Mentorship

Winning an Iris Prize is not just about funding. We believe that peer-to-peer mentorship – rooted in reciprocity, transparency and friendship – is essential to helping projects grow and scaling their impact. By ensuring that grantees lead the process and work closely with their mentors, we encourage knowledge exchange and support the development of robust, community-integrated projects that are built to last. We paired each of our 2023 prize winners with two advisors, ensuring, where possible, that one mentor was from the same country or continent, and the other had thematic expertise relevant to the project. This approach has been incredibly beneficial, allowing for greater cultural and contextual understanding, and in some cases enabling in-person meetings between mentors and mentees, further strengthening their connection.