Unleash the skills of 1000 global problem solvers!

The last quarter has been an exciting one! We're committed to unleashing the skills of global problem solvers and looking for innovative ways to scale our training capacity rapidly. In the last few months we've trained 100 people from countries in East and West Africa and the United States on developing an innovative mindset and using it to tackle challenges around resources needed for global problem solving and building networks.

In early May we collaborated with the United States African Development Foundation (USADF) and kicked-off their global leadership team's 9-day first ever all team global convening.  GKI shaped the irst 2.5 days and focused on fostering an innovation mindset and implementing innovative thinking at all levels of the organization. The USADF team was fantastic: We'd be hard-pressed to find a more engaged, committed team that is ready to further develop and hone their innovative habits. Throughout the 2.5 days, GKI led the global team through a series of activites designed to help participants to think differently, understand differently, and see differently. The end goal? Together, participants finished our session with an opportunity to come together as a team and identify how they might "do differently" in their work as a function of an enhanced innovation mindset.

Below is some of the feedback GKI received from the training:

• "As Team Leader, I need to play a catalytic role of inviting my colleagues to think, see, and understand differently in generating ideas and evaluating them.”
• “Usable examples and easy to use training methods.”
• “The HMW  [How might we...? approach to framing problems] and "What If..." perspective creates a space to permanently integrate innovation in thinking and actions.”
• “Challenge Mapping [a key GKI tool] was most useful because it will assist me to show others how to do the same and open their eyes to the diversity of challenges.”

GKI was inspired by the energy and enthusiasm of participants from USADF and we've taken that momentum forward as we challenge ourselves and ask the question, "How might we establish more innovative ways to train individuals and organizations on topics ranging from systems thinking to improved innovation decision making?"

With our partners in Tanzania, the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), GKI is training participants to use improved innovation decision making around the challenge of digital innovation for extension and training and we're doing it with our first hybrid training course this May. Though online and in-person training, GKI aims to boost participants' awareness and deepen comprehension of improved innovation decision making tools and approaches.

GKI uses a hybrid training approach that marries the delivery of online modules with an integrated learning experience delivered in person to reach larger audiences and provide high-quality training to organizations and individuals in low-resource areas. The virtual modules allow participants to gain an awareness of the course content, with the subsequent in-person training offering the chance for deeper learning and experimentation. The result: a multi-faceted training program that amplifies learners’ potential for success in applying the concepts and tools presented.

Your support and belief that through well-designed trainings GKI enables individuals to collaborate and garner the tools and resources needed to affect long-term change in fields such as agriculture, health, and education means so much!

If you know of others seeking this kind of training:  please contact us!  GKI wants to help!