process, understands what agri-businesses need, and is passionate about the opportunity to work in a private sector tech company with huge potential for increased social impact and scale.
Description: Fellow will serve at BURN Manufacturing as Visual Designer. BURN designs, manufactures, and distributes aspirational fuel-efficient cooking products that save lives and forests in the developing world. BURN has revolutionized the global cookstove sector by proving the business case for selling high quality, locally manufactured, and unsubsidized cookstoves. We are looking for an extraordinary Visual Designer to create and produce print, digital, and media content to further the BURN mission.
Description: Fellow will serve at Emerging Cooking Solutions as Financial Controller. Emerging Cooking Solutions Zambia Limited is a Zambian/Swedish joint venture, introducing clean burning modern cook-stoves and renewable cooking fuel pellets made from waste biomass. The pellets, stoves and heating/power solutions are branded as “SupaMoto® Energy”. We are looking for a Financial Controller who is able to coach our finance admin/team, improving existing systems and prepare the company for rapid growth. Another critical competency is the ability to advise our management team on strategic issues and be involved in developing existing and new business areas.
Description: Fellow will serve at Accion Microfinance Bank Limited as Human Resource Information Systems Manager (HRIS). Accion Microfinance Bank Limited is one of the largest microfinance banks in Nigeria with a capitalization of N1.7bn and total asset of N2.7bn as December 31, 2012. Its shareholders include three of the leading commercial banks in Nigeria: Citibank, Zenith Bank and Ecobank, as well as three global financial institutions: IFC, a member of the World Bank, SME Managers and ACCION Investments. We are seeking someone for our HRIS manager position to be responsible for managing and overseeing the Bank’s human resource information system. This role will require working closely with members of the Information Technology team to ensure that the HR data is captured accurately and integrity is maintained.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, April 18, 2016
MEDIA CONTACT: Winifred Odonye
|202-460-5427| winifred@ldiafrica.org
LDI AFRICA LAUNCHES THE BROAD STREET FUND
[WASHINGTON, DC] LDI Africa proudly announces the 2016 Broad Street Fund Fellows, a diverse group of entrepreneurs from Uganda, Nigeria, Venezuela, Australia and United States.
The fellowship commenced in Washington DC with training in impact investing, social enterprise and emerging markets. It was delivered in conjunction with the Frontier Market Scout Fellowship. Through the combination of workshops and actionable co-creative projects, participants gain a comprehensive understanding of the ecosystem and framework for market-based solutions. The topics include Scaling High-Impact Social Enterprises, Designing Innovative Business Model, Diligence Process and Decision in Impact Investment, Profiling Ventures for Impact Investing, and Managing Impact Investing Portfolios. Fellows acquired professional certificate training in Impact Investing and Social Enterprise awarded by the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. Over the next 12 months, Fellows will receive various forms of technical assistance and investment opportunities.
The Broad Street Fund Fellowship supports non U.S. enterprises to expand to the United States. The program complements efforts of the United States Government to increase trade and economic partnerships with Africa through the extension of The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), and several Trade Missions to the continent.
Over 100 applications were received from 32 countries for the program. The successful candidates represent industries which included Technology, Agriculture, Fashion and Social Enterprise. The shortlisted Fellows and their respective businesses are:
We are now seeking support, collaboration and investment opportunities for these businesses. You can make a financial contribution at https://igg.me/at/3kHbwgWjesk/8253462
ABOUT THE BROAD STREET FUND
The Broad Street Fund is a program of LDI Africa that supports the global competition of business leaders from the world’s emerging markets, particularly in Africa. The program provides the infrastructure, community, and resources needed for emerging business leaders to scale their ventures internationally through a 3-week to 12-month fellowship in the United States.
Talent Africa Series
Coming to Africa: Dynamic Ways to Explore Professional Opportunities on the Continent
Date - November 10, 2015
Location - Washington DC
RSVP - Here
About Event:
International service is increasingly becoming a pathway to gaining global leadership experience. Whereas various industry opportunities existed in other parts of the world. In Africa, service opportunities tended to revolve around humanitarian and community development. Recently, with the advent of the Africa Rising narrative and the US government engagement with young African leaders this is changing. Africa is now becoming the destination point for young global leaders to serve and make significant impact in sectors such as social enterprise, business, and education.
Talent Africa Series spotlights three major organizations offering Africa focused Fellowships:
LDI Africa Global Fellowship Program
Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship Program
PYXERA GLOBAL (MBAs Without Borders)
Come join us at the Wonder Bread Factory conference room (Shaw/Howard Metro Station) for a conversation to learn about their programs, application process, and share useful tips and opportunities on how to get involved.
RSVP - Here
We are proud to welcome John-Ubong Silas 2014 Fellow at Olashore International School, Nigeria to the LDI Africa staff team as our new Senior Director Program and Engagement. After a successful year of service in Osun Nigeria, John-Ubong is now leading the Emerging Institutions Fellowship Program for LDI Africa.
About John-Ubong Silas:
John-Ubong Silas is a leading human capital expert with specialization in international education and partnership development. He serves as the Chief Relationship Officer at JUS Consulting, a consulting company serving educational institutions, government agencies, and nonprofits in the United States and Africa. At JUS Consulting, John-Ubong focuses on partnership development, program design and implementation, and strategic communication. His work experience spans positions in leading American think tanks, United States Congress, U.S. federal government agencies, non-profit organizations, and universities. He splits his time between Lagos and Washington DC.
For more information about the 2016 applications for Emerging Institutions Fellowship Program, please visit - bit.ly/ApplyLDIAfrica2016
Gbenga Ogunjimi (LDI Africa Founder CEO) Introduces LDI Africa’s Fellowship Program
Welcome to LDI Africa! This is our introductory blog post, where we hope to provide you with a wider understanding of our mission which is to “Advance socio-economic development in Africa by deploying the talents of young African Diaspora and youth citizens from outside of the continent to nonprofits and small businesses that are struggling to attract skilled professionals”. Stand up, jump on one foot, and shout out for what you’re about to hear! LDI Africa demands an elimination of brain drain.
What is brain drain? Brain drain is a result of educated Africans leaving their native countries for a higher education. Although these Africans often receive an advanced degree, their intellect may not transcend back to Africa (if they choose not to return). The influx of Africans to the United States has increased exponentially in the last 50 years, according to the Migration Policy Institute, resulting in a void left in Africa. In fact, according to 2010 U.S. Census data, the percentage of African immigrants was at 3.5% in 2005, and rose to 6.6% of the foreign-born population in 2008. This has demonstrated a clear increase in African immigration to the U.S.
Many young, eager, and bright Africans leave their respective countries in order to pursue a more advanced education. For many, the opportunity to study in Western countries provides a more rigorous and well-rounded educational experience. Yet, upon achieving an advanced degree, it is important to remember ones roots. Many students who leave for studies do not return. This is why LDI Africa strives to invite young professionals from the African diaspora back to Africa, encouraging them to utilize their education and acquired skills, while also developing new skills.
One of the most important skills that a fellowship service experience with LDI Africa will provide: a cultivation for volunteerism, and a fire in the belly for continuing to serve Africa in future professional endeavors. Yet, there have been recent efforts to bring more educational opportunities for young scholars in Africa. This New York Times article, Local Options Help Slow Africa’s Brain Drain, provides anecdotes of Africans seeking an advanced degree.
“‘I have two kids. My youngest is still living at home, and so I needed a program where I didn’t have to quit my job or leave my family,’” is the concern of many who have established lives in Africa.
Luckily, new programs such as the executive M.B.A. from Ceibs, a joint venture sponsored by the European Commission, the Chinese ministry of foreign trade, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University in Accra, Ghana, or Carnegie Mellon University’s new program in Kigali, Rwanda, are providing new options for young professional in Africa. Ceibs Director, Kwaku Atuahene-Gima, expressed his desire to stop the brain drain. “The conditions here mirror China 30 years ago, when if you wanted a top quality business education you had to travel overseas. Many of them didn’t come back,” he said.
It encourages us that others are recognizing the necessity of increased educational opportunities in Africa. This creates excitement for LDI Africa’s vision, and for the whole continent.
Amanda Lotz