By Henry Opondo Six teams from Africa and seven from Asia will advance their development of promising cleantech solutions through an upcoming Innovation Academy. The teams were participants of the Youth Climate Innovation Labs, a fast paced three-day event that brought together selected youth, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and climate technology experts in…
UK-Africa pact that tackles antimicrobial resistance in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania mapped out
A new study, led by the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) and Research England, has identified some of the key problems surrounding antimicrobial resistance (AMR) across certain parts of Africa, highlighting the need for an interdisciplinary and holistic approach to the threat of AMR in these areas. AMR occurs when microorganisms (like bacteria, viruses, and parasites) develop or change when…
New crop varieties to address drought, malnutrition
By Angela Phiri Chimwemwe Elifala, 29, is a farmer from Madimbo Village in Mchinji District, Malawi. For several years, he has been inspiring the farming community in Madimbo and surrounding villages to adopt new agricultural technologies that he often showcases. “I believe in knowledge sharing and farming is one area where knowledge has power. If…
GAVI pleads for urgency as COVID-19 firms up in Africa
By Henry Opondo With the COVID-19 pandemic already affecting 47 Gavi-supported countries mostly in Africa, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance has taken new steps to help strengthen the preparedness of health systems in lower-income countries with the full support of its Board. According to the WHO, at least 33 African countries had reported more than 600…
How Blockchain is enabling African farmers
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…
Water pumps – a much-needed solution for municipalities
Several countries across Africa face ongoing power delivery challenges, with municipalities struggling to meet the demands of citizens and businesses, and load shedding which has again become a harsh reality, particularly in South Africa. A solution to these challenges will require the involvement of numerous stakeholders, but one power-saving solution has the potential to deliver…
Imperial College London, MIT launch search for African research collaborators
Imperial College London and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have launched a seed fund for ‘blue-skies’ research, with a regional focus on Africa. Consequently, the two are also searching for collaborating institutions in Africa to drive innovation from across the continent. With this seed fund, researchers and educators at Imperial and MIT aim to…
East African research centres plot for climate-ready cassava
By Patrick Amunavi A team comprising of researchers from the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) in Kenya, Mikocheni Agricultural Research Institute (MARI) in Tanzania, in collaboration with Basque Institute for Research and Development in Agriculture (NEIKER) in Spain are evaluating and developing cassava cultivars adaptable to the climate change-induced stresses. The project…