Almost every day there is an innovator/innovation or an inventor/invention coming out from Africa. Among all the African innovations, there are some worth highlighting and shedding light on. The following are ten of them that have been written and spoken about since February 2019. Enjoy African innovations at their finest!
Carico Cafe Connoisseur uses blockchain technology to provide information on type of coffee beans, year of harvest, and place of grown, which allows local consumers in Africa to trace journey of coffee from farmers to sellers. This blockchain application is run by CEO Mwambu Wanendeya in Uganda. His innovative technology is helping African farmers to make more money and to yield more profits.
Smart Havens Africa builds low-cost and sustainable homes for low-income people in Uganda, especially for women who are in need. This sustainable house concept was raised by Anne Rweyora of Uganda. Her low-income homes are helping to provide Africans affordable places to live.
Fundi Bots is a hands-on approach towards practical Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math (STEM) education for African youth. This educative technology was developed by Solomon King Beng of Uganda. His innovative style of education is helping African children to learn in contemporary ways and was recently awarded Builders of Africa’s Future Awards by African Diaspora Network.
FlipFlopi Project built the world’s first dhow that is made of discarded plastic, which will travel on a few voyage expeditions this year under the auspice of United Nation Environment Programme and Government of Kenya. This was primary built by Ali Skanda in Kenya. His clever work allows people in Africa to sail in a more ecofriendly and cost-efficient way.
i-Pay is an online payment gateway that allows locals who do not have credit or debit cards to pay for goods and services via SMS, email, QR code, and push payments. This platform is based in South Africa. Their innovative gateway is making it more convenient for people in Namibia to shop online.
Phlenu (to buy) is a mobile app that connects African merchants and consumers together. This app was recently launched in Ghana. It is helping buyers and sellers as well as employers and employees in Africa to exchange business with each other more efficiently.
Infinite Loop manufactures low-cost minicomputers called Lifebook PC. This small computer was created by Sam Kodo of Togo. His innovative computers help Africans to access the internet through modern day technology.
Mara Group is setting up its first smartphone factory in Rwanda. This is a Pan-African multi-sector service provider based in Uganda. Their facilities will help increasing access to cellphones and internet, also help increasing employment opportunities for Africans.
AgrInfo is an online platform that gives farmers in Africa access to credit and loans from financial institutions. This service was founded by Rose Funja of Tanzania. Her digital platform helps African farmers to measure the size and evaluate the location of their farms, and to determine what crops they will grow in them.
Binance Charity Foundation has a blockchain program called “Lunch for Children” that helps provide two meals a day to students and staffs in Africa during school hours throughout 2019. This was recently launched in Uganda. Their cryptocurrency is helping to increase transparency and accountability of electronic donations in Africa.
The above were the African innovations for February 2019! March is coming soon!
.References:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p06z1vls
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/flipflopi-recycled-plastic-dhow-intl/index.html
https://weetracker.com/2019/02/07/togo-tech-sam-kodo/
https://allafrica.com/stories/201902120160.html
This article was authored by Tony K. Ansah Jr. and posted on tonyansah.com on February 28, 2019
About the Author
Tony K Ansah, Jr., M.P.A. is a self-published author and a social entrepreneur based in Rhode Island, U.S.A. He has written and published several books and content via poems, quotes, fiction, non-fiction, blogs and articles. Tony is also the founder and owner of Ansah Africa, a consulting and marketing startup that connects donors in the U.S.A. with nonprofits in Africa to solve global problems, which was established in 2017.
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed in this article and the report attached are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the SDG Philanthropy Platform. The SDG Philanthropy Platform is a global initiative that connects philanthropy with knowledge and networks that can deepen collaboration, leverage resources and sustain impact, driving SDG delivery within national development planning. It is led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors (RPA), and supported by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Ford Foundation, Oak Foundation, Brach Family Charitable Foundation, and many others.