Women-In-WACREN Call for Facilitators

25 Aug 2026, 09:00 → 15 Sept 2026, 23:59 Africa/Accra

Abigail Essel

Facilitator Profile

Women-in-WACREN is seeking volunteer facilitators for the Climate Innovation Lab 2026, scheduled for October 12–15. This four-day intensive program brings together multidisciplinary teams to design and build digital solutions addressing climate challenges across West and Central Africa.

Expertise we need

Facilitators should have hands-on experience in one or more of these areas:

1. Climate & environment — adaptation, mitigation, environmental sustainability, resilience, or related African climate challenges.

2. Digital technologies for climate action — applying AI, data science, GIS, Earth observation, IoT, digital platforms or other emerging tech to climate and environmental problems.

3. Human-centred design — problem definition, user and stakeholder research, needs analysis, translating real-world challenges into solution requirements.

4. Design thinking & ideation — running collaborative ideation, weighing approaches, helping teams sharpen ideas into viable concepts.

5. Testing, documentation & iteration — user testing, interpreting feedback, refining solutions, producing the documentation teams need.

6. Pitching & Adoption — helping teams articulate the problem, the solution, the expected impact,  potential funding, partnerships, prepare a strong demo and what it takes to carry a promising prototype beyond the Lab.

Who we're looking for

• Practical experience in at least one area above, not just familiarity with it.

• Comfortable facilitating and mentoring, not lecturing.

• At ease with multidisciplinary teams spanning different levels of technical skill.

• Skilled at helping teams turn broad challenges into specific, achievable solutions.

• Familiar with African research, education, innovation, climate or technology environments, ideally through direct experience.

• Able to give honest, constructive feedback while leaving teams ownership of their ideas.

• Open to working alongside other facilitators whose strengths complement their own.

Facilitators can come from universities, research institutions, NRENs, innovation hubs, government, industry, civil society or development organisations.

Role during the Lab

Facilitators guide teams through the full arc: climate challenge, problem definition, user needs, ideation, solution design, prototype, testing, demonstration, roadmap.

This is learning by doing. Most of a facilitator's time goes into working directly with teams: asking questions, challenging assumptions, offering specialist input, and helping participants make real progress rather than sitting in on theory.

Selected facilitators may also be invited into the programme's post-Lab Community of Practice and ongoing solution mentorship.

What’s in it for you

• Visibility and Recognition

• Expanded Professional Network

• Leadership Development

• Certificate/Formal Acknowledgment

• Sponsorship for in-person participation at the innovation lab

 

Application Deadline: September 15, 2026
Selection Notification: September 21, 2026

---