What our Fellows have been doing across High Impact Enterprises
And how you can become one yourself
1 Chilonga Haji, Untitled (90*80cm)
Over the past two years, fellows in the GPI Sustainable Growth Fellowship have worked inside growing enterprises across Tanzania and India, taking on tangible operational responsibility from their first weeks on the job. The fellowship has always been designed around immersion and hands on learning inside businesses that are creating employment and developing export industries across aquaculture, honey processing, agroforestry and biochar production in the Global South.
We are delighted that this fellowship model will continue through the Africa Jobs Fund Fellowship, which will place talented individuals into operating roles inside export-oriented businesses across Africa.
The experiences below illustrate the type of work fellows have undertaken and the responsibility they have been trusted with. If this kind of work excites you, we encourage you to consider applying to the Africa Jobs Fund Fellowship.
Building a biochar production facility from the ground up - Giuseppe Carminati
My work during the fellowship was focused on building a biochar factory in rural Tanzania. Together with my team, I managed different steps of the process, including sourcing the machine from abroad, installing it on-site, and directing the final production and testing phase. As the biochar industry is closely linked to carbon credits, I was also involved in the carbon credit markets from the early stages through to the actual on-site verification.
The level of responsibility and trust I was given was considerable, and this really helped me develop hands-on skills across different areas. I was surprised by how many steps are involved in setting up an industrial site, both technically and personally, and by the importance of building a system robust enough to handle any setback.
The fellowship is a great opportunity for anyone who wants to change their life and work almost completely and gain solid skills during an unforgettable experience.
Launching innovative enterprises for new markets - Camille Ryder
My GPI fellowship has been centred on new enterprises and systems for Upendo Honey as well as work for Tanganyika Blue. I’ve been involved in new product development, working on building a retail honey line from the ground up as well as several other venture ideas. Through this opportunity, I’ve been able to gain insight into each working aspect of the company - from trials and focus groups around the community to mechanical issues in our factory.
I was surprised by how independent the work was ! Especially if you’re working on a new venture, it can be a lot of solitary work initially - complete personal accountability and management were intimidating at first, especially being trusted with more pivotal decisions all on my own. That said, I’ve developed confidence in my work and an ability to work in a constantly evolving environment.
This fellowship is ideal for people who are versatile within their field. With that, knowing your field well and being able to advocate for your convictions with words and actions is very valuable.
Designing an aquaculture management software - Cherotich Faith
With no aquaculture background, the learning curve was real. I had to shift from coding in a room to solving problems on the fish farm where data comes in by hand. Bridging farm operations and software development means building systems grounded in real constraints: fragmented data systems, spotty internet, manual data collection. Working across teams, I have learnt to take ownership fast and ask, “what’s the actual farm problem?” before writing the code.
I’m building an aquaculture management system across Tanganyika Blue and SUSTAIN. Beyond architecture and data pipelines, I spend time in cages and hatchery ponds - feeding, assisting fingerling transfers, sampling, harvesting - to understand operations firsthand.
This experience has changed how I think about impact. It has reoriented my career toward using tech to strengthen value chains and social outcomes in East African aquaculture, especially native species.
If you want to be a part of operations that challenges what you know, puts you in the field from day one, and rewards hands-on problem solving, this fellowship will push you.
Introducing biochar to Tanzanian farmers - Josef Horwath
The GPI fellowship for me has been centred on finding ways to increase biochar accessibility for farmers in Tanzania with the company Dark Earth Carbon. This has involved developing and running field trials and working with all types of farmers in the region to adapt to biochar usage. It was a steep learning curve coming into a new industry, but that’s part of what makes the fellowship valuable. Over time, you start to see what your work is building towards.
Alongside this, I have also had the chance to spend time in the field consulting with Upendo Honey and researching honey supply chains across Tanzania’s highest volume honey districts. Being in the field was a really refreshing experience, and I learned a lot about how the country operates in more remote regions.
I would say that this fellowship is best suited to someone who is curious about the developing world and willing to get their hands dirty from early on.
Improving food quality in honey and fish supply chains - Monica Salsano
I joined the GPI fellowship to see food science and technology applied within a social business, and to understand how this field creates real impact in developing countries. The role has pushed me far beyond expectations - rather than one science topic, I work across three value chains: beeswax, honey processing, and aquaculture. This means managing procurement, flow design, experimental trials, and lab testing; collaborating with suppliers and customers on technical specs; improving internal audit tracking; supporting new product development; and standardising quality assurance across teams.
What I value most is that this role doesn’t fit neatly into “food science” - it demands moving between technical problem-solving, operations, and team management. I’ve learned that strong science alone isn’t enough; implementation is everything, and real impact depends on adapting solutions to ground realities. If you’re a young professional aiming for a high-impact career in social business or passionate about food technology in developing-country contexts, this fellowship is for you.
Financial modeling for environmental goals - Divyam Gautam
I am an avid environmentalist, and I joined the GPI fellowship straight out of undergrad: full of ideas, but without a concrete understanding of how impact is made feasible and scalable. The fellowship has given me the opportunity to develop a ground-up understanding of carbon-negative businesses through my work with Dark Earth Carbon in Tanzania and Farmers for Forests in India.
My work has focused primarily on financial analysis. I have owned and maintained financial models, presented them to investors, and advised our founders on investment decisions, business partnerships, and pricing. I have built an appreciation for the balance between pursuing detail and leaving room for uncertainty, especially in early-stage ventures.
Beyond finance, I have drawn on Giuseppe’s technical expertise to create a guidebook for setting up pyrolysis machinery and accompanied Josef on his farmer visits, learning how real impact is delivered beyond the project site.
The GPI fellowship is an invaluable experience for aspiring entrepreneurs, and curious people who are eager to understand and contribute to businesses beyond their desk.
Standardising systems to serve people - Annemarie Vogelberg
Throughout this fellowship, I have focused on building and improving systems across the business services departments of Upendo Honey, Tanganyika Blue and Dark Earth Carbon.
By implementing ERP systems and refining workflows across HR, exports, procurement and beyond, I have come to appreciate well-designed systems that enhance operational possibilities by considering the bottlenecks on the ground. Not only do they improve efficiency and cut the cost of creating social impact, they also make day-to-day work easier for staff by reducing routine administrative tasks and making time for critical thinking and problem-solving. One lesson has come up repeatedly: a good idea is only the starting point. Real progress depends on thoughtful implementation, continuous learning, and a willingness to refine systems as new information and experience emerge.
Beyond the work itself, one of the most rewarding parts of the fellowship has been the opportunity to live in rural Tanzania, learn Kiswahili, and gain a much deeper understanding of the local context and the people I work alongside. I can only recommend this fellowship to others.
If reading these experiences makes you want to work inside high impact enterprises, solve operational problems, take care of business in rapidly changing contexts, and contribute to African industrialisation, we encourage you to apply to the fellowship here!