Israeli Nonprofit Brings Basic Infrastructure to African Villages
The Israeli non-profit Innovation: Africa is aiming to share the knowledge and technology that have helped transform Israel into an advanced and developed country with developing countries in the world’s poorest inhabited continent. The main challenge identified by Sivan Yaari, Founder and CEO of Innovation: Africa, was the lack of electricity. Electricity is integral for operating schools and medical centers, but, possibly more significantly, is its role in accessing clean water. Yaari’s vision to harness the energy from the sun to pump clean water and power facilities is transforming African villages across the continent. The importation of Israeli solar and water technologies by Innovation: Africa has delivered to over 1.7 million people across 10 African countries access to light and clean water. The simplicity of the solution and the magnitude of the impact is what motivates the Israeli team, and by working hand in hand with the national and local African governments, in addition to hiring and training local engineers, managers, field officers, and community members, Innovation: Africa is able to run programs which are sustainable and effective. The organization has a Special Consultative Status at the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and was awarded the United Nations “Innovation Award” for its introduction of sustainable Israeli technology to Africa.