Sustainable Innovation Across Two Continents

In partnership with UNIDO, I managed the design and execution of five sustainable innovation programs spanning Africa, Latin America, and Europe. This included developing program content, crafting a strict time schedule, and ensuring seamless execution under a tight five-month timeline. By incorporating local mentors and culturally relevant strategies, the programs empowered participants to develop impactful, community-driven business solutions.

Program Manager: Designed the program structure, content, and schedule, ensuring alignment with sustainability goals and participant needs.

Participant Recruiter: Conducted tailored recruitment calls using diverse messenger tools (WhatsApp, Signal, SMS) to assess motivation and availability.

Mentor Coordinator: Identified and onboarded local mentors in each country, providing participants with culturally relevant guidance.

Facilitator and Mentor: Led bilingual workshops (English and Spanish) and provided personalized mentoring to ensure participant progress and engagement.

Support Lead: Maintained regular contact with participants through all available channels, offering guidance and ensuring deliverables were met.

Challenge: Only five months to execute the program, from January to April, with a strict deadline.

Solution: Designed a comprehensive project schedule with clear milestones and deliverables, ensuring timely execution without delays.

Challenge: Reaching and assessing participants across regions required managing multiple messenger platforms.

Solution: Adapted recruitment to use WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, SMS, and calls, ensuring high accessibility and checking participant readiness.

Challenge: Participants required culturally relevant guidance from local mentors familiar with their regions’ challenges.

Solution: Recruited and onboarded mentors for each country, integrating their expertise into the program for personalized support.

Challenge: Managing sessions across multiple time zones led to attendance issues.

Solution: Proactively addressed time zone confusion, joining calls early to confirm participant attendance and minimize scheduling disruptions.

Challenge: Poor internet connectivity in some regions ruled out advanced collaboration tools.

Solution: Designed the program using Google Sheets, Docs, and Slides, creating pre-filled templates to ensure ease of use.

On-Time Delivery: Successfully completed all five programs within the fixed timeline, meeting UNIDO’s April deadline.

Participant Success: 100% of participants (50 individuals) developed actionable business models addressing local challenges in agriculture, waste, and energy.

Cultural Relevance: Local mentors provided region-specific insights, ensuring participants received guidance tailored to their unique contexts.

Engagement and Support: Achieved a 90% workshop attendance rate, with personalized mentoring ensuring consistent progress.

Cross-Border Impact: Fostered sustainable innovation across three continents, connecting participants with tailored resources and support.

This project demonstrates how adaptive management, culturally relevant mentorship, and precise planning can deliver high-impact innovation programs under strict constraints, creating meaningful outcomes for diverse global communities.