innovation: africa

Meet Sivan Yaari Founder & CEO

of Innovation: Africa

Headshot of Sivan Yaari

Sivan Yaari is the founder and CEO of Innovation: Africa, a nonprofit that brings Israeli solar, agricultural, and water technologies to African villages. She was born in Israel, raised in France, and educated in the United States with a degree in Finance from Pace University and a Master's in International Energy Management and Policy from Columbia University. Sivan has been working in Africa for over 20 years and for the past 15 years, has brought clean water and light to more than 4 million people across 10 African countries. Sivan and her organization, Innovation: Africa, have received multiple awards including the Innovation Award from the United Nations. Sivan received the "Light of Israel" Award from the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2022 and has been recognized as one of the most "Inspiring Israelis this Decade" by Grapevine and one of 50 'Most Influential Women in Israel' by Forbes. In 2023, Sivan was chosen to light the torch at Israel’s 75th Independence Day ceremony, one of the highest and most prestigious recognitions in Israel, for her work in Africa in the name of Israel. Sivan lives in Tel Aviv with her husband and their 3 children.

Videos

Sivan Yaari

Lights the torch at Israel's 75th independence ceremony

Innovation: Africa

Energy is Key

i24NEWS

i24NEWS Interview with Sivan Yaari (2020)

AIPAC

Sivan Yaari at AIPAC

TEDx

Africa: Is Good Good Enough?

Sivan Yaari | TEDx TelAviv University

Honors & Awards

2023

SIVAN YAARI PRESENTED AT THE UNITED NATIONS WORLD WATER DAY 2023 CONFERENCE

2023

LIGHT THE TORCH AT ISRAEL'S 75TH INDEPENDENCE DAY CEREMONY.

2022

LIGHT OF ISRAEL AWARD FROM THE ISRAELI MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

2020

MILLION LIVES CLUB

Awarded vanguard membership status for impacting over 1 million lives across Africa

2019

GRAPEVINE

Sivan was recognized as "1 of 8 Israeli women changing the world”

ALGEMEINER

Sivan was recognized as one of “the top 100 people positively influencing Jewish life”

ABBA EBAN INSTITUTE FOR INNOVATIVE DIPLOMACY

Sivan received the "Innovation Diplomacy Award"

2018

SOCIETY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (SID)

ISRAEL AWARD

“Israelis Working to Change Lives in Developing Nations”

2017

NOCAMELS

Sivan was recognized as one of “ top 10 most influential Israelis in business science and culture” by no camel

2016

ISRAEL BONDS WOMEN’S DIVISION

Sivan received the “Circle
of excellent award”