Using Israeli innovations in solar technology, Sivan Borowich-Ya’ari created Innovation: Africa to bring more reliable electricity to developing communities throughout Africa. Born in Israel and raised in France, Borowich had early connections to Africa through her parents’ origins in North Africa. She earned a degree in finance from Pace University and began working for a multinational clothing company in 1999, verifying compliance in their African manufacturing facilities. Witnessing the widespread poverty there, she began studying international and public affairs at Columbia University, interning for a year with the UN Development Program in Africa. In 2008 she earned her master’s degree in international energy management from Columbia and founded Innovation: Africa, which uses Israeli solar technology to bring electricity and solar-powered water pumps to impoverished African villages. The technologies also support successful schools and enable health clinics to refrigerate needed medicines and provide 24-hour care. As of 2015, Innovation: Africa has completed over 100 agricultural and solar installation projects in remote villages throughout Uganda, Malawi, Ethiopia, Senegal, and other African countries.

Sivan Borowich-Ya’ari is a grantee of the Jewish Women’s Fund of New York (JWFNY), and is featured as part of a partnership between JWA and JWFNY spotlighting Jewish women social entrepreneurs.