Impact Stories from Economic Impact Policy Area
Fellow helps launch Central Asian mentoring program
Fellow(s): Darika Aldasheva (Kyrgyzstan, 2022)
Country: Kyrgyzstan
Cohort: 2022
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Empowering Women and Girls, Entrepreneurship, Professional Development
Darika spoke at Kurak Women’s Forum’s recent launch of a groundbreaking pan-Central Asian entrepreneurial mentoring program for women in the clothing industry.
Fellow Darika Aldasheva (Kyrgyzstan, 2022), recently participated in the launch a first-of-its-kind pan-Central Asian entrepreneurial mentoring program for women in the garment industry. This is an initiative of the Kurak Women’s Forum NGO (Kurak), where Darika serves as a board member, with the support of the USAID Trade Program in Central Asia and the Ministry of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic. Darika will serve as both a mentor and coach for the initiative, which features entrepreneurs from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Russia working alongside coaches from Europe and the U.S. “By supporting and inspiring women in business, we believe that we create a positive effect for society as a whole,” Darika wrote in a recent post. “A happy woman with burning eyes can work wonders.”
Read More »Report Date...: 07/10/2023
Fellow-founded incubator joins AfriLabs network
Fellow(s): Ichraf Jarray (Tunisia, 2022)
Country:
Cohort: 2022
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Empowering Women and Girls, Entrepreneurship, Professional Development
Ichraf’s incubator, Hive 12, has recently partnered with AfriLabs along with 19 other tech and innovation hubs on the African continent.
Hive 12, a multi-faceted incubator founded by fellow Ichraf Jarray (Tunisia, 2022), has recently entered into a partnership with AfriLabs, one of Africa’s leading networks of technology and innovation hubs. In a milestone expansion event, Hive 12 represented one of 19 new hubs from Angola, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Tunisia and Zimbabwe to join the AfriLabs network this spring. “This partnership marks the first step towards developing African markets for our startups, creating opportunities for both parties, and expanding our network,” Ichraf shared in a recent post. Hive12 operates as not only an incubator, but also a co-working space and consulting practice with the recent addition of a research and development department all to serve early-stage startups for women and youth.
Read More »Report Date...: 07/10/2023
Fellow promoted to branch office head of ISTC
Fellow(s): Aziza Haydarova (Tajikistan, 2022 )
Country: Tajikistan
Cohort: 2022
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Professional Development
Fellow promoted to branch office head of ISTC
Fellow Aziza Haydarova (Tajikistan, 2022 ) has recently been appointed the new Head of Branch Office of the International Science and Technology Center (ISTC) in Dushanbe. The ISTC is an intergovernmental organization that connects scientists from Kazakhstan, Armenia, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Georgia with their research organizations and peers in the European Union, Japan, South Korea, Norway and the United States. Aziza, an attorney, has dedicated 10 years to the ISTC Dushanbe office, most recently serving as a deputy manager. Aziza credited the TechWomen program with opening the doors in her career that have led to this promotion. “Only [TechWomen] could give me the opportunity to be the best version of myself,” she wrote in a recent letter. “This program is a great opportunity to discover new, unreleased traits in [one’s] character.”
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Report Date...: 07/15/2023
Fellow awarded for Covid-19 Medical Library Guide
Fellow(s): Diala Al Samarani (Lebanon, 2022)
Country: Lebanon
Cohort: 2022
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Environmental Sustainability, Professional Development
Fellow awarded for Covid-19 Medical Library Guide
“COVID-19 USEK Medical Library Guide,” a digital guide created by fellow Diala Al Samarani (Lebanon, 2022), has won the 2023 PR Xchange Award in the materials promoting collections, services and resources category. Her guide connects Holy Spirit University of Kasilik (USEK) students and faculty with the online resources, services and tools available in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Diala’s guide was selected among over 215 entries in print and electronic formats, submitted from over 100 institutions, including libraries from the public, academic, school, state and specialty sectors. The PR Xchange Committee coordinates the annual awards competition under the direction of the Awards and Scholarships Subcommittee of Core, a division of the American Library Association (ALA). The competition was decided by 15 jurists and winning entries were displayed at the PR Xchange Event on Sunday, June 25 at the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago, IL.
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Report Date...: 07/03/2023
Fellow hosts 5-week leadership course
Fellow(s): Damilola Asalaye (Nigeria, 2020-2021)
Country: Nigeria
Cohort: 2020-2021
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Professional Development
Fellow hosts 5-week leadership course
Fellow Damilola Asalaye (Nigeria, 2020-2021), Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Ashdam Solar Company, recently conducted a month-long online training course for women in leadership roles of the energy sector. “Energy Sector Women Leadership Initiative” ran from May 23 to June 23 and featured more than 15 workshop facilitators, including TechWomen alumnae Hannah Kabir Ahmed (2013), Happy Amos (2020-2021), Olayinka Fagbemiro (2020-2021) and Osazoduwa Agboneni (2019). The 40-hour curriculum covered 20 competency-based modules delivered over a five-week period with training topics such as navigating organizational politics, acquiring skills to coach and supervise, and networking strategically. In addition to her role as COO of Ashdam Solar Company, Damilola is Vice President of the Renewable Energy Association of Nigeria.
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Report Date...: 06/26/2023
TechWomen and TechGirls alumnae meet A/S Satterfield
Fellow(s): TechWomen and TechGirls alumnae meet A/S Satterfield
Country: Jordan
Cohort: 2019
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Empowering Women and Girls
Seven TechWomen and TechGirls alumnae from Jordan recently took part in a fireside chat with Assistant Secretary of the ECA Lee Satterfield at the U.S. Embassy in Amman. The purpose of the event was for A/S Satterfield to learn more about how these exchange programs have influenced the fellows’ lives and ability to affect local impact. “The session was full of inspiration,” said fellow Esra’a Elsanie (2019), “from hearing the ladies’ stories to feeling the attention that A/S Satterfield is giving to these programs. I really felt empowered that there’s someone in such a position who cares to hear our story and understand our journeys.” As a cornerstone of her visit, A/S Satterfield also delivered remarks at the 30th anniversary celebration of the Jordanian-American Commission for Educational Exchange (JACEE), also known as the Jordan Fulbright Commission.
Read More »Report Date...: 06/26/2023
Fellow earns hydropower assessor accreditation
Fellow(s): Asligul (Mavluda) Mamadatoeva (Tajikistan, 2017)
Country: Tajikistan
Cohort: 2017
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Environmental Sustainability, Professional Development
Fellow earns hydropower assessor accreditation
Fellow Asligul (Mavluda) Mamadatoeva (Tajikistan, 2017) recently announced her completion of the Accredited Assessor training organized by the Hydropower Sustainability Training Academy based in London. Asligul works as a Senior Environmental and Social Officer at Pamir Energy Company (PE), where she has held a leadership role in the yearslong process of securing the Sebzor hydropower project as the first project of its kind to be certified by the Hydropower Sustainability Standard, as announced on March 22, 2023. In her areas of expertise, Asligul held direct responsibility for 10 out of 12 topics assessed by the International Hydropower Association.
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Report Date...: 06/19/2023
Fellow moderates panel at AviaDev Africa Conference
Fellow(s): Refilwe Ledwaba (South Africa, 2019)
Country: South Africa
Cohort: 2019
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Professional Development
Fellow moderates panel at AviaDev Africa Conference
Fellow Refilwe Ledwaba (South Africa, 2019) recently moderated a panel discussion, “Designing a sustainable route development plan: How to attract and retain airlines in Africa” during the 2023 AviaDev Africa conference in Nairobi, Kenya this June. Refilwe is the first black female helicopter pilot from South Africa and the founder of the Girls Fly Program Africa (GFPA), an immersive STEAM development initiative focused on aviation, space technology, mentorship and career-building skills for high school girls. The AviaDev Africa conference convenes aviation professionals, policymakers and industry leaders involved in African aviation to discuss and develop solutions to industry challenges through speaking events, panel discussions, workshops and the exhibition of aviation products and services.
Read More »Report Date...: 06/12/2023
Fellow(s): Sebay Momoh (Sierra Leone, 2018)
Country: Sierra Leone
Cohort: 2018
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Environmental Sustainability, Professional Development
Sebay spoke on behalf of Sierra Leone’s oil and gas sector during the Country Showcase at the Africa Energies Summit this May.
Fellow spoke at the Africa Energies Summit in London, GB this May, where she shared the stage with the heads of petroleum agencies from The Gambia, Liberia and Senegal. During the Country Showcase, she addressed the current investment prospects in the oil & gas industry of Sierra Leone, highlighting favorable fiscal terms that make the market competitive, the transparent legal and regulatory frameworks that support it, and the abundance of data available across the Sierre Leone basin. “These and much more are reasons why Sierra Leone is a great nation for energy investment,” she shared in a recent post. Sebay is a petroleum engineer at the Petroleum Directorate Sierra Leone, the regulating authority for all upstream oil and gas activities in Sierra Leone. The Africa Energies Summit curates stakeholder insights on the continent’s role in global energy.
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Report Date...: 06/05/2023
Fellow speaks at Africa Energies Summit in London
Fellow(s): Sondos Samara (Jordan, 2018)
Country: Jordan
Cohort: 2018
Policy Area(s): Economic Impact, Empowering Women and Girls, Entrepreneurship, Professional Development
Fellow speaks at Africa Energies Summit in London
Fellow Sondos Samara (Jordan, 2018) recently met with U.S. First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden, during a USAID event organized with the U.S. Embassy of Jordan in Amman. Sondos Samara was one of four women entrepreneurs currently receiving USAID Business Growth Activity (BGA) support who were invited to the event, where they had the opportunity to discuss their businesses and the contributions that they are making to their sectors. The USAID BGA is a five-year project implemented by Financial Markets International that provides technical and financial support to qualifying small and medium enterprises in Jordan. Sondos is a quality manager at the Environmental Laboratory for Microbiological and Chemical Analysis in Jordan and the founder of Sanadyme, a medtech social entrepreneurship startup.
Read More »Report Date...: 06/05/2023