Kigali, Rwanda, February 27th, 2019 – The Resolution Project launched its first Innovation Hub, a new collaboration between Resolution and Dalberg Advisors, a global strategic advisory firm, on Saturday, February 23rd in Kigali, Rwanda, with eleven social entrepreneurs gathering for the momentous occasion. These Innovation Hubs are a place for Resolution Fellows to meet, collaborate, and partner with their local communities and build local innovation ecosystems through events, partnerships, networking, skill-sharing, and other opportunities.
“This Innovation Hub represents our efforts to bring The Resolution Project’s spirit of network and community to the doorsteps of its global cohort of Fellows” said George Tsiatis, CEO & Co-Founder of The Resolution Project. “We’re delighted to be partnering with Dalberg Advisors, who share a similar commitment to identifying ideas and innovations that empower communities and to strengthening local leadership and entrepreneurial ecosystems.”
Dalberg Kigali will provide space for meetings, talks, and targeted events for Resolution Fellows and the communities they build. Dalberg staff will also provide advisory support for members of the Hub.
“Our partnership with The Resolution Project reflects our commitment to enabling innovation in the countries in which we work,” said James Mwangi, Executive Director of the Dalberg Group. “We’re looking forward to working with the global cohort of Fellows in Kigali and look forward to expanding our support to future Innovation Hubs.”
The social entrepreneurs in attendance laid out their expectations for the Hubs and discussed future topics of interest, which included entrepreneur self-care activities, elevator pitch feedback sessions, and conversations about investor readiness.
Select attendees included:
- Christelle Kwizera—Managing Director of Water Access Rwanda, which is working to provide access to purified and affordable water for all. Under Christelle’s leadership, Water Access Rwanda supplies clean water to more than 1,000 people per day.
- Ariane Umuringa—Co-Founder of Starlight Rwanda, which creates solar-powered lamps for off-grid rural homes. Starlight Rwanda also recruits, trains and supports local women to become clean-energy microentrepreneurs.
- Regis Umugiraneza—Co-Founder and Director of Carl Group, which transforms sweet potatoes (rich in vitamin A) into other foods, such as bread and pasta, in order to increase its desirability and consumption. In addition to combating malnutrition, Carl Group also generates additional income and employment for sweet potato farmers in Rwanda.
“The Hub will be an amazing place for social entrepreneurs to hang out and become a collaborative community,” said Christelle Kwizera, a Resolution Fellow and Managing Director of Water Access Rwanda, serving as the Kigali Hub Ambassador. “We are all facing multiple challenges on our own but as a community, I believe we will be a platform to solve one another’s challenges. I look forward to what will be achieved through the Hub.”
Resolution and Dalberg aim to launch the second Innovation Hub in Nairobi, Kenya in the coming months.
About Dalberg Advisors
Dalberg Advisors is a strategic advisory firm which brings the best of private sector strategy skills and rigorous analytical capabilities with deep knowledge and networks across emerging and frontier markets. Dalberg works collaboratively across the public, private and philanthropic sectors to fuel inclusive growth and help clients achieve their goals.
Dalberg’s global perspectives are firmly rooted in local realities. Through 17 offices; clients have been served in more than 90 countries. By combining local roots and extensive international experience, Dalberg strategies blend the best global ideas and innovations with the local practicalities and partnerships needed for effective implementation.