My First Visit: Tip of the Iceberg

I visited South Africa in 2004, hosted by Impumelelo, one of a number of national innovations award programs started by the Ford Foundation. At that time, I helped coordinate this network as part of my work at Harvard’s Kennedy School. The places we visited and the people I met, especially at that historic time in South Africa, was a transformative experience for me. Yet I only touched the tip of the iceberg.

Sub-Saharan Africa is made up of 47 countries, hundreds of languages and ethnicities, varied economies and types of government, and an enormous spectrum of ecosystems. For example, in Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was in prison for many years, I saw penguins –not your stereotypical “African” animal on TV.  Just getting up my own learning curve will be a challenge, albeit one I’m excited about. Fortunately, a number of people in the MF have extensive experience in the Region. I’m looking forward to their help.