Offered concurrently in Bangladesh, East and West Africa, India, Colombia, Spain and Malaysia, the Acumen Fellowship is a year-long intensive leadership development program for emerging leaders who are building solutions to tackle problems around poverty and social justice.
From 230 potential applicants, candidates were assessed through a holistic 3-stage application process that included written applications, video submissions and a final selection conference.
42 shortlisted candidates were invited to the Selection Conference on November 29, 2019, where 38 distinguished panelists from diverse sectors assessed the candidates through group activities and in-depth interviews. From there, 23 were finally selected, said a press release.
The 23 fellows represent diverse cultural, geographic and socioeconomic backgrounds and work in multiple sectors with the commitment to end poverty and injustice in their community through their work.
Of the 23, some are social entrepreneurs who have launched or lead their own social change initiatives, some are entrepreneurs who are running a social change initiative within an existing organisation, and some are organisation builders who are an integral part of building a social change organisation. Each of their initiatives exist to eradicate poverty or fight injustice and are actively changing the systems they operate in.
The 2020 cohort of the Acumen Fellowship, the first in Bangladesh, includes:
Achia Khaleda, Managing Director, Women in Digital, Arifa AsAlam, Project Coordinator, Bangladesh Occupational Safety, Health and Environment Foundation (OSHE Foundation), Azwa Nayeem, Founder and Chairperson, Alokito Hridoy, Bishwamitra Chowdhury, Chief of Operation, Funush Private Limited, Esrat Karim, Founder and Director, AMAL Foundation, Farhana Rashid, CEO and Co-founder, Bhumijo Limited, G M Rakibul Islam, Assistant Professor, Department of Educational Administration, Noakhali Science and Technology University,
J N Tawhida Shiropa, Founder and CEO, MonerBondhu, Lipi Rahman, Executive Director, Badabon Shangho, Md. Rubaiyath Sarwar, Managing Director, Innovision Consulting Private Limited, Md. Sekender Ali Mina, Executive Director, Safety and Rights Society, Mohammad Rejaul Karim Siddiquee, Chairperson, Disability Inclusive Justice and Legal Aid Association (DIJLA), Md. Asad-ur-Rahman Nile, Country Director- Bangladesh, Simprints Technology Ltd.
Besides, Muktasree Chakma, Founder and Executive Director, Nasreen Sultana, Founder and Editor, Project Tiktaalik, Nawshin Khair, Managing Director, Aranya Crafts Ltd, NirjhorRahman, CEO, Bangladesh Angels Network, Rakib Avi, Programme Coordinator, Executive Director's Office and Social Innovation Lab, BRAC, Rubayat Khan, CEO, Jeeon, Mehroze Shachi, Research Officer, UNDP, Tanvir Alim, Operations Lead, Oboyob Diversity Circle, Vashkar Bhattacharjee, Program Manager, Young Power in Social Action (YPSA) and National Consultant (Accessibility) a2i, Zareen Mahmud Hosein, Founder and Executive Director, HerStory Foundation.,
Founded in 2001, Acumen has been named one of Fast Company’s Top 10 Most Innovative Not-for-Profit Companies and Acumen Founder and CEO Jacqueline Novogratz was named one of the Forbes 100 Greatest Living Business Minds.