Acumen's India Fellows Program - inviting applications for its inaugural class

Acumen, a nonprofit global venture firm addressing poverty across Africa and in South Asia, is inviting participants for Acumen’s India Fellows Program. Acumen’s India Fellows Program is a year-long program and has been launched with the support of Dr Reddy’s Foundation and will be run by AF Trust in India. The fellowship focuses on developing the next generation of social change leaders who are driving innovation and alleviating poverty across India, and mirrors existing programs Acumen has in East Africa and Pakistan.

Since 2001, Acumen has invested more than $83 million in 73 companies across South Asia and Africa out of which $30 million USD has been invested in India. Sachin Rudra, Acumen India Director shares, “India is one of the world’s most rapidly developing economies, where dozens of people are accumulating wealth by the billions, and yet over 90% of our people still live on less than $4 a day. We need a new kind of leader who will stand with the poor and help create a more equal and just society for India.”

Acumen will select 20 individuals from the region who are actively driving social change initiatives in the communities in which they live, to participate in the program. Acumen Fellows from other geographies are working on projects ranging from renewable energy, to community activism, to youth entrepreneurship training programs. Through this program, Acumen hopes to build a cohort of Fellows in India that represents the true diversity of the country.

The year-long program is comprised of four multiday seminars and two collaborative projects – a learning trip and an innovation conference. The seminars give Fellows access to world-class speakers, trainers, and mentors who allow Fellows to deepen their skills in leadership, social change, and innovation.The Fellows also have the opportunity to travel across India to broaden their understanding of social change models. Fellows then directly apply learnings from the fellowship to the work they are doing as social entrepreneurs and leaders within the government, NGO, social enterprise, and government sectors.

After launching their first Regional Fellows Program in East Africa in 2011, Acumen has since opened another program in Pakistan last year, and the India Fellows Program will be its third. Acumen intends to launch the fourth Regional Fellows Programs in West Africa in the coming years. India Fellows Program is about more than just training individuals to bring about change in their communities. The program’s ultimate goal is to develop a cohort of moral leaders who will set a different example for a new kind of leadership for India.

The last date for applications is September 23rd.

Visit here for more information and to apply for Acumen’s Regional Fellows Programs