A team of graduate students from the George Washington University has earned top honors in the 2024 International Finance Corporation (IFC) Impact Investing Challenge, outperforming nearly 200 teams from leading institutions around the world.
The winning team includes MS in International Business students Era Andriambololona and Anja de Waal, alongside Seth Amo-Nyarkoh from the Elliott School’s International Development Studies Program. Originally from Sub-Saharan Africa, the students brought a global perspective to the competition, which this year focused on addressing the disproportionate effects of climate change on women and marginalized communities.
Competing against 190 teams, GW advanced to the final round and secured first place over teams from the University of Cambridge and a joint team from Harvard University and Tsinghua University. Judges were particularly impressed by the team’s innovative proposal, which tackled the growing marine plastics crisis while simultaneously creating economic opportunities for women.
Their solution proposed the creation of a Pan-African growth fund designed to help transition seaweed farming businesses into bioplastic manufacturing operations. By supporting this shift, the initiative aims to reduce ocean pollution through the development of sustainable, seaweed-based alternatives to traditional plastics.
The proposal also emphasized gender equity. Women make up the majority of seaweed farmers in key pilot countries—Tanzania, Madagascar, and South Africa—and the team’s model seeks to expand economic opportunities and financial inclusion for these communities.
As a result of their achievement, each team member has been awarded a paid fellowship with the IFC, providing them with hands-on experience in impact investing and global development.
The IFC Impact Investing Challenge invites students from around the world to design scalable, market-driven solutions to pressing global issues. This year’s competition highlighted the urgent need for inclusive climate solutions—an area where GW students have now made a lasting mark.