The inventors of a device that detects malaria without drawing blood, a cheap and sustainable recycling method to recover precious metals, an innovative smart meter that gives consumers more control over energy use and a textbook-sized science lab for kids are the four engineering innovators chosen as finalists for the prestigious 2018 Africa Prize for…
African Innovators sought ahead of Africa Innovation Summit II
The Africa Innovation Summit (AIS II), which will take place from 6-8 June 2018 in Kigali, Rwanda, under the esteemed patronage of His Excellences President Paul Kagame and Pedro Pires (ex-President of Cabo Verde), announced a call for applications to innovators across Africa whose solutions have the potential to solve the continent’s challenges. The AIS…
New mobile application to support fight against Fall Armyworm in Africa launched
The fight against Armyworm in Africa has taken a new turn with the launch of a mobile application by FAO to enable farmers, agricultural workers and other partners at the frontline of fighting the worms to identify, report the level of infestation, and map the spread of this destructive insect, as well as to describe its…
Number of children stunting on the rise in Africa, WHO says
The number of stunted children in Africa is on the rise, according to the newly released nutrition report by the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa. The Africa Nutrition Report, launched this week in Abidjan, Ivory Coast describes the current status in relation to six global nutrition targets that member states have…
Toilets for $10 or Less are Accelerating Progress Towards A Major World Goal: Sanitation for All
The Water Innovation Engine, a pioneering partnership led by the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to stimulate bold new ideas and approaches in the water sector has launched the global “Urban Sanitation Challenge” with the announcement of a multi-million-dollar investment in five projects in Africa, Asia and South America. The financial…
GAVI warns that vaccine progress in developing countries ‘in danger of stalling
New WHO/UNICEF figures released this week show that in 68 of the world’s poorest countries, while close to a million more children received the basic diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine in 2016 compared to 2015, the coverage rate has remained at 80% for the past three years. Millions of children remain under-vaccinated in countries torn apart by conflict,…
Lack of skills, low wages disinterest African youth from Agriculture
Lack of skills, low wages, and limited access to land and financial services continue to disinterest Africa’s young people from Agriculture hence leading to high unemployment. According to FAO, in 2014 alone, about 11 million young Africans entered the labour market. But many see few opportunities in the agriculture sector. The Director-General of the UN…
App to provide Kenyans digital platform to purchase medication
By Eric Akasa In a move expected to disrupt the retail pharmacy business, Neotech Kenya has Thursday officially launched a mobile app that will empower Kenyans to buy medicine and personal care items via a mobile app. The app, called Livia, is available on the Google Playstore and Apple Appstore. It will allow users to…