SOCIAL INNOVATION
ECOSYSTEM TO SELF-RELIANCE

I Pour Life Ethiopia provides a creative collaboration framework to solve some of the biggest challenges the community of Kore faces.

The Social Innovation Ecosystem is a dynamic new model between people within the community that improves relationships, capabilities, and use of resources through talk, trust, collaboration, experiment, and interconnected growth. The Social Innovation Ecosystem designed by I Pour Life Ethiopia includes sophisticated program integration and leadership development, while key representatives from the community work together to problem solve for the future.

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Exchanging ideas and values through collaborative support from government agencies, NGO’s, and community.

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Social Innovation training to stakeholders in selected locations and building the infrastructure of social circles, councils, and hubs. This allows a shift in roles and relationships.

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Innovation Process of ideation, design, delivery, and review, as well the integration of private capital, with public and philanthropic support.

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Exchanging ideas and values through collaborative support from government agencies, NGO’s, and community.



Social Innovation training to stakeholders in selected locations and building the infrastructure of social circles, councils, and hubs. This allows a shift in roles and relationships.



Innovation Process of ideation, design, delivery, and review, as well the integration of private capital, with public and philanthropic support.

SOCIAL INNOVATION CIRCLES

Innovation Circles are gatherings of 5 to 6 individuals who meet and work together regularly, to innovate solutions to solve complex social problems in the country. Positive outcomes from an I Pour Life Ethiopia social innovation circle:

Members will generate ideas and choose the best option to solve complex problems.
If they have the capacity to design a prototype, they will do it; if not they will pass it to the concerned experts.
Members will follow the delivery of the prototype and review and roll out to other regions.
Members begin training new leaders and members on social innovation.
Corporate problem-solving through individuals who live in the community.

SOCIAL INNOVATION HUB

Social Innovation hub is a sharepoint and creative space where all the innovations are received and shared with the appropriate sectors for executing and addressing local social issues. Quality connections and communications must occur between the government and other actors to improve the systems. New meaningful communications among all stakeholders, such as NGOs, religious institutions, and the community will be created. Innovation hubs will also be an important link for all system actors.

Implementation of Social Innovation initiative will take place in two sub-cities located in Addis Ababa and one sub-city located in Bishoftu, Debre Zeit, totaling 10 woredas (neighborhoods).

SOCIAL INNOVATION CIRCLES

Innovation Circles are gatherings of 5 to 6 individuals who meet and work together regularly, to innovate solutions to solve complex social problems in the country. Positive outcomes from an I Pour Life Ethiopia social innovation circle:

Members will generate ideas and choose the best option to solve complex problems.
If they have the capacity to design a prototype, they will do it; if not they will pass it to the concerned experts.
Members will follow the delivery of the prototype and review and roll out to other regions.
Members begin training new leaders and members on social innovation.
Corporate problem-solving through individuals who live in the community.

SOCIAL INNOVATION HUB

Social Innovation hub is a sharepoint and creative space where all the innovations are received and shared with the appropriate sectors for executing and addressing local social issues. Quality connections and communications must occur between the government and other actors to improve the systems. New meaningful communications among all stakeholders, such as NGOs, religious institutions, and the community will be created. Innovation hubs will also be an important link for all system actors.

Implementation of Social Innovation initiative will take place in two sub-cities located in Addis Ababa and one sub-city located in Bishoftu, Debre Zeit, totaling 10 woredas (neighborhoods).

SOCIAL INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM (SIE) TRAINING

Most of the stakeholders in Ethiopia, from both public and private sectors, do not fully realize the transformational potential that will occur from forming a Social Innovation Ecosystem. The development strategy will allow nationals to solve the unmet social needs of the country from a systematic approach. Currently, IPL-Ethiopia has started the SIE training for the stakeholders in the sub-city of Kolfe Keranyo in Addis Ababa and it will be expanded to Debre Zeit town.

I Pour Life Ethiopia’s unique approach involves evidence-based curriculum and on-going training in four primary categories, ensuring a roadmap to self-sufficiency for all individuals:

Education Innovation Ecosystem

I Pour Life Ethiopia has a full-time staff that boasts more than 30 years of experience in Ethiopia and East Africa establishing successful schools and providing teacher training services for elementary and secondary school, as well as programs for “Out of School Children”.

Ethiopia has the second largest “out of school” population in Africa, meaning they are school-aged children who are not currently enrolled or receiving an education. I Pour Life Ethiopia will facilitate an ‘Accelerated Learning Program’ to address this challenge, leveraging the local stakeholders such as district education officials, parents, and facilitators to support the program. Within two years, I Pour Life Ethiopia we will be able to bring more than 80% of the out of school children back to school.

Youth Development

Youth is the fastest-growing population in Ethiopia, yet an estimated 27% of youth are unemployed and unprepared to become self-sufficient adults. I Pour Life Ethiopia has devised an innovative approach for the development of at-risk youth in the country. This approach follows a triad training model covering Education, Employable Skills, and Employment. In order to provide ongoing coaching, I Pour Life Ethiopia first provides training to of all the stakeholders, enabling the team to network and implement sub-programs successfully. Then the program focuses on LifeCoaching at-risk youth, including volunteering in the community to empower youth to listen to and respond to community needs.

Community-based Early Childhood Development System (ECD)

I Pour Life Ethiopia is providing effective Early Childhood Development for half-orphans and vulnerable children in the Kore area. Childcare workers in IPL-E as well as in Kore schools (kindergartens) are trained in different techniques to foster the Physical, Cognitive, Social, and Emotional, and Communication skills of the children. The caregivers are instructed and trained on how to organize different activity centers in their ECD centers.

Women Empowerment Training

I Pour Life Ethiopia provides empowerment to the destitute women in Kore through multiple training modules, equipping them with the knowledge, resources, and support to be self-reliant. On average, 100 women complete the Women Empowerment training annually, catalyzing a ripple of growth and sustainability for the community as a whole. Each woman receives training in the following areas: Entrepreneurship, Health & Hygiene, Financial Literacy, and Life Skills Training.

I Pour Life Ethiopia Social Innovation Partners:

STORIES OF CHANGE

Meet Alemitu: A Story of Success

by ipourlife | November 18, 2019 | General, I Pour Life Ethiopia, LifeStrengths, Women's Empowerment | 0 Comments

When Alemitu first came to I Pour Life, she was one of the most poverty-stricken women we’ve ever met. She was extremely depressed and discouraged, telling us, “I have no one...

Masrash: From Addiction to Independence

by ipourlife | November 14, 2019 | General, I Pour Life Ethiopia, LifeStrengths | 0 Comments

"Addiction, laziness and unhealthy relationships defined who I was for many years. I didn’t pass my last year of school so I was at a loss of what to do. I didn’t have the desire...

Destitute Women Improve Financing Models for an Entire Community

by ipourlife | October 24, 2019 | General, I Pour Life Ethiopia, Orphan Care, Women's Empowerment | 0 Comments

I Pour Life Ethiopia has been assisting the destitute women and at-risk youth of the Kore community of Addis Ababa since 2014. Following system thinking and social...