Sivan Yaari

Sivan Yaari
סיון יערי
Sivan Yaari in 2016
Born	June 23, 1978
Education	Pace University Columbia University
Title	Founder and CEO of Innovation: Africa

Sivan Yaari(born June 23, 1978) is an Israeli businessperson who founded Innovation: Africa and serves as its Founder & CEO.

Early life and education

Yaari was born in Israel, raised in France^[1][2] and educated in the United States. She received a bachelor's degree in finance from Pace University^[3][4] and a master's degree in international Energy management and policy from Columbia University.^[5]

Innovation: Africa

In 2008, Yaari founded Innovation: Africa^[6] a nonprofit organization that brings innovative Israeli solar, water and agricultural technologies to rural villages throughout Africa.^[7] The organization has completed over 1000^[8] projects in remote villages,^[9] providing electricity and clean water to more than 5 million people^[10] across 10 African countries.^[11][8][12]

Innovation: Africa maintains headquarters in both New York and Herzliya Pituah.^[13]

Recognition

Sivan and her organization, Innovation: Africa, have received multiple awards for their work.

Since 2012, Innovation: Africa has had a special consultative status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).^[14] Thanks to Innovation: Africa's transparent and live monitoring of its projects, it was granted the United Nations Innovation Award.^[15][16]

Yaari received the "Light of Israel Award" from the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs^[17] and has been recognized as one of the most "Inspiring Israeli this Decade" by Grapevine;^[7] one of the “50 Most Influential Women in Israel” by Forbes;^[18] one of the "Top 10 Most Influential Israelis in International Business, science, and Culture” by NoCamels^[13] and one of the “Top 100 People Positively Influencing Jewish Life” by Algemeiner Journal;^[19]

She was selected to light a torch at the celebration of Israel's 75th Independence Day.^[20]

Personal life

Yaari resides in Herzliya with her husband David Yaari (Borowich) and their three children.^[18][21]

References

1. לן, שלומית (May 17, 2010). "באנרגיות חיוביות". Globes (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2020-06-01.
2. "Sivan Borowich-Yaari". Jewish Women's Archive. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
3. "New Perspectives | Influencing circumstances through human connection | Spotlight: Sivan Yaari '02". Pace University Alumni Network. Winter 2020. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
4. שני, איילת (September 20, 2018). "ראיתי אנשים שדוקרים את הפרות בשביל לשתות את הדם". הארץ (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2020-06-01.
5. "Israel70 | Innovation: Africa". Fathom Journal. July 2018. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
6. Shoenthal, Amy (25 April 2023). "These Founders Are Optimistic About Tackling The Climate Crisis". Forbes. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
7. Fraze, Jaime (November 26, 2019). "Inspiring Israelis we met this decade". From the Grapevine. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
8. "How One Woman Is Changing The Way Africa Gets Water And Ways You Can Get Involved". issuu. Retrieved 2023-11-02.
9. Klein Leichman, Abigail (April 7, 2020). "Israeli tech helps African villages protect against corona". ISRAEL21c. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
10. Surkes, Sue. "Three clean water startups win contest to pilot their technology in Africa". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 2023-11-02.
11. Mhone, Macmillan (11 January 2023). "Solar power ends long walks in search of water for villagers in Mangochi". malawi24. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
12. "Innovation: Africa marks milestone of impacting 5 million lives". June 17, 2024.
13. Shemer, Simona (December 28, 2017). "Meet The Top 10 Most Influential Israelis In International Business, Science, and Culture in 2017". NoCamels. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
14. Udasin, Sharon (August 5, 2012). "Jewish Heart for Africa receives UN recognition". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
15. Shamah, David (December 2, 2013). "Lighting up Africa with Israeli technology". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
16. Appiah, Sandra (November 7, 2013). "Innovation: Africa Recieves [sic] UN Award for Using Israeli technologies". Face2face Africa. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
17. "Light of Israel ceremony held at the MFA". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Israel). 1 December 2021. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
18. Heilman, Uriel (September 4, 2019). "Sivan Yaari on Bringing Israeli Innovation to Rural Africa". Hadassah Magazine. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
19. "The Top 100 People Positively Influencing Jewish Life, 2019". The Algemeiner. September 26, 2019. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
20. "Basketball coach Blatt, ex-general Kahalani tapped to light Independence Day torches". The Times of Israel. 17 April 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
21. Herling, Tzufit (September 7, 2017). "The entrepreneur that brought electricity and water to Africa". Forbes Israel. Retrieved 2020-06-01.