Impact Sourcing Chapter UK&I

Avasant awarded the 2023 Global Impact Sourcing Award for Continuous Excellence by the IAOP

The Avasant Foundation (AF), designed to empower youth in developing countries through education, employment, and entrepreneurship, is proud to once again receive the Global Impact Sourcing Award granted by the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals (IAOP), in partnership with the Rockefeller Foundation. The 2023 Global Impact Sourcing Award recognizes organizations who have intentionally provided career development opportunities to individuals with limited prospects for employment.

“We are deeply honored to receive the 2023 Global Impact Sourcing Award for Continuous Excellence in Impact Sourcing. This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team working towards creating a positive social impact through our initiatives. It is our hope that this award inspires others in the industry to embrace impact sourcing to drive positive change,” said Avasant Foundation’s Executive Director, Chitra Rajeshwari.

The IAOP evaluates recipients of the award based on how an organization is creating job opportunities in underdeveloped areas and its continuous efforts to ensure success for the communities through training and upskilling programs. Examples of impact sourcing include job creation in emerging markets or underserved countries, hiring and training individuals with few sustainable employment prospects, hiring people with disabilities, expanding female employment in areas with a disproportionately high level of female unemployment, creating job opportunities with a positive impact in the community, paid training and upskilling programs, and employment opportunities for refugees.

“Avasant, through the Avasant Foundation, is committed to youth empowerment in under developing and emerging economies. The Foundation continues to work to provide employment opportunities through skills development training programs, with special focus on supporting local efforts towards innovation, education, and entrepreneurship” said Kevin S. Parikh, Avasant Foundation Chairman and CEO.

AF has actively committed to Impact Sourcing since 2008, leveraging its experience in the Digital Economy to bring opportunities for youths to find employment success in underserved communities. In 2011, AF partnered with the Rockefeller Foundation to fund and expand Impact Sourcing initiatives, particularly in Africa. From 2015-2016, the partnership created jobs for over 1300 disadvantaged youths through the Digital Jobs Africa (DJA) Initiative. Since then, AF has only strengthened its commitment to job creation in Africa, working to build off the success of training pilots for a Digital Youth Employment Initiative in South Africa and a “TechnoSpark” training for ICT innovation in Uganda through AF’s iGNITE entrepreneurship program.

In addition, Avasant Foundation became a founding member of the SDG Philanthropy Platform, founded by Rockefeller Philanthropic Advisors in 2014. AF also partnered with the American Indian Foundation to provide over 13,000 students with access to technology to address the 70% of Indian public schools lacking basic computing technology. The initiative also helped train over 200 teachers in interactive methods for incorporating technology into classroom instruction. Computer literacy is an essential, and life-changing skill for students to find success within the classroom and throughout their careers.

Meanwhile, AF has expanded its reach to Latin America and the Carribean, creating over 12,000 jobs in the past five years through a combination of ICT service companies, economic development efforts with the Inter-American Development Bank, sector strategies, the creation of ICT centers of excellence, and training in the Digital Youth Employment Program. AF’s upskilling programs across Latin America and the Carribean educate youths both in-person and online in essential training and field experience for success in the globalized digital economy. In addition, AF and Avasant’s Global Strategy Team have established a hub in Trinidad & Tobago where they continuously work on job creation in the LAC region.

“We are committed to continuing our efforts to make a meaningful impact in the regions and communities in which we work, and we thank IAOP and the Global Impact Sourcing Award committee for this recognition,” said Chitra Rajeshwari, Avasant Foundation’s Executive Director.

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