Blockchain technology is a game changer. It is transforming agriculture by enabling smallholder farmers in Africa to improve their production and enhance their trade through a platform of trust. Blockchain is a decentralised, digital ledger which works through a series of digitally connected records where information can be shared openly and publicly verified through a…
Kenya: Government commits to support research
By Jacton Akoyo Kenya’s Deputy President Dr William Ruto said Tuesday that the Government is committed to supporting research through increased funding. Speaking during the third Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD) International Conference and the 4th AfriGEO Symposium, Dr Ruto noted that the move would boost the quality of information and…
Kenya moots plan to save Mountain Bongo
Kenya’s’ Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife Monday launched the National Recovery and Action Plan for the critically endangered Mountain Bongo. The Plan was launched by the country’s Cabinet Secretary for Tourism & Wildlife, Najib Balala. The plan seeks to address the myriad challenges facing the Mountain Bongo and will jump-start the process of reversing their…
African countries rank low in the new SDG Gender Index
A new Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Gender Index released by Equal Measures 2030 show that Niger, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Chad in Africa have some of the lowest measures to achieving gender equality than anywhere in the world. All these countries have all faced conflict and fragility in recent years. The SDG Gender…
Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation announced finalists
The prestigious Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation announced its four 2019 finalists. Among them are a ground-breaking smart glove that translates sign language to speech via an app, a peer to peer foreign exchange platform, a smart locker that dispenses TB/HIV and other chronic medicines, and smart homes built to help African women afford their…
Strengthening health systems to better fight infectious diseases in Africa
The WHO reports that 13 million people die from infectious diseases each year. In some countries, one in every two deaths is a result of an infectious disease; while in Africa, diseases like HIV/Aids, TB, malaria and hepatitis account for the majority of these deaths. Dr Izukanji Sikazwe, CEO of the Centre of Infectious Disease…
African Forest Forum to mark 10 years
By Adelyn Wangusi The African Forest Forum (AFF) is commemorating a decade of its work on African forestry in Nairobi, Kenya. Since its establishment, the African Forest Forum (AFF) has provided a bridge between science-based knowledge and good policies to support sustainable forest management; effectively working within a science-policy-management framework. “We started this journey on December 06,…
Investing in young leaners key in preparing for future jobs
By Clifford Cotiak Akumu Abdallah Zakaria, 12, a class seven pupil at Shepherds Junior School-Buru Buru is on a rush against time to finish his task as the trainer stealthily walks past him to check his progress. “It is hard at first but fun after mastering the pattern,” he sighs as he glues together the model.…