Thank you for being part of the IsraelDev community. Each month we bring you reviews of past and upcoming events, featured members, international development articles, opportunities to get involved and more. Feel free to contact us about anything you read below or to get involved.
We look forward to seeing you at one of our upcoming events, and until then we would like to wish you and your families a Happy Passover!
Upcoming Events
Registration Now Open! Five-Part Entrepreneurship in Emerging Markets Course
Want to identify new business opportunities? Starting May 12th, participants will have a unique chance to take part in five intensive sessions, which will explore the immense opportunities emerging markets present as well as the potential that Israeli innovation and entrepreneurship has for solving critical challenges in these regions. Participants will be provided with practical tools and skills and learn directly from experts in the field. The seminar will take place at Tel Aviv University in partnership with Startau, IsraelDev and the Pears Program for Innovation and International Development. For more information or to register, click here!
April 6th: The Post MDG Agenda: When Academia Meets Practice
The TAU Academic Forum for Sustainability Science along with the Glocal Community Development Program at Hebrew University are holding a program on the post 2015 MDGs agenda from 10:00-12:00 in the Gilman Building, Conference Room 457. Register or get more information here!
May 13th: TAU Innovation Day
One of Israel’s largest and most exciting innovation conferences celebrating the ‘Start Up Nation’ ecosystem, TAU Innovation Day is an opportunity to engage with Israel’s famed entrepreneurs. With 40 + start ups and an estimated 2,500+ guests, including investors, diplomats, industry personnel, students and more, this conference will offer a diverse array of ideas and innovations. Click here for more information.
This Month's Past Events
Social Enterprises: The Secrets of Scaling Impact
On April. 3rd, Pamela Roussos, Director of Strategic Alliances at the Global Social Benefit Institute at Santa Clara University in the Silicon Valley facilitated an intensive session with Pears Challenge participants. She also gave an open lecture discussing trends in social entrepreneurship with a focus on barriers to and potential solutions for scaling impact.
Innovation for Development News
Tanzania and Israel to Enter into Agro-Development Pact
Tanzania and Israel are about to enter into an agricultural development pact, in which the latter is expected to gain from Israel’s irrigation know-how and its experience transforming its desert setting into an agricultural haven. A forum on Tanzania-Israel Business and Investment,which was held in March in Dar es Salaam, brought together investors from Tanzania and Israel seeking to develop mutual investment partnerships. Read more here.
Team of Israeli Researchers Redefines Approach Toward Sustainability
The Urban Sustainability project, led by JISS Sustainability Research Center director Tami Gavrieli, aims to adjust the behavioral approach toward achieving sustainable activity and argues that urban living is the key to a sustainable future. Focusing on technological innovations and incorporating environmental parameters into economic models may not be sufficient to achieve a sustainable future in Israel and across the globe. Read more here.
Humanitarian Drones to Deliver Medical Supplies to Roadless Areas
Greek entrepreneur Andreas Raptopoulos saw drones being used to deliver pizza and set about to solve a real problem - using a network of unmanned aerial vehicles to deliver medical supplies across parts of the developing world inaccessible by road. That idea soon became a start-up called Matternet – a network for transporting matter – which aims to help the one billion people who do not have year-round access to roads.
IsraelDev Member of the Month
This Month, Dorron Mottes spoke to Pears Challenge Participants and shared his experience as CEO of nFrnds, a global service connecting people living in emerging markets to affordable social and business services. nFrnds allows mobile users to enjoy connectivity from any phone with no need for data connection, software client or “apps” to install. It has proven direct and immediate revenue generation with a clear and simple business model. The project is a unique patented cloud based service, easy and quick to launch.
Fun Feature
Manu Prakash: A 50-cent Microscope that Folds like Origami
Perhaps you have punched out a paper doll or folded an origami swan? TED Fellow Manu Prakash and his team have created a microscope made of paper that's just as easy to fold and use. A sparkling demo that shows how this invention could revolutionize healthcare in developing countries and turn almost anything into a fun, hands-on science experiment. Check it out!
Opportunities
2014 Israel-Asia Summit: Empowering the Next Billion: The Future of a Connected Society in Asia
By 2016, half of the world's 3.4 billion internet users will be in Asia. Most of these will be in emerging markets - many of them accessing Internet for the first time via a mobile device. Join the 2014 Israel-Asia Summit to find out what will be the impact of mobile technologies in Asia's emerging markets in healthcare, education and financial inclusion. A limited number of discounted tickets are available to members of the IsraelDev network. Contact Rebecca and say you are an IsraelDev member for a promotional code.
JOBS
The Arava Institute is seeking a Director of the Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation. Click here for more information.
Society for International Development (SID) is offering job and volunteer opportunities, check them out here.
Job Opportunities to support Caribbean Mobile App Startups
InfoDev, a unit at the World Bank that supports technology enabled growth-oriented mobile app entrepreneurs has opened three consultant positions in Jamaica. If you are interested in strengthening the Caribbean mobile innovation ecosystem and enabling sustainable and competitive mobile enterprises to grow through a number of regional and local activities, check out the following ToRs, including this project consultant and two training coordinator positions. Application deadline is April 14th.
IsraAid Program Coordinator, Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya IsraAID, an Israel-based humanitarian aid agency, is looking for a project coordinator to assist in the management and implementation of a Psychosocial training for school staff program in Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya.The position offers an exciting opportunity to get hands-on experience in non-profit project management in Africa and lead innovative grass-roots activities in the field.
Hiring Conditions: IsraAID will cover living expenses, flights, accommodation, transportation, medical expenses and meals. Required: Advanced educational and practical background in relevant field; High level written and spoken English; Strong interpersonal and team skills. Email Naama Gorodischer to apply or for more information.
Looking for an mHealth Regulatory Manager to report to the GSMA Government & Regulatory Affairs Team on the implementation of the policy engagement strategy. For more information click here.
Scholarships
The Israel-Asia Center Offering New Scholarship for Indian Female Entrepreneurs in the 'Start-Up Nation'.
The Bonita Trust Israel-India Leaders Scholarship provides an Indian female entrepreneur with: A full scholarship to The Sofaer International MBA at Tel Aviv University, Israel 2014-15; Full participation in the Israel-Asia Leaders Fellowship 2014-15; Potential seed funding for an Israel-India venture after the program. Click here for more information.
Study Programs
Students and professionals interested in the field of migration
now have the opportunity to enrich their knowledge through the
Migration Studies Summer Program at Tel Aviv University! For more info about the course, click here.
The Glocal Community-Development Studies program is a new MA program at the Faculty of Social Science at the Hebrew University. The two-year program provides tools for the effective translation of academic perspectives into practical know-how conducive to working with communities across the globe. An integral part of the program is the semester-long internship with an international NGO held in the third semester of the program. For more information about the program click here.
Recommended Reading
Please see the IsraelDev website for a full list of our latest April recommended reads on International Development.
