Invisible Experts | Episode #22 | Koffi Assouan: Tech, Trust & Scaling Youth Innovation in Africa

What happens when data, dignity, and faith come together to serve people living on the margins? In this deeply moving episode of The Invisible Experts Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Tina Facca-Miess—a business professor, marketing expert, and social justice advocate—whose work bridges the worlds of academia, spirituality, and global impact.Tina left a successful corporate marketing career to pursue a calling grounded in Catholic Social Teaching, ethics, and a desire to create regenerative ecosystems for displaced communities. As a leading voice in the Refugee and Migrant Education Network and faculty contributor to Jesuit Worldwide Learning, she supports learners in refugee camps and underserved regions across Uganda, Chad, Pakistan, and Central America. Through her Integrative Justice Model (IJM), Tina brings a unique lens to measuring social impact—not just in terms of numbers served, but in the depth of transformation, trust, and restored dignity. Her work redefines how education, economics, and accompaniment can intersect to empower long-term resilience and agency among refugees and migrants. We explore how global education systems can be radically more inclusive, ethical, and spiritually grounded—and why we must reject charity mindsets in favour of mutual respect and co-creation. Tina also reflects on what she’s learned from her students, colleagues, and faith journey—from refugee camps to classrooms in Cleveland. This episode is essential for anyone working in impact measurement, ethical leadership, education, or cross-cultural partnerships, and a powerful reminder that transformation begins with shared values, not just strategy.Key Topics Covered:✅ From marketing executive to values-driven educator✅ The Integrative Justice Model (IJM) and how it measures ethical impact✅ Refugee education beyond charity—toward justice and regeneration✅ Catholic Social Teaching in action: dignity, solidarity, and accompaniment✅ What we misunderstand about migrants and refugees✅ Building regenerative ecosystems in refugee communities✅ Transformative metrics vs. transactional outputs✅ Training the next generation of purpose-driven leaders✅ Faith, humility, and co-creating hope through education📌 How do you define meaningful impact? Can business, education, and spirituality truly align to serve justice? Join the discussion in the comments. Guest:Tina Facca-Miess:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-facca-miess-phd-8785998/Jhon Carroll University:  https://www.jcu.edu/profile/tina-facca-miess Host:Andrés Morales:LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/drandresmoralespachonMinca Ventures: https://mincaventures.com🔔 Subscribe to The Invisible Experts Podcast for more powerful stories on impact, justice, and values-driven change.

What happens when a whole sector built on care, solidarity, and global aid faces its biggest funding crisis in decades? In this deeply timely episode of The Invisible Experts Podcast, we speak with Kelsi Kriitmaa, global health expert, coach, and founder of a coaching practice tailored to social impact professionals. Kelsi brings over 20 years of experience in humanitarian aid, UN agencies, philanthropy, and social impact consulting. Now, as a certified coach, she helps changemakers and organisations navigate burnout, transitions, and systems collapse—with clarity, courage, and strategy. This episode is a survival map and a call to action. We dive into what the massive USAID and donor funding cuts mean for NGOs, foundations, and frontline workers. We talk about mental health, identity loss, and burnout in the social sector. And we explore how coaching can be a lifeline—offering space to reflect, refocus, and reinvent purpose during times of collapse. From organisational strategy to individual resilience, from motherhood to Mogadishu, Kelsi shares lessons from across the globe on trust, innovation, leadership, and what truly matters when everything is on the line.Key Topics Covered✅ Burnout & Identity in the Social Sector – Why tying your worth to your job can be dangerous✅ USAID Cuts & Systemic Shock – What the funding collapse means for individuals and institutions✅ Coaching as a Crisis Tool – Creating space for clarity, purpose, and courageous pivots✅ Rebuilding Trust & Psychological Safety – A new model for leadership through uncertainty✅ Career Reset Framework – A 10-step tool for job seekers and purpose seekers in transition✅ Participatory Funding Models – How to redistribute power and funding back to communities✅ Women, Parenthood & Leadership – Rejecting the myth that you can “have it all”✅ What the Global South Needs Now – Moving from dependency to empowerment✅ Philanthropy & the Future of Funding – Trust-based models and the limits of donor narrativesKelsi’s voice is one of empathy, clarity, and pragmatism. Whether you're facing organisational uncertainty or personal exhaustion, this episode will help you breathe, reset, and reimagine.📌 Have you or your organisation been affected by recent funding cuts? What changes are you seeing in the sector? Let us know in the comments. Guest:Kelsi Kriitmaa:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kriitmaa/?originalSubdomain=chCoaching and Consultancy: https://www.kriitmaa.com Host:Andrés Morales:LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/drandresmoralespachonMinca Ventures: https://mincaventures.com🔔 Subscribe to The Invisible Experts Podcast for more deep conversations on resilience, equity, and reimagining impact.

How do language, technology, and cultural identity shape learning? In this thoughtful and globally relevant episode of The Invisible Experts Podcast, we speak with Hannah Simmons, an education specialist working at the intersection of early childhood development, language equity, and educational technology in East Africa. Hannah shares her powerful personal journey—from studying African languages and cultures in the UK to immersing herself in Tanzanian communities and joining Ubongo, the continent’s leading Afrocentric edutainment platform. With reach across 23 countries and over 35 million children, Ubongo is changing the way African children learn through stories, songs, cartoons, and mobile-first learning tools that reflect their real lives. Drawing on both academic and practical experience, Hannah opens up about the importance of mother tongue learning, the role of culturally responsive pedagogy in building confidence, and why education systems must prioritise empathy, play, and relevance. We also explore the tension between public and private education, digital inclusion, and how to bridge early learning gaps through media and storytelling. This episode is essential listening for educators, EdTech designers, early childhood advocates, and anyone passionate about equitable, localised, and joyful learning experiences.Key Topics Covered:✅ The Power of Language in Learning – How Swahili and mother tongue instruction impact literacy and confidence✅ Afrocentric Educational Content – Designing learning materials that reflect African values, stories, and contexts✅ Child-Centred EdTech – Using multimedia to support cognitive development and social-emotional learning✅ Barriers to Learning in Tanzania – The reality of public vs. private systems, infrastructure gaps, and inequality✅ Early Childhood Development – Why learning environments before age 5 are make-or-break for long-term success✅ Ubongo’s Impact Across Africa – Reaching children in 23+ countries through radio, TV, apps, and offline kits✅ Inclusive Design for Diverse Learners – Prioritising accessibility, neurodivergence, and local cultural norms✅ What Global Education Can Learn from Africa – Decolonising education through empathy and community-grounded solutions Hannah also shares what she’s learned about unlearning Western-centric assumptions in education, the importance of humility in cross-cultural work, and her vision for a more equitable, joyful, and inclusive global learning future.📌 How does language shape learning in your context? What does equity in early education look like where you live? Join the conversation in the comments.  Guest:Hannah Simmons:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-simmons92/EdTech Hub: http://edtechhub.org/ Host:Andrés Morales:LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/drandresmoralespachonMinca Ventures: https://mincaventures.com 🔔 Subscribe to The Invisible Experts Podcast for more powerful conversations on education, equity, and systems change.

Can a 12-year-old really change how we think about waste, entrepreneurship, and community action? In this powerful episode of The Invisible Experts Podcast, we meet Joseph Wijaya—known locally as Joseph Recycling—a young environmental activist and entrepreneur from Bali who's turning plastic waste into products with purpose. Joseph began his recycling journey during the COVID-19 pandemic, collecting trash with local friends to make pocket money. What started as a childhood game quickly evolved into a community clean-up movement—and eventually a business. Today, Joseph runs his own plastic sorting and upcycling workshop, creating products like sunglasses, carabiners, and coasters from discarded materials. But Joseph’s mission goes far beyond products. In this heartfelt conversation, he talks about plastic pollution in Bali, the barriers young people face accessing education, how he sources materials from neighbours and schools, and how he even called out Nestlé at a global summit for their misleading environmental claims.From crowdfunding campaigns to Sunday market sales, Joseph shows us what’s possible when youth are trusted, supported, and given space to lead.Key Topics Covered:✅ Starting a Recycling Business at 10 Years Old – How a community clean-up became a social enterprise✅ Plastic Pollution in Bali – A young local's view of a global environmental crisis✅ Upcycling for Impact – Turning shampoo bottles and plastic waste into useful products✅ Access to Education & Inequality – Why birth certificates and poverty keep kids out of school✅ Facing Global Corporations – Calling out greenwashing and standing up for the truth at Nestlé HQ✅ Youth Leadership & Advocacy – Why Joseph wants to join government to push for real change✅ Daily Life as a Kid-Entrepreneur – Homeschooling, managing a workshop, and mentoring others✅ Advice for Young Changemakers – Start small, learn step-by-step, and never stop asking questionsJoseph reminds us that age is not a limitation, and that real transformation starts with courage, curiosity, and care for others and the planet.📌 Do you think kids can lead the way in solving environmental problems? Would you support youth-led businesses like Joseph’s? Share your thoughts in the comments! Guests:Joseph Wijaya:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joseph_recycling/?hl=enGofundme: https://www.gofundme.com/f/Help-Joseph-stop-plastic-from-going-to-landfill?attribution_id=sl:496c5d32-5663-47bc-b012-b0b71793b89d&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer Host: Andrés Morales:LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/drandresmoralespachonMinca Ventures: https://mincaventures.com 🔔 Subscribe to The Invisible Experts Podcast for more inspiring stories of social innovation, sustainability, and youth-led change.

What if the answer to our growing energy crisis has been all around us—literally—in the oceans? In this groundbreaking episode of The Invisible Experts Podcast, Andrew Karim, inventor and founder of Active Kinetic One, shares his powerful vision of a clean energy future rooted in ocean motion, magnetic science, and radical innovation. With a background in tech giants like Microsoft and British Telecom, Andrew’s journey into clean energy started with a simple observation while working at Eurostar: if we’re measuring carbon footprints, there must be a problem worth solving. During the pandemic, Andrew used the time to reflect, research, and develop Active Kinetic One, a wave-powered, non-rotary clean energy technology designed to be durable, decentralised, and deployable at any scale—from oceanic installations to wearables.In this conversation, we explore why traditional renewable energy solutions (like solar and wind) may not be enough to meet the planet’s rising demand—especially with the rapid growth of artificial intelligence, smart technologies, and climate volatility. Andrew breaks down the energy gap in AI, how centralised grids leave us vulnerable, and why motion-powered energy systems could unlock a more resilient future for both humans and machines. We also dive into the ethics of innovation: the ecological consequences of land use, the false promises of nuclear energy, the limits of battery storage, and the urgent need to design technologies with longevity, accessibility, and justice in mind.From educating the public through the Active Magnetic Cradle, to prototyping ocean-powered energy hubs in Spain, Andrew shows us what’s possible when we combine creativity, sustainability, and science grounded in purpose.Key Topics Covered:✅ Why Traditional Renewables Aren’t Enough – Intermittency, battery waste, and limited scalability✅ Ocean Energy as a Game-Changer – Harnessing untapped kinetic energy to create decentralised clean power✅ Energy for AI Evolution – Why AI needs consistent power sources to function, adapt, and serve society✅ The Active Magnetic Cradle – A public education tool demonstrating clean kinetic energy using magnetism✅ Redefining Infrastructure – Modular, recyclable, and non-intrusive energy systems made from ocean plastic✅ Environmental & Social Justice – How fossil fuel dependency harms indigenous communities and ecosystems✅ Rethinking Nuclear Energy – The hidden environmental costs and impracticality of widespread nuclear expansion✅ A Vision for the Future – Tech that co-evolves with humans and AI while protecting the planet for generations📌 Do we need to rethink everything we know about clean energy? Is it time to design power systems that evolve with both nature and machines? Let us know your thoughts in the comments! Guests:Andrew Karim:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seosearch/Company: https://ak1.co Host: Andrés Morales:LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/drandresmoralespachonMinca Ventures: https://mincaventures.com  🔔 Subscribe to The Invisible Experts Podcast for more deep-dive conversations on sustainability, systems innovation, and radical futures.

What do the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) mean beyond the UN reports and colourful icons? Are they truly transforming the world—or simply reinforcing old systems with new language? In this powerful episode of The Invisible Experts Podcast, Dr. Andrés Morales brings together two leading thinkers from different worlds to unpack this critical question: Paola Raffaelli, a scholar of cooperatives and sustainable economics, and Yash Ranga, an impact strategist and practitioner at Pixera Global with deep experience in inclusive business and global partnerships. Together, they explore the tensions, contradictions, and possibilities of the SDGs—especially in a world facing rising inequality, ecological breakdown, and widespread disillusionment with top-down solutions. The conversation touches on the disconnect between global sustainability agendas and the lived realities of small enterprises, particularly in the Global South, and invites us to rethink how we measure progress, value growth, and define “development.” Yash calls for reclaiming the power of business as an agent of transformation, but urges a shift toward human-centred models, solidarity, and cross-sector innovation. Paola reminds us that cooperatives have long embodied many of the values the SDGs now champion, and argues that the real challenge lies in changing the system itself—slowing down, localising economies, and prioritising dignity over GDP. They also take on difficult topics—including misinformation, conspiracy theories about the SDGs, and the ideological framing of sustainability that divides businesses and social movements. The episode closes with a hopeful call to make cooperatives attractive to a new generation, reimagine partnerships, and invest in inner and systemic transformation.Key Topics Covered:✅ Are the SDGs Enough? – Aspirational vision or operational roadmap?✅ Cooperatives as Pioneers – Why SDG-aligned principles have been lived by co-ops for centuries.✅ Growth vs. Sustainability – The tension between economic expansion and ecological limits.✅ Funding, Inequality & Local Survival – Why small cooperatives and SMEs are left behind.✅ Making Cooperatives Appealing to Youth – How to change narratives and career pathways.✅ Cross-Sector Collaboration & Social Procurement – Practical ways to accelerate SDG implementation.✅ Decolonising Development – Rethinking who defines success and how change is measured.✅ Misinformation & Ideology – How polarisation affects public perception of sustainability.✅ Transformation as Inner Work – Why system change starts with mindset and worldview.📌 Are the SDGs still a relevant framework? Can business, cooperatives, and civil society collaborate for real change? Let us know what you think in the comments! Guests:Paola Raffaelli: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paola-raffaelli-30797999/Company: https://iqs.edu/es/iqs/equipo-humano/dra-paola-andrea-raffaelli/ Yash Ranga:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yashranga/Company: http://www.pyxeraglobal.org/ Host: Andrés Morales:LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/drandresmoralespachonMinca Ventures: https://mincaventures.com 🔔 Subscribe to The Invisible Experts Podcast for more rich, critical, and hopeful conversations on sustainability, social transformation, and future economies.

What happens when we stop viewing Africa as a place of problems and start investing in its potential? In this insightful episode of The Invisible Experts Podcast, we speak with Koffi Assouan, a leading voice in youth innovation, digital transformation, and inclusive development across the African continent. With decades of experience working with organisations like The Mastercard Foundation, The Global Fund for Children, and UNCDF, Koffi shares a clear-eyed view of the challenges and untapped opportunities in Africa’s development landscape. He discusses why investing in youth leadership, trust-based philanthropy, and community-rooted solutions is key to building long-term impact. Koffi reflects on his own journey—from Côte d’Ivoire to the UK and into international development—and speaks candidly about the tensions between top-down donor agendas and grassroots innovation. His insights challenge the status quo, calling for less bureaucracy, more trust, and systems that truly serve people on the ground.This episode is essential for anyone interested in youth development, African innovation, and systems-level change in philanthropy and international cooperation.Key Topics Covered:✅ Shifting the Narrative on Africa – Why development work must centre assets, not deficits.✅ Youth Innovation & Entrepreneurship – How to support young African changemakers beyond tokenism.✅ The Problem with Rigid Donor Models – Why top-down funding often fails and how to create space for local solutions.✅ Trust-Based Philanthropy – Letting go of control and building real partnerships with local actors.✅ The Role of Technology – How digital tools can amplify impact without replicating inequality.✅ Power, Access & Representation – Challenging extractive funding practices and rethinking who gets to define success.✅ Pan-Africanism & Identity – How values of solidarity and legacy shape Koffi’s approach to impact. Koffi also shares personal reflections on fatherhood, returning to the continent, and the importance of making space for joy, love, and play in movements for change.📌 Are we investing in the right systems to support youth in Africa? What would trust-based development look like to you? Leave a comment and join the conversation.🔔 Subscribe to The Invisible Experts Podcast for more deep-dive conversations on social innovation, equity, and transformative leadership.

What does it really take to build an ecosystem where social impact thrives? In this heartfelt and insightful episode of The Invisible Experts Podcast, we’re joined by Jessica Oyarbide, co-founder of Ekhos, a platform dedicated to strengthening social impact ecosystems across Latin America and Europe. Drawing on her background in political science, sustainability, and facilitation, Jess shares her journey from Argentina to Spain and into the world of collaborative, trust-based ecosystem building. She reflects on the need to move away from extractive, short-term models of change toward feminist, plural, and community-driven approaches that prioritise care, listening, and deep transformation. As a practitioner who works behind the scenes—connecting people, holding space, and making the invisible visible—Jess challenges us to rethink how we support changemakers, especially women and marginalised voices, in the impact space. This episode offers an intimate look at the personal, political, and practical layers of building systems that work for people and the planet.Key Topics Covered:✅ What Is an Impact Ecosystem? – Understanding systems change beyond silos, sectors, and buzzwords.✅ The Feminist Approach to Impact Work – Moving at the pace of trust, care, and co-creation.✅ LatAm & Europe: Learning Across Contexts – What Latin America can teach Europe about solidarity and resilience.✅ Power, Privilege & Positionality – The importance of humility, deep listening, and recognising your role in the system.✅ The Role of Facilitators in Change – Why holding space is a radical act in ecosystem work.✅ Rethinking Leadership – Collective impact starts with shifting away from ego and toward distributed, collaborative models. Jess also opens up about the uncertainties and fears that come with starting something new, and how to embrace them as part of the process of building ecosystems rooted in care, trust, and shared purpose. Guest:Jessica Oyarbide:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicaoyarbide/Company: http://ekhos.org/ Host: Andrés Morales:LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/drandresmoralespachonMinca Ventures: https://mincaventures.com 📌 What kind of ecosystem do you want to be part of? Should we prioritise pace or care in our social impact work? Share your reflections in the comments.🔔 Subscribe to The Invisible Experts Podcast for more powerful conversations on sustainability, justice, and systems change.

🎧 En este nuevo episodio en español de Expertos Invisibles, Sara Calvo conversa con Pablo Gómez Romero, experto en emprendimiento rural, desarrollo territorial y sostenibilidad. Con una trayectoria dedicada al fortalecimiento de comunidades rurales, Pablo ha impulsado ecosistemas de emprendimiento en territorios muchas veces olvidados por las grandes narrativas urbanas. 🌾🛤️ A lo largo del episodio, exploramos cómo el emprendimiento rural se convierte en una herramienta poderosa para la justicia social, la reactivación económica y la sostenibilidad ambiental. Hablamos sobre:• Modelos de negocio rurales con propósito y arraigo territorial.• Innovación social desde y para las comunidades.• Alianzas colaborativas que fortalecen el tejido rural.• Los retos estructurales que enfrentan las personas emprendedoras en el campo.🌍 Reflexionamos sobre la necesidad de visibilizar estos territorios y cómo el enfoque rural puede ofrecernos claves para un futuro más equitativo, resiliente y humano.📏 Preguntas clave del episodio:🤔 ¿Qué hace que un emprendimiento rural sea verdaderamente transformador?🤝 ¿Cómo se construyen alianzas efectivas entre actores públicos, privados y comunitarios?🚜 ¿Por qué es urgente mirar hacia lo rural con nuevos ojos?Descúbrelo en este episodio lleno de experiencia práctica, compromiso social y esperanza territorial.👉 Conecta con Pablo Gómez Romero:🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pablogomezromero/👉 Conecta con la host Sara Calvo:🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-calvo-martinez-19094714/🌱 Sitio web: www.mincaventures.com📘 Libros y proyectos: https://mincaventures.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Liderando-con-Proposito.pdf🔔 ¡Suscríbete y activa la campana para no perderte ningún episodio!¿Tienes alguna pregunta o tema que te gustaría que tratemos? Déjanos un comentario.

What if policymaking wasn’t just for politicians—but truly shaped by the people it impacts? In this powerful episode of The Invisible Experts Podcast, we sit down with Maeve Curtin, researcher, practitioner, and social innovation advocate, to explore the concept of policy co-production and how it could transform how governments and communities design solutions together. Drawing from her experience with the Scottish Government, Social Enterprise World Forum, and cross-continental research, Maeve shares how inclusive, participatory policymaking can lead to better, more sustainable outcomes. She introduces us to the idea that policymaking can be more than consultation—it can be co-creation, informed by lived experience, collaboration, and trust. From her early civic activism at age 11 to her PhD research on cross-sector collaboration, Maeve challenges the traditional policymaking status quo, arguing for “people and planet first” strategies that bridge the gap between public institutions, grassroots communities, and the social enterprise sector. Key Topics Covered:✅ What Is Policy Co-Production? – A deeper look into designing policies with communities, not for them.✅ Scotland’s 10-Year Social Enterprise Strategy – A rare case where the public sector stepped back to let civil society lead.✅ The Role of Social Enterprises in Public Policy – How social ventures shape and inform inclusive economic development.✅ Cross-Sector Collaboration – Why collaboration between public, private, and third sectors is vital for durable change.✅ Terminology vs. Values – Why it’s more important to align on shared purpose than to argue over definitions like “social enterprise.”✅ Global Insights from Australia, Africa, and the U.S. – What works, what doesn’t, and how different cultures and systems respond to collaborative policy innovation.✅ Trust, Time, and Transparency – The three essential ingredients for sustainable co-produced governance. Maeve also reflects on her personal journey—how living in different countries, working across sectors, and embracing uncertainty helped shape her unique, systems-level view of social change.📌 Can policy be co-produced in your country? Do you think governments should let citizens lead? Let us know in the comments! Guest:Maeve Curtin: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maevecurtin/Company: https://www.clintonfoundation.org/clinton-global-initiative Host:Andrés Morales:LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/drandresmoralespachonMinca Ventures: https://mincaventures.com 🔔 Subscribe to The Invisible Experts Podcast for more expert conversations on sustainability, social impact, and policy innovation.