- The shortlist includes engineers from Botswana, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda
- Textiles made from fungi grown on human waste, chicken farming technology, recycled plastic roof tiles and an app-based waste management service are among the innovations of 2023
- Africa Prize Innovators join a network of 133 alumni in 21 African countries working to transform the continent with homegrown solutions
- Four finalists will compete for a share of Β£60,000, with the overall winner receiving Β£25,000
Sixteen innovators from eight African countries, including Botswana for the first time, qualified for the 10u Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation.
Details
The Africa Prize, launched in 2014 by the UK’s Royal Academy of Engineering, demonstrates how ambitious innovative engineers are protecting the environment and transforming the continent’s economy through scalable solutions. Africa Prize innovators work to address pan-African and international challenges, including adapting food and water systems for climate resilience, developing low-carbon energy and transport solutions, and improving telecommunications, education, financial services and healthcare .
Innovations for the 2024 Africa Prize include roof tiles made from recycled plastic, early detection of agricultural pests and diseases, environmental monitoring of chicken farms and a fabric made from fungi grown on human waste.
Also on display are innovations aimed at healthier cooking methods, such as low-smoke briquettes from organic waste, a solar induction oven and hob, and a biodigester that uses organic waste to produce gas. Clean energy solutions include a large-scale power pack made from reused electric vehicle batteries, a solar dryer to boost fish farming, and converted electric motorcycles with replaceable batteries.
Other innovations include an automated storage locker, a home alert for the deaf, a plug-in device to turn any screen into a computer, and a WhatsApp-based healthcare platform.
Because this matters
Engineering is a fundamental driver of development and is linked to all of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, which affect health care, education, gender equality and the environment. Engineering is also his driver African Agenda 2063the African Union’s development plan for the next 50 years, which it describes as supporting the continent’s goal of being “integrated, prosperous and peaceful… led by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force on the international stage”.
By being shortlisted for the Africa Prize, innovators benefit from support such as business incubation, mentoring, fundraising and communication. They also gain access to the Academy’s global network of high-profile engineering and business experts in the UK, Africa and beyond.
Judges, mentors and expert judges for the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation have provided more than 4000 hours of support to entrepreneurs since the prize was established, equating to more than Β£10.4 million.
What they say
“Winning the Award opened up our business to many opportunities and provided exposure for our solution to the local and international market,β said 2023 Africa Prize winner Charlette N’Guessan from Ivory Coast, the first woman to win the award.
“I am glad to see that the Africa Prize has inspired many young female innovators to break down barriers.β
Africa Prize Judge Sewu-Steve Tawia he said, “The 16 innovators shortlisted for this year’s Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation contribute to key Sustainable Development Goals such as the absence of poverty, health and well-being, quality education, affordable and clean energy, reduced inequalities and climate action . What sets these 16 people apart is their determination to solve local challenges, help create jobs and seize the opportunity to expand their innovation across Africa. In its tenth year, the Africa Prize is proud to highlight these local change-makers as global engineering innovators.β
How does it work
Four finalists will be shortlisted to present their innovations and business plans to judges at the Africa Prize final in Nairobi, Kenya in June 2024. The winner will receive Β£25,000, with three runners-up awarded Β£10,000 each. A One-to-Watch prize of Β£5,000 will be awarded for the most impressive pitch, as voted by the public. In 2024, the audience will include approximately 80 Africa Prize alumni from the past ten years.
By The Numbers
Africa Prize alumni have supported more than 10 million beneficiaries through their products or services. They have also created more than 28,000 jobs β including more than 21,000 jobs for women and more than 500 jobs for people with disabilities β and raised more than $39 million in grants and equity funding, directly contributing to 15 of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN.
Selected innovations and entrepreneurs
- Baby BeggyCharles Oduk, Kenya β An automated IoT locker technology that offers affordable, accessible, secure and convenient short-term storage.
- Biomass briquettesLudo Ntshiwa, Botswana β An environmentally friendly clean fuel that harnesses the green energy of bio-waste to produce a renewable energy source for heat generation as a substitute for coal.
- Early crop pest and disease detection deviceEsther Kimani, Kenya β A solar tool that uses AI and machine learning enabled cameras for early detection and identification of agricultural pests and diseases.
- Ecological Tiles,Kevin Maina, Kenya β An environmentally friendly roofing material made from recycled plastic.
- Kiri EV,Christopher Maara, Kenya β An end-to-end affordable and clean energy mobility provider, from electric motorcycles, scooters and tuktuks to battery charging infrastructure across Kenya.
- Knock KnockEsther Mueni, Kenya β A home alert system for the deaf and hard of hearing, which uses a highly sensitive vibration sensor to detect physical knocks on a door and transmit this information to a smartphone via Bluetooth.
- Kuza freezerPurity Gakuo, Kenya β A durable, low-cost, solar fridge-freezer made from recycled plastic waste.
- La Ruche HealthRory Assandey, Ivory Coast β A smart healthcare platform that gives remote communities instant access to vital healthcare information via WhatsApp, facilitates appointments with vetted doctors and digitizes medical records for smooth patient on-boarding.
- MakSol kitchenPaul Soddo, Uganda β A low-cost, solar-powered induction oven and cooktop designed for safe, zero-emission indoor cooking by people in off-grid communities.
- MAVUNOLAB Solar DryerDr Evodius Rutta, Tanzania β A low-cost solar-powered dryer developed to assist fish processors and small-scale farmers in off-grid locations by improving food safety and hygiene for perishable foods.
- Microfuse Stick ComputerIvan Karugaba, Uganda – A compact and affordable device that attaches to any monitor, projector or screen to turn it into a Wi-Fi connected computer, increasing computer access and digital inclusion.
- Myco-SubstitutesAbubakari Zarouk Imoro, Ghana β An eco-friendly sewage treatment that uses viruses, bacteria and fungi to process and feed on faecal waste and produce substitute yarn and leather.
- PenKeepAdaeze Akhoqola, Nigeria β A climate-smart remote sensing device that monitors and controls environmental conditions in poultry houses, ensuring optimal health and productivity of chickens.
- Second life batteriesLΓ©andre Berwa, Rwanda β A solution that reuses retired electric vehicle (EV) batteries to be assembled as a back-up power supply for telecommunications towers and power mini-grids.
- The Kitchen BoxTunde Adeyemi, Nigeria β An affordable biogas digester technology that turns all kinds of organic waste into animal feed and organic fertilizer and produces clean energy for heating and cooking.
- Yo-WasteMartin Tumusiime, Uganda – A location-based mobile application that connects homes and businesses with independent agents for an efficient on-demand waste collection and disposal service.
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