IDIA’s Global Innovation Advisors

In 2021, IDIA agencies moved to formalize and more deeply integrate the contributions of local actors within IDIA’s strategy and work by launching the IDIA Global Innovation Advisors (GIA), a network of technical experts, thought-leaders, entrepreneurs and system disruptors from low- and middle-income countries who share IDIA’s learning priorities around shaping more equitable and inclusive post-COVID futures, transforming development practice, strengthening innovation ecosystems and committing to greater localization.

IDIA’s activities are guided by strategic goals and learning themes that speak to IDIA members' learning priorities. Subsets of interested IDIA members collaborate to support a range of activities (known as ‘Spokes’) that contribute to these learning themes in different ways. For 2024/25, the following Spokes have been identified: 

  1. Matching Health Innovation Supply & Demand for Country Scale-Up

  2. Advancing the responsible development and deployment of emerging technologies

  3. Collaborative Scaling among innovation supporters

  4. IDIA Training Course on Collaborative Innovation and Scaling

Having successfully welcomed an initial cohort of Global Innovation Advisors (GIAs) in 2021 and recognising the significant value that local actor input provides to their strategy and operations, the IDIA members unanimously agreed to continue expanding the GIA network and establish it as a core component within their new strategic model. 

As such, IDIA is now seeking additional GIAs to contribute their insights and experience to both IDIA strategy (through Principals’ meetings) and the 2024/25 Spoke activities noted above. Engagement will typically be structured around discrete tasks / roles including (but not limited to) targeted pieces of research; keynote presentations; advisory consultations; tool/framework development; and event participation or moderation.

As part of the integration and expansion of the GIA model, IDIA has committed to providing appropriate compensation for GIA’s time and input. Depending on the nature of their engagement, GIAs will be compensated at two different tiers, separate and additional to the costs of any travel that may be required: 

Tier 1: IDIA (Hub or Spoke) meeting participation ($250 USD/day)  

Tier 2: IDIA Spoke activity ($500 USD/day)

Feedback from the initial cohort of GIAs has shown the value of this relationship for both parties in terms of providing opportunities for network expansion and collaborative learning. GIAs also reported that the formal association with IDIA has also helped to advance their own work and objectives around innovation.

About the GIA Role

Compensation

Open GIA Opportunities

Call for Global Innovation Advisors (GIAs) in Bangladesh

The International Development Innovation Alliance (IDIA) is seeking passionate and experienced Global Innovation Advisors (GIAs) in Bangladesh to join our network. We are specifically looking for innovators, thought leaders, changemakers, activists, and practitioners working at the intersection of climate and health, gender, and youth.

The selected GIAs should preferably be based in Bangladesh or have significant experience working there, demonstrating expertise and impact across the specified thematic areas. The scope of engagement will be from August through December 2024 and will include:

  • Provide critical content design insights for the upcoming IDIA Hub Meeting in Bangladesh.

  • Engage in research, advisory, consultations, and thought leadership using the climate, health, gender, youth or livelihoods expertise in support of the upcoming IDIA Bangladesh meeting.

  • Contribute to strategic IDIA initiatives and Spoke activities providing contextual insights and provocations, and advancing equity and social inclusion within the network.

Apply now to be part of a transformative global network. Application Deadline: August 5, 2024.

Join our network of Global Innovation Advisors

IDIA is seeking to expand the Global Innovation Advisors (GIAs) network to provide invaluable insight into innovation activities of local contexts and offer expertise relevant to the Spoke activities including some of the cross-cutting learning themes like localisation, equity, and social inclusion, and systems innovation. The GIAs’ work with IDIA will be centred around discrete, expert-level tasks at the Spoke level.

There is a two-step process to becoming a Global Innovation Advisor:

Step 1: Create your GIA profile through the interest form below which will be reviewed by management. If successful, you will join the network of Global Innovation Advisors where you will be the first to hear about GIA Opportunities.

Step 2: In the same interest form, if there are currently available opportunities, you can express interest in any and all opportunities relevant to your area of expertise. GIA opportunities will be specific to IDIA Spokes and indicate engagement expectations for the GIA. Note: Prospective GIAs can complete part I and II of the interest form simultaneously. Current GIAs with an approved profile need not submit a new profile in order to apply for a GIA opportunity.

GIA Applications are open year-round and reviewed regularly on a rolling basis.

Patrick Joram Mugisha (Moogy) is the Co-founder and Managing Partner at Innovent Labs Africa (ILA) Limited, a Ugandan based organization that works to support Africa’s innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem, with major focus on: Innovation and Intellectual Property (IP) Management; Standards and Innovation nexus and Public Scaling of Solutions. If you want to learn more about Patrick, you can see more on his LinkedIn.

Josiah Eyison is the Founder of iSpace Foundation and Chairperson at Ghana Hubs Network, a Ghanaian-based organisation that works to improve supportive frameworks for entrepreneurs and innovation hubs. Josiah has 14 years of experience in the sector and has collaborated with RISA, Comic Relief and Indigo Trust on past projects. Learn more about Josiah on his twitter, @jkeyison.

Dr. Gordon Adomdza (GIA Co-chair) is an Associate Professor at Ashesi University in Ghana, which is focused on educating ethical entrepreneurial leaders for Africa. Gordon provides training in the application of design thinking to innovation and entrepreneurship development at Ashesi, and also for the Ghana Hubs Network, private and public sector organizations, as well as development agencies. If you want to learn more about Gordon, you can see more on their LinkedIn.

Meet a few Global Innovation Advisors

Catalina Escobar is CoFounder and Chief Strategy Officer at MAKAIA, a Colombian-based organization that fosters technology, innovation and partnerships for development. Before founding MAKAIA, she worked at the World Bank. She has more than 22 years of experience in technology, innovation, social impact, and strategy. She is a SXSW Honoree and a WEF Champion in Tech & Social Justice. Learn more about Catalina at her LinkedIn.

Edward Mungai

Kenya
Climate Innovation Hub

Franklin Owusu Karikari

Ghana
Ghana: Office of Pres, National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme

Amma Sefa-Dedeh Lartey

Ghana
CEO of the Ghana National Advisory Board for Impact Investing and Impact Investing Ghana

Will Senyo

Ghana
The Impact Hub

Sudha Srinivasan

India
The Nudge Foundation

Oliver Boachie

Ghana
Advisor to Minister of Science, Tech, Environment & Innovation in Ghana