CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FOR MENTORS & FACILITATORS

1. About UNIPOD Rwanda

UNIPOD Rwanda (University Innovation Pod) is a state-of-the-art innovation hub established at the University of Rwanda — College of Science and Technology (UR-CST), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under the Africa Timbuktoo Initiative.

As a comprehensive, one-stop facility, UNIPOD Rwanda bridges academia, industry, and entrepreneurship by providing students, researchers, and young innovators with the infrastructure, mentorship, and resources needed to transform ideas into impactful solutions. UNIPOD serves as a springboard for the next generation of African innovators — supporting them from the concept stage to scalable startup.

UNIPOD Rwanda is part of a broader network of University Innovation Pods operating across more than 10 African countries, all committed to reducing poverty, fostering inclusive growth, and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through youth-driven innovation and entrepreneurship.

2. Services Offered at UNIPOD Rwanda

UNIPOD Rwanda offers a wide range of innovation-enabling services, including:

• Industry 4.0 Makerspace — a fully equipped fabrication space where students and innovators prototype, build, and iterate on products using modern digital tools and materials.
• Advanced Technology Labs — including a Design Lab, Electronics Lab, VR/Gaming Lab, Green Tech Lab, Food Tech Lab, and an Audio-Visual Studio.
• Digital Manufacturing Workshops — including Rapid Prototyping, Metal, Wood, and Textile workshops capable of supporting small-scale production.
• Incubation and Startup Support — through structured incubation programmes, UNIPOD supports early-stage startups with mentorship, business development support, and linkages to investors and partners.
• Training and Capacity Building — workshops, bootcamps, and hands-on training programmes on entrepreneurship, technology, and innovation for students and emerging entrepreneurs.
• Research and Development Support — facilitating access to funding, laboratories, and research networks to promote breakthrough research and commercialisation.
• Ecosystem Partnerships 

3. Experts and Facilitators We Are Looking For

To advance its mission of fostering innovation and entrepreneurship through high-quality training, mentorship, and incubation services, UNIPOD Rwanda seeks to establish a pool of dynamic, experienced, and passionate professionals in the fields listed below. These professionals will support the implementation of various programs, training sessions, mentorship activities, and innovation initiatives conducted at UNIPOD facilities across the country.

The selected professionals will be enrolled in a roster of experts and mentors who may be called upon to provide services based on specific programmatic needs arising throughout the year. It is important to note that this engagement does not constitute permanent or full-time employment with UNIPOD Rwanda. Rather, experts will be contracted on an assignment basis whenever their expertise is required for a particular activity, project, training, mentorship program, or consultancy.

Each engagement will be governed by a specific contract outlining the scope of work, deliverables, duration, and terms of engagement. Compensation will be determined according to the nature, complexity, and duration of the assignment and may be provided either as a daily professional fee or a monthly remuneration, as applicable.

The fields of expertise needed are the following:

4. Eligibility and Selection Criteria

Applicants will be assessed against the following criteria. Meeting these requirements is essential for consideration:

5. What You Will Gain

Selected mentors and facilitators will benefit from a rewarding and professionally enriching partnership with UNIPOD Rwanda:

• Remuneration — Competitive compensation through part-time assignment fees or monthly allowances, determined by the nature and scope of assignment.
• Visibility and Recognition — Association with a nationally and internationally recognised innovation hub .
• Collaborative Research — Opportunities to co-develop programmes, curricula, and research initiatives with UNIPOD and partner institutions.
• Contribution to Impact — The direct satisfaction of shaping the next generation of Rwandan innovators and entrepreneurs, contributing to Rwanda’s Vision 2050 and the SDGs.