As climate risks intensify across the Global South, the need for innovative, scalable, and locally relevant solutions has never been greater. Recognizing this urgency, the ACTS Pathways Academy (APA) is proud to announce the APA Seasonal School 2026, a 7-day immersive learning experience themed Artificial Intelligence for Climate Action. The program will take place from 23–30 August 2026 at the serene Diani Reef Beach Resort & Spa in Kenya.

Building on the African Centre for Technology Studies’ long-standing leadership in science, technology, and innovation, the Seasonal School brings together researchers, innovators, policymakers, students, and entrepreneurs committed to shaping a more climate-resilient future.

Why AI for Climate Action?

Artificial Intelligence is rapidly transforming how societies understand, predict, and respond to climate challenges. From early warning systems and climate-smart agriculture to low-carbon energy transitions, AI offers powerful tools for enhancing resilience and reducing vulnerability. The APA Seasonal School aims to equip participants with the practical skills and ethical grounding needed to apply these technologies effectively and responsibly.

What Participants Can Expect

The program is designed as an interactive, hands-on experience that goes far beyond theory. Participants will engage in:

• Expert-led lectures exploring the latest debates and innovations in AI
• Case studies and group discussions to co-create real solutions
• Panel dialogues with thought leaders shaping the AI and climate agenda
• A vibrant Marketplace for showcasing ideas and catalyzing collaboration
• Immersive excursions to coastal communities to contextualize learning
• Networking events that foster long-term partnerships across regions

This unique blend of structured learning, practical application, and cross-sector engagement ensures that participants leave with both the skills and confidence to implement AI-driven solutions in their own institutions and communities.

Beyond the Classroom: A Sustainability Fellowship

Graduates of the Seasonal School will also have the opportunity to join a 5-Month Sustainability Fellowship, extending their learning and allowing them to deepen practical and soft skills aligned with sustainable development research.

Who Should Attend?

The program welcomes individuals working at the intersection of AI and climate change—researchers, innovators, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and students eager to design solutions that serve the needs of the Global South.

Registration Details

Registration is open until 31 January 2026, with participation fees covering accommodation, meals, local transfers, and excursions. Limited slots are available to ensure a high-impact, collaborative learning environment.

Contact Person:
Monroe Ouma
Email:mouma@acts-net.org
Organization: African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS)

A Shared Vision for Climate Entrepreneurship

The meeting, held at the Makerere University Business School campus in Uganda, brought together representatives from MUBS, KCIC, and the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS). Discussions highlighted the value of partnerships that merge academic research, incubation, and entrepreneurship support to create sustainable climate solutions. The collaboration originated from earlier engagements under the Evi-SICEE framework, which aims to empower young innovators and women entrepreneurs working in clean energy sectors across Africa. Through this MoU, the institutions agreed to formalize cooperation in research, incubation, and mentorship, ensuring that results from current projects evolve into long-term, sustainable initiatives.

Strengthening Regional Innovation Ecosystems

The new partnership builds on a shared commitment to support climate-smart enterprises, enhance access to green financing and mentorship, and foster knowledge-driven entrepreneurship. KCIC, with over a decade of experience supporting thousands of green enterprises in Kenya and beyond, emphasized the importance of a Pan-African approach to climate innovation, one that nurtures locally developed solutions and scales impact across borders.

MUBS, on its part, showcased its vibrant innovation ecosystem, with active student and faculty engagement in research and enterprise incubation. The collaboration opens doors for Ugandan youth-led enterprises to access incubation support, market linkages, and mentorship through KCIC’s growing regional network.

Transforming Collaboration into Action

The MoU outlines practical steps to operationalize the partnership, including:

• Incubation of six youth-led enterprises under the Evi-SICEE project framework.
• Development of mentorship and internship pathways for students.
• Joint research and publications between the partnering institutions.
• Engagement with national ministries in Uganda to explore the establishment of a Uganda Climate Innovation Centre.
• A follow-up workshop to review progress and define next steps.

These actions reflect a clear roadmap toward deepening regional integration and scaling up climate innovation support.

Driving Sustainable Impact Beyond Projects

This collaboration symbolizes the spirit of the Evi-SICEE project, leveraging partnerships to amplify impact, create learning opportunities, and enhance sustainability beyond project lifecycles. It demonstrates how institutions can jointly address climate challenges by connecting research, innovation, and enterprise development.

The session concluded with a shared commitment to advance Africa’s green transformation agenda through inclusive, evidence-based, and entrepreneurial approaches.

Originally published here

Whether we like it or not, the age of artificial intelligence (AI) is already here, and accelerating. And Africa stands at a unique yet precarious juncture. The question for us is not whether Africa should embrace AI, but how. The answer is, with a fierce, unyielding commitment to responsible AI development.

Historically, Africa has often been a consumer, not an originator, of technology. Yet, we have seen the consequences of systems designed with data trained on Western contexts then deployed in Africa. The result is often disastrous, and sometimes comical. Think of facial recognition software that struggles with darker skin tones. Or agricultural AI models that fail to account for the unique crop varieties and farming practices found across the continent.

This is not just about a few bugs in the system. It is about a deep-seated philosophical problem. AI systems carry the biases of their creators and their data. When we passively adopt AI, we are importing a worldview that may not only be irrelevant to our needs but can actively entrench and amplify existing inequalities.

Our data becomes the raw material for foreign-owned models, and we are left with the finished product. A product that, let us face it, was not built for us. This is a new form of digital colonialism. Without ethical guardrails, AI risks amplifying existing inequalities, reinforcing biases, and erasing indigenous knowledge systems.

Furthermore, while we are not burdened by legacy systems or entrenched AI industries, we face significant challenges with infrastructure, data privacy, and digital literacy, undermining our ability to develop and scale AI solutions. As the continent accelerates its digital transformation, the need to develop AI that is ethical, inclusive, and African-led has never been more urgent.

Strathmore University’s State of AI in Africa Report validates the need for responsible AI, stating that Africa’s ill-equipped policy frameworks, limited data infrastructure, and underrepresentation in global AI governance are a hindrance to AI development. These gaps make the case for a distinctly African approach to AI development, one that prioritises data sovereignty, ethics, and community-driven innovation.

A golden opportunity to leapfrog

Our late entry into the AI race is not a weakness, it is our greatest strength. We have a chance to leapfrog the mistakes of others. While the West debates the ethical dilemmas of AI after the fact, we can build ethical considerations into our frameworks from the ground up.

This means more than just having a seat at the table. It means building our own table. We must invest in local talent, support homegrown startups, and cultivate data sets that are representative of our diverse populations and languages.

We must create AI systems that are not just for Africa but are also built by Africa. Imagine AI tools that speak Swahili, Setswana, or Yoruba, help small-scale farmers predict weather patterns with hyperlocal accuracy, or facilitate access to healthcare in remote communities. This is the promise of responsible AI.

The good news is, we are not starting from scratch. The African Union’s Continental Artificial Intelligence Strategy is a key foundation, focusing on a “people-centric, development-oriented and inclusive approach.” Several African countries have begun developing national AI strategies and ethics frameworks. These efforts are aligned with the African Union’s Digital Transformation Strategy (2020–2030), Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA 2024), and Agenda 2063, all of which emphasise inclusive innovation, regional leadership, and south-south collaboration.

Initiatives like the AI for Development, supported by the International Development Research Centre and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, are helping to build policy capacity and expand leadership across the continent. These partnerships underscore the importance of co-creating AI solutions with African actors, not imposing foreign models.

Building the foundations of responsible AI

To make responsible AI development a reality, we must move beyond aspirational statements. Governments, innovators, businesses, researchers, and civil society must work together to establish clear governance frameworks guided by principles of sovereignty, inclusivity, and justice protect data privacy. We must invest in education and digital literacy to equip our youth with the skills to be not just consumers but creators and critics of AI.

The recent launch of the ACTS AI Institute, a dedicated hub for responsible AI development in Africa, is a timely response to this challenge. It signals a shift from passive consumption of foreign technologies to active leadership in shaping AI systems that reflect African values, languages, and priorities.

The ACTS AI Institute is developing an Africanised toolbox to guide scaling of responsible AI, ethical tailored to local contexts. This toolbox reflects the lived realities of African communities and the urgent need for AI systems that are not only smart but also just.

This is a step toward reclaiming Africa’s voice in global technology governance. Toward designing AI that liberates rather than marginalise. Toward building systems that reflect the continent’s values, not just its vulnerabilities. And in doing so, we must define what responsible AI means in our own terms, drawing from our philosophies, priorities, and people.

This is a monumental task, but the alternative is far more perilous. Either we take control of our AI future, or we become a passive testing ground for technologies that serve the interests of others.

The ACTS AI Institute of the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) will be participating in break out session 3 themed “Harnessing Responsible AI – Sector-Specific Guidelines for Africa’s Inclusive Digital Industrial Future”, at the Industrial Skills Week Africa (ISWA) 2025, from 9-10 September 2025 at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre,  Lusaka Zambia.

This session, organized by AUDA-NEPAD and Artificial Intelligence for Development Africa (AI4D), brings together policymakers, practitioners, researchers, and youth innovators to explore how Responsible AI Guidelines can be translated into practice and scaled across diverse African contexts.

AUDA-NEPAD, through its Continental AI Strategy and sector-specific guidelines, is working with partners to establish frameworks that ensure AI adoption in Africa is ethical, inclusive, and accountable. These guidelines emphasize sectoral perspectives that are critical to supporting the African Union’s Agenda 2063, STISA-2034, and the AU Digital Transformation Strategy.

Dr Winston Ojenge, Principal Research Fellow and the Head of the ACTS AI Institute will be a panelist on 9^th September at 10:40 am, discussing cross-sector perspectives on the role of responsible AI guidelines. Discussions will cover ethics of AI, accountability, and local relevance in practice. He brings to the discussions best practices and lessons learned from the AI4D Innovation Pillar work, supported by International Development Research Centre (IDRC), and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

Session objectives:

1. Contextualize the importance of Responsible AI Guidelines for capacity-building and inclusive governance.
2. Showcase cross-sector insights on ethics, accountability, and local adaptation of AI frameworks.
3. Highlight youth innovation and practical applications of AI in addressing grassroots challenges.
4. Foster dialogue among policymakers, practitioners, and innovators to accelerate adoption and implementation of Responsible AI Guidelines.

For more information, contact: acaii[@]acts-net.org

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is specifically targeted towards young people whose access to higher education is impeded by economic and social barriers. The Program places a particular emphasis on reaching young women, refugees and forcibly displaced youth, and persons with disabilities, who are encouraged to apply.

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UWC supports academically talented youth from South Africa and other parts of the African continent. The aim of the Program is to equip youth with the necessary tools and education to drive transformative change which will positively impact their communities and countries. For the 2026 academic year, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UWC will provide fully-funded opportunities for young scholars to study for i) undergraduate qualifications or ii) master’s degree qualifications.

Please follow this link for application guidelines

Following a month of technology testing, the Lari farmers will be using PCM cold storage (charged in a solar-powered freezer) and insulated boxes to move temperature-sensitive horticulture produce to market. They will be able to test the performance against their traditional vehicle with Carrier TRU as part of the Try Before You Buy (TBYB) programme.

The TBYB is the second phase of the SPOKE community engagement programme developed by the Clean Cooling Network (CCN) and Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold-Chain (ACES). In Phase 1 during 2024, the ACTS SPOKE team had provided the support, mentoring, and training to support the community leaders and the wider community to establish a grassroots, community cold-chain ecosystem. The support was guided by an in-depth needs assessment to evaluate present and future cooling requirements of the community that would inform a business case for investment in cold chain. In Phase 2, through the Try Before You Buy concept, a package of basic cold-chain equipment (static and transport) has been installed for the coming harvest, during which the community can test out their business model in real conditions with ongoing support and mentoring during this period.

To date, 163 smallholders have already registered to join the cooperative, and more are joining as they can see the tangible benefit. The farmers are already reaping the benefits of the cold-chain: on average, they fetch over 50% better prices for their produce than previously.

As part of the TBYB programme, a 500L solar-powered phase change material (PCM) freezer was installed at the beginning of July, 2025. The PCM freezer system is run off three 535W solar panels (49.8V). The installation was completed without incident, with all components passing functionality and safety checks. Routine maintenance guidance includes weekly cleaning of solar panels and regular defrosting of the PCM freezer to maintain peak performance. User training emphasised practices such as minimising door openings and avoiding overloading the unit.

Month-long testing included evaluation of the PCM freezer’s ability to reach and maintain target sub-zero temperatures and night-time operation using battery storage as well as confirmation of the proper function of all system components. Wireless Bluetooth temperature and humidity sensors were installed to remotely monitor internal conditions.

Key Findings

• PCM Freezer Components: The core refrigeration components (compressor, thermostat) are functioning optimally.

• Power System: The battery and charge controller performed well; however, the initial inverter had defects which were rectified through replacement.

• Night-time Operation: The PCM freezer sometimes struggled to maintain low temperatures overnight during cloudy periods, highlighting a potential need for expanded battery capacity or hybrid power backup.

With the testing completed, the farmers will start to use and test the equipment for onward moving of their produce to market. The installation and commissioning of the solar PCM freezer at ACTS marks a significant step toward sustainable, decentralised cold-chain, helping to deploy non-diesel transport solutions. While initial testing revealed challenges under variable weather, system refinements have improved reliability. As the PCM freezer enters its next phase of performance trials, it holds promise for enhancing cold chain solutions across rural and peri-urban Kenya.

In March 2025, the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), in collaboration with the Clean Cooling Network (CCN), the Lari Horticultural Farmers’ Cooperative Society Limited (LHFCSL), and key stakeholders, launched Kenya’s and Africa’s first “Try Before You Buy” (TBYB) sustainable cooling and cold-chain unit in Kinale, Lari Sub-County, Kiambu County. This is part of the Specialized Outreach and Knowledge Establishment SPOKE programme.

The TBYB is the second phase of the SPOKE community engagement programme developed by the Clean Cooling Network (CCN) and Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold-Chain (ACES). In Phase 1, during 2024, the ACTS SPOKE team had provided the support, mentoring and training to help the community leaders and the wider community to establish a grassroot, community cold-chain ecosystem. The support was guided by an in-depth needs assessment to evaluate present and future cooling requirements of the community that would inform a business case for investment in cold-chain. In Phase 2, through the Try Before You Buy concept, a package of basic cold-chain equipment (static and transport) has been installed for the coming harvest, during which the community can test out their business model in real conditions with ongoing support and mentoring during this period.

With its deep community engagement, the overall programme is a transformative approach designed to demonstrate the value of sustainable cooling and cold-chain solutions to smallholders and other actors along the value chain. Over the whole interaction period, this intervention provides the evidence base of the value of cold-chain investment that will then make a business case for investment. Crucially, TBYB is not a standalone technical intervention. It is a risk-mitigating, evidence-producing trial to test the cooperative’s business model in live market conditions that comes after a long engagement and preparation phase. From the beginning, the community receives continued support and training. This enables them to refine their price strategies, market access, logistics and demonstrate how the cold-chain business benefits their farmer members during the following TBYB phase. It ultimately positions the cooperative to rally for investment into its very own tailored permanent Community Cooling Hub (CCH).

The smallholder farmers in Lari are thrilled about the opportunity to unlock new markets that will pay them fairer prices for their hard work of tilling the land. In addition, through the TBYB approach, farmers get a bundle of tailored services and support including post-harvest management training, market links and support for their business development to enable them to maximise the value from their produce.

To date, 163 smallholders have registered to join the cooperative and more are joining as they can see the tangible benefit. A main reason to join has been the outlook of aggregating their produce through the cold-chain and collectively marketing their top-quality produce to higher end markets. The farmers are already reaping the benefits of the cold-chain: on average they fetch over 50% better prices for their produce than previously. As they operate through a cooperative model, the farmers must always receive 80% of the price their products achieve on the market – while 20% remain within the cooperative as revenue to ensure sustainable business operations.

The experimental nature of the TBYB approach means the Lari farmers are learning valuable lessons on collective action, market dynamics and the importance of structuring their business to continually meet the demands of the market – as well as seeing the impacts it can bring. This also comes before having to make big capital investments as a cooperative. Farmers in Kinale are pioneering the way to actualising the vision to close the access gap to cold-chain as critical infrastructure.

“The Institute builds on the support from the AI for Development (AI4D) program, supported by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO), and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). We are proud of the work that the institute has done through the AI4D Scholarship Program, which is bridging AI divided by supporting researchers and innovators from historically disadvantaged communities to develop and scale AI solutions and to shape the African AI innovation system.” Kathryn Toure, IDRC Director, Regional office of sub-Saharan Africa.

Rooted in the vision of an African-centered AI future, the Institute is committed to fostering ethical, inclusive, and contextually relevant AI solutions that empower communities, drive economic growth, and advance sustainable development across the continent.

While delivering the keynote address, Dr. Laurent Bochereau, Minister-Counsellor, European Union Delegation to the African Union highlighted the 25-year partnership between the AU and EU, coinciding with the anniversary of EU policy dialogue on science, technology, and innovation. This collaboration aims to foster joint activities and programs. A significant initiative is Horizon Europe, the EU’s €100 billion research and innovation program, which has a dedicated Africa Initiative, to encourage African participation.

The latest iteration, Africa Initiative III (for the 2025 budget year), has earmarked €500 million for 26 topics, including a specific call for Generative AI for Africa. This particular call, seeks to develop human-centric generative AI solutions for Africa, focusing on rural communities and women across four thematic areas; agriculture, healthcare, infrastructure, and digital skills.

“We want to involve a lot of local startups in at least three to five African locations. And we want to involve end users from the very beginning. So this call (Africa Initiative III) is open. I know it is generating a lot of interest. And we hope that this will help develop solutions which are addressing African priorities, but also using knowledge and languages which are indigenous in Africa.”

At its core, the ACTS AI Institute is driven by a mission to ensure that AI serves the people of Africa, aligning with the continent’s unique values, priorities, and aspirations. The Institute does this by focusing on five strategic pillars; Responsible AI solutions, AI policy and governance, AI and jobs, AI and capacity building, and data science. Through these pillars, the Institute creates tangible, human-centered impacts in sectors critical to Africa’s development, including agriculture, healthcare, education, and climate resilience.

“The Institute builds on the experience and network consolidated over a period of five years, since ACTS started implementing projects related to development and deployment of responsible AI solutions and related policies,” Executive Director of ACTS, “this launch is therefore meant to enable us to do what we have been doing better, with a wider mandate across the continent.”

“We are involved in research and development of Africanized policy, standards, and ethics of AI. Specifically, we are already developing an Africanized scaling of responsible AI toolbox,” said Dr Winston Ojenge, Principal Research Fellow and the Head of the ACTS AI Institute.

The Institute leverages AI to develop tools to enhance agricultural productivity, such as predictive models for weather patterns and crop yields. These solutions will empower smallholder farmers, over 60% of Africa’s population, to make informed decisions, improve harvests, and strengthen food security in the face of climate change. AI-driven diagnostics and telemedicine platforms are being tailored to address Africa’s healthcare challenges, particularly in underserved rural areas.

“It is good that we are now talking about African centered AI future. We, thus, need to prioritize bridging that gap that has existed for many years,” Amb. Prof. Bitange Ndemo, “we need to begin to think from the policy side. How do we build the necessary infrastructure? We need local infrastructure. We need appropriate capacity building, which must be centered on people understanding what they need to do in order to transition from poverty to prosperity.”

“The limitation in infrastructure comes from the entire architecture and processes around data acquisition, the ability to process data, the ability to critically develop strong and robust models. But we also have a challenge in data. Our data is still disaggregated. The Institute has the opportunity to make sure that we are closing that gap and make sure we have disaggregated data more real time, but also localize the data that can represent our local context,” Dr Devotha Nyambo, Senior Lecturer and Researcher, Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology.

Focusing on AI and jobs, the Institute explores how AI can drive economic transformation while creating inclusive opportunities. In analyzing labor market shifts and fostering AI-driven entrepreneurship, the Institute is paving the way for new industries and job creation, particularly for Africa’s youth, who represent over 60% of the continent’s population.

Further, the Institute works to equip African policymakers, researchers, and entrepreneurs with the skills to lead in AI development and governance through targeted training programs and curriculum development. This focus on capacity building ensures that Africa’s human capital is prepared to shape the global AI landscape.

It is committed to developing AI ethics frameworks that reflect African values and ensuring transparency, fairness, and accountability to protect communities and foster innovation that respects local contexts and needs.

“What we are looking to achieve collectively is to build an ecosystem in which responsible AI policies are adopted and implemented, and in which AI innovations are scaling their impact inclusively spreading the benefits of the tools to people that are most often left out of economic and particularly technological transformations,” Gillian Dowie, Senior Program Specialist, International Development Research Centre (IDRC). “Many young people are looking for training and opportunities, and we have seen how important it is to support institutions across the region to guide that burst of activity towards responsible and inclusive AI, and to ensure that we are thinking about not only opportunity, but also about risks.” She added.

The Institute aligns with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, the African Union’s Digital Transformation Strategy 2020-2030 and Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa 2024, which broadly envision a prosperous and integrated Africa driven by science, technology, and innovation.

“We are beginning to see an upsurge in digital numbers around the continent where the young people are using data centers to provide AI solutions to people within the continent. At AUDA-NEPAD level, we help support not just those working at the foundational level of AI, but those that have already leveraged AI to be able to commercialize it. I am happy that there is an opportunity for us to also look deeply at how African languages can begin to feature within this Institute,” Prof Brando Okolo, Head of Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI), AUDA-NEPAD.

The Institute is keen to establish and sustain partnerships with governments, academia, civil society, the private sector, and the media to build a collaborative ecosystem to steer responsible AI development.

“We have to get to a point where we begin to ask, what is it that we want? Because without having to ask those questions it means that we continue to practice AI research which do not reflect the everyday lives that people are associated with,” Prof Divine Fuh, Director, HUMA – Institute for Humanities in Africa, “ this institute, therefore, is an AI laboratory to ask these very important questions”

About the ACTS AI Institute

The ACTS AI Institute, formerly the Digital Economy Programme at ACTS, was established in January 2025. It is dedicated to advancing responsible AI innovation through research, policy formulation, capacity building, and stakeholder engagement. The Institute’s five pillars address the development and deployment of ethical AI solutions, governance frameworks, economic impacts, skills development, and data science, all tailored to Africa’s unique challenges and opportunities.

About the ACTS

The African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) is a non-profit and non-partisan Inter-governmental think-tank, whose core mandate is to pursue policy-oriented research to strengthen the capacity of African countries and institutions to harness science, technology and innovation (STI) for sustainable development.

Founded in 1988 by the renowned African scientist and scholar, the late Prof. Calestous Juma, the Centre is mandated to undertake capacity building, conduct research, provide advisory services and disseminate information on the policy aspects of the application of STI for sustainable development in Africa.

For more information about the ACTS AI Institute and its initiatives, please visit https://acts-net.org/

Media Contact

Pauline Soy

Communications and Outreach Officer

Email: psoy@acts-net.org

Phone+254 710 113 563

We are proud to announce the official launch of the ACTS AI Institute, dedicated to positioning Africa at the forefront of responsible AI innovation and governance. The launch, themed “Charting the Path Towards an African-Centered AI Future” is scheduled to take place virtually on July 15, 2025. This online event marks a pivotal moment in Africa’s digital transformation journey, aligning with continental priorities such as the AU Digital Transformation Strategy and Agenda 2063.

For over three decades, ACTS has led cutting-edge research in science, technology, and innovation policy. The transition from the Digital Economy Programme to the ACTS AI Institute reflects the increasing relevance of AI in agriculture, climate resilience, public health, education, and economic development.

The ACTS AI Institute comes at an important point in global technological evolution. As AI increasingly shapes economic, social and governance systems worldwide, African nations must develop contextually relevant approaches that harness AI’s potential whilst addressing its unique regional challenges. These approaches must ensure that AI enhances rather than exacerbating inequalities. The Institute will serve as a nexus for research, policy development, capacity building and strategic partnerships in the AI domain across Africa.

This high-level event will feature thought leaders, policymakers, AI experts, and development professionals discussing the intersection of AI with key socio-economic sectors.

Launch details:

• Date: Tuesday, 15 July 2025
• Time: 2:00 – 5:00 PM EAT
• Location: Zoom | Register here > https://bit.ly/4ezcr0y

Speakers

• Laurent Bochereau, Minister-Counsellor, European Union Delegation to the African Union
• Naser Faruqui, Director, International Development Research Centre (IDRC)
• Prof Bitange Ndemo, Kenya’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium
• Prof Brando Okolo, Head of Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI), AUDA-NEPAD
• Alfred Oteng-Yeboah, Chair, ACTS Governing Council
• Dr Veerle Vandeweerd, Platform for Transformative Technologies
• Tom Peter Migun Ogada, Executive Director, ACTS
• Gillian Dowie, International Development Research Centre (IDRC)
• Emeritus Berhanu M. Abegaz, former Executive Director, African Academy of Sciences, Ethiopia
• Devotha Nyambo, Senior Lecturer and Researcher Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology
• Divine Fuh, Director, HUMA – Institute for Humanities in Africa
• Shem Wandiga, Former Director, Institute of Climate Change and Adaptation (ICCA), University of Nairobi (Dean)

Moderators

• Mammo Muchie, Research Professor, Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa
• John Ouma Mugabe, University of Pretoria
• Shem Wandiga, Former Director, Institute of Climate Change and Adaptation (ICCA), University of Nairobi (Dean)

For more information, contact: acaii[@]acts-net.org, Cc psoy[@]acts-net.org

Download

• ACAII Launch Concept note

A Game-Changer for Smallholder Farmers

Imagine working tirelessly to grow fresh, high-quality produce only to lose a significant portion of it due to post-harvest losses and a lack of access to suitable, sustainable cold chain infrastructure and a link to reliable markets. This has been the reality for many smallholder farmers in Kenya—until now—and is denying them the opportunity to realise profitability from their farms.

On March 25, 2025, the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), in collaboration with the Clean Cooling Network (CCN), the Lari Horticultural Farmers’ Cooperative Society Limited (LHFCSL), and key stakeholders, launched Kenya’s first “Try Before You Buy” (TBYB) sustainable cooling and cold chain unit in Kinale, Lari Sub-County, Kiambu County as part of the Specialized Outreach and Knowledge Establishment model of CCN. This innovative solution promises to revolutionize post-harvest management, enhance the quality of produce, and increase market connectivity for local farmers. 

The TBYB model is a transformative approach designed to demonstrate the value of sustainable cooling and cold chain solutions to smallholder farmers focused on horticultural production and linked value chain actors, and to make a business case for investment. By showcasing improved post-harvest management that reduces food loss, the TBYB approach aims to establish a financially viable business model that will encourage investment in Community Cooling Hubs (CCHs)—farmer-managed infrastructure that ensures produce quality, reduces post-harvest losses and unlocks market connectivity. 

Why Sustainable Cooling Matters

Post-harvest losses continue to be a significant challenge for smallholder farmers, often resulting in wasted resources and financial hardships. The TBYB cooling and cold chain unit offers farmers the opportunity to experience firsthand the benefits of sustainable, energy-efficient cooling technologies before committing to full-scale adoption. This initiative is not just about storage and preservation—it’s about securing livelihoods, strengthening food systems, and creating a resilient agricultural sector that guarantees a sustainable future for smallholder farmers.

A Landmark Ribbon-Cutting Event

The TBYB launch event was a momentous occasion that brought together key stakeholders from the local government, the private sector, and development partners and farmers organized into a cooperative. The event sought to kick off operations of the hub where the smallholder farmers will undergo training and business support, coupled with access to sustainable cooling technologies to enhance their profitability in the horticultural value chains through improved post-harvest management, produce aggregation, and structured high-end market connections.

The event was graced by notable figures including David Kuria (CECM, Agriculture, Livestock & Irrigation, Kiambu County) and Prof. Tom Ogada (Executive Director, ACTS), who flagged off the first produce delivery to TAWI Packhouse—signifying the beginning of a new era in smallholder farming.

“This program will help farmers lose fewer crops after harvest and sell to more markets, increasing their income,” stated David Kuria.

Prof. Tom Ogada highlighted: “This is a significant milestone in transforming agricultural value chains. By integrating sustainable cooling solutions, we are empowering farmers with the tools they need to compete in premium markets while ensuring food security.”

Bringing Farmers and Market Players Together

A key highlight of the day was the Farmer’s Open forum, which allowed them to engage with financial service providers, market off-takers, and cooperative leadership. The event was attended by 43 farmers.

Farmers learned about market engagement strategies, the benefits of collective action, and how sustainable cooling can help them access premium markets beyond traditional roadside sales.

Real Impact: Farmers’ Voices

One farmer shared:
“We are excited to plant high-end produce, apart from spinach, kale, and cabbages, because we finally have a reliable market for it.”

Another added:
TAWI is paying on time, which makes us happy and motivated to be part of the project.

These testimonials highlight the importance of structured market engagement and value chain integration, enabling smallholder farmers to earn more from their produce while reducing post-harvest losses.

The Path Forward

The TBYB cooling hub launch is just the beginning. With the success of this initiative, ACTS, CCN, and LHFCSL envision expanding sustainable cooling solutions to more farming communities across Kenya. Indeed, the lessons learned from the initiative will be critical in the extension of the TBYB approach beyond Kenya. The TBYB initiative is not just about cooling—it’s about empowering farmers, transforming food systems, and securing livelihoods for future generations.

Photos from the event. (Flickr)

ACTS will convene and participate in strategic sessions across the three-day event, each designed to address Africa’s development priorities through the lens of research, policy, and practical innovation. Below is a snapshot of ACTS-led engagements that will shape the conference narrative:

1. Plenary Session: The Status of Innovation in Africa and Progress Towards Agenda 2063

🗓 6 May 2025, 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Hyatt Regency, Nairobi

In partnership with AUDA-NEPAD, ACTS co-organizes this high-level plenary examining Africa’s innovation trajectory in the context of the African Union’s Agenda 2063. Featuring regional innovation leaders, the session will unpack the state of STI systems, discuss policy harmonization, and highlight strategic pathways to enhance innovation-led development.

Panelists

• Prof. Philippe K. Mawoko, Former Executive Secretary, African Observatory for Science, Technology and Innovation (AOSTI), Congo
• Prof. Almamy Konte, Former Executive Director of the African observatory of STI (AOSTI) in Malabo, Senegal
• Dr. Roselida Owour, Director of Research Development, Ministry of Education, Kenya
• Prof. Tom Ogada, Executive Director, ACTS, Kenya
• Prof. Walter Oyawa, Director General, National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation, Kenya
• Dr. Martin Ongol, Ag. Executive Secretary, Uganda National Council for Science and Technology, Uganda
  Moderator: Dr. Ann Kingiri, Director of Research and Innovation, ACTS, Kenya

2. Side Session: AI in Africa – Balancing Breakthroughs and Risks

🗓 6 May 2025, 2:00 – 3:15 PM
📍 Hyatt Regency, Nairobi

As AI continues to disrupt global systems, ACTS leads a vital conversation on how African countries can harness its benefits while managing inherent risks. This session explores the ethical, regulatory, and workforce implications of AI on a continent rich with innovation and youth potential. Experts from academia, policy, and civil society will share insights into navigating Africa’s AI future responsibly.

Panelists/Guest Speakers

• Hon. John Kiarie – Dagoretti South Member of Parliament | Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation.
• Prof. Tom Migun Ogada – Executive Director, African Centre for Technology Studies
• Dr. George Musumba – Dean, School of Computer Science and Information Technology and Senior Lecturer | Thematic Leader in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning – Dedan Kimathi University of Science and Technology
• Dr. Lawrence Nderu – Chairman, Dept. of Computing – JKUAT | Founder, JHUB Africa
• Florence Anyango Ogonjo – Tech Policy Researcher, Advocate of the High Court of Kenya | Research Fellow for the AI Policy Center at the Center for Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law (CIPIT) at Strathmore University
• Brian Omwenga – Community Of Practice
• Dr. Winston Ojenge – Senior Research Fellow, African Centre for Technology Studies
• Grace Leah Okundi – Research Fellow, African Centre for Technology Studies

3. Session Title: Wealth Creation
Presentation: Evidence for informing optimization and scaling of youth and women led clean energy enterprises and business models in Kenya

🗓 6 May 2025, 2:00 – 3:15 PM
📍 Hyatt Regency, Nairobi

In this session, ACTS highlights evidence from clean energy projects led by youth and women in Kenya, offering scalable business models that contribute to local economic empowerment and climate resilience. Dr. Ann Kingiri, Director of Research and Innovation at ACTS, presents key findings and implications for national energy and enterprise policy.

4. Session Title: Food Production
Presentation: A data-driven approach in sustainable cold chain innovation for food loss reduction

🗓 6 May 2025, 2:00 – 3:15 PM
📍 Hyatt Regency, Nairobi

In this session, ACTS presents innovative, data-driven solutions to one of Africa’s most persistent agricultural challenges: post-harvest food loss. Daniel Musyoka, Research Fellow at ACTS, showcases how sustainable cold chain technologies can be optimized through data insights to preserve perishable produce, improve food security, and support value chain efficiency. The session will offer actionable strategies for integrating cold chain innovations into smallholder systems and national food policies.

4. Side Session: Commercialization of Research and Innovations through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs)

🗓 7 May 2025, 7:15 – 8:45 AM
📍 Hyatt Regency, Nairobi

African research often fails to reach commercial markets. This session explores how Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) can unlock the latent value of research by aligning public institutional capacity with private sector agility. With insights from IDRC, KeNIA, UNCST, and Neu-Ulm University, the discussion will outline practical strategies to strengthen Africa’s innovation ecosystems.

Panelists/Guest Speakers

• Prof. Tom Migun Ogada, Executive Director, African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS)
• Dr. Tonny Omwansa – CEO, Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA)
• Ms. Clarisse Mideva, Research Fellow, African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS)
• Ms. Agnes Tsuma, Research and Innovation Systems for Africa (RISA)
• Dr. Agnes Lutomiah, Head STIKS Programme, African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS)
• Mr. Alfred Oduor, Research Fellow, African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS)
• Dr. Ellie Osir, International Development Research Centre (IDRC)
• Prof. Almamy Konte, Former Executive Director of the African observatory of STI (AOSTI) in Malabo, Senegal
• Dr. Martin Ongol, Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST)
• Dr. Nicholas Odongo, Deputy Head STIKS Programme, African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS)

5. Side Session: Harnessing Evidence for an Inclusive Green and Digital Future of Work in Africa

🗓 7 May 2025, 3:45 – 5:00 PM
📍 Hyatt Regency, Nairobi

As Africa embraces green and digital transitions, ACTS leads a session addressing the risks of exclusion and inequality. Drawing on research from the Green and Digital Innovation Hub (gDIH)—supported by GIZ—panelists will present data-driven insights on creating inclusive job opportunities, especially for youth, women, and the informal workforce, within the continent’s evolving economic landscape.

Panelists/Guest Speakers

• Dr. Julius Gatune – Maastricht School of Management – Guest Speaker
• Katharina Mengede – Head of Digital Economy, GIZ
• Kudzai M. Mubaiwa – Green and Digital Transition Advisor, GIZ
• Dr. Caroline Mbaya, Head GYID Programme, African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS)
• Dr. Eunice Omwoyo, Research Fellow, African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS)
• Rebecca Muiruri, gDIH Innovator

Stay connected with us during the conference via www.acts-net.org and follow updates on social media through #Evi4Dev2025.

Click here to register

ACTS through the ACTS AI Institute (ACAII) will host a side session on artificial intelligence (AI) at the Evidence for Development conference, taking place on 6 – 8 May, 2025, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya. The side session will take place on 6 May, at 2:00 – 3:15 PM EAT.

AI is often hailed as a game-changer for Africa’s development with the potential to revolutionize healthcare, education, agriculture, governance, and beyond. Yet behind the promise lies a growing chorus of critical questions: What evidence truly supports AI’s transformative potential for Africa? How do we prevent the pace of innovation from outrunning ethical considerations and regulatory frameworks? And how can Africa chart a path that ensures AI enhances, rather than undermines, livelihoods.

This side session will bring together thought leaders, researchers, policymakers, and developers to explore the dual nature of AI: both as a transformative force and a significant source of risk. This session aims to inspire a new generation of AI researchers, developers, vendors, and users, equipped with both awareness of AI’s risks and the practical tools to address them. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of how ethics and scaling can feed into each other, forming a foundation for trustworthy AI systems tailored to Africa’s context.

Specifically, the session will explore the following key issues:

• Evidence for transformation. What is the actual, evidence-backed potential of AI in Africa? Beyond the hype, what sectors are already seeing impact – and where is more research needed?
• AI’s benefits and risks in context. Beyond the well-known concerns of misinformation and academic misuse through large language models like ChatGPT, what are the broader, proven risks of AI? Are there cases in Africa that show the dark side of poorly governed AI?
• Ethics and innovation. Can regulation coexist with innovation? What is the most impactful strategy to ensure AI development aligns with human rights, data protection, fairness, and accountability? Are ethical frameworks and toolkits enough to mitigate AI’s risks?
• Ethics tools and frameworks. The session will present ethics-of-AI toolboxes and demonstrate how developers and regulators can use them to assess and audit AI systems. These tools are essential in building responsible AI applications that serve Africa’s unique needs.

Speakers and panelists

• Hon. John Kiarie – Dagoretti South Member of Parliament | Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation.
• Prof. Tom Migun Ogada – Executive Director, African Centre for Technology Studies
• Dr. George Musumba – Dean, School of Computer Science and Information Technology  and Senior Lecturer | Thematic Leader in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning – Dedan Kimathi University of Science and Technology
• Dr. Lawrence Nderu – Chairman, Dept. of Computing – JKUAT | Founder, JHUB Africa
• Florence Anyango Ogonjo – Tech Policy Researcher, Advocate of the High Court of Kenya | Research Fellow for the AI Policy Center at the Center for Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law (CIPIT) at Strathmore University
• Brian Omwenga – Community Of Practice
• Dr. Winston Ojenge – Senior Research Fellow, African Centre for Technology Studies
• Grace Leah Okundi – Research Fellow, African Centre for Technology Studies

Moderator

• Samuel Wanjau – Research Fellow, African Centre for Technology Studies

Join us in person or virtually through bit.ly/3ELx24j

For more information, contact: ACAII[@] acts-net.org

Group photo taken at the virtual mentors training session facilitated by ACAII, Ladysmith Collective and Gender at work colleagues

ACTS in collaboration with Gender at Work, Ladysmith Collection and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) through the Artificial Intelligence for Development Africa Program have kicked off the Scaling Responsible Artificial Intelligence Solutions (SRAIS) mentorship program. The program seeks to develop the capacity of AI innovators in Africa to not only scale their solutions but do so ethically.

Through this program, expert mentors will guide innovators on responsible AI and how it connects to human rights, and the principles of gender equality, diversity, and inclusivity. The program will also explore strategies for scaling AI responsibly and gain access to essential responsible AI toolkits.

This program adopts a case-based learning approach, where real AI solutions developed by participating teams will be used as study cases to provide hands-on learning. Each AI team will be paired with expert mentors who will provide personalized support, helping them navigate the complexities of ethical AI deployment. Throughout the mentorship period, AI teams will engage in regular one-on-one mentorship sessions, while mentors will also hold monthly meetings to exchange insights and address challenges.

At the end of the mentorship program, the most promising teams including networking opportunities, market research, data collection support, and/or access to computational resources.

Furthermore, the initiative will facilitate interactions between AI developers and end-users, such as school students, to gather feedback and refine solutions. Collaborative workshops and innovation contests will also be organised, fostering a dynamic ecosystem where AI teams, mentors, and innovation hubs can share knowledge and explore high-value collaborative initiatives.

Related Resources

• AI4D Innovation Pillar project – SRAIS Mentorship – ACTS | African Centre for Technology Studies
• AI4D Reports

For more information about the program, please contact Grace Leah via gokundi[@]acts-net.org

Kenya has been selected to pilot a new UK programme on emerging technologies that will pave way for mutual partnership between the two countries.

The initiative is expected to create a framework for collaboration on AI between academic institutions and researchers in the two countries; and also develop a road map to guide the establishment of the Kenya Emerging Tech Institute and Action Lab.

This follows the creation of the UK Technical Centre of Expertise (Tech CoE) which sets out UK’s ambitions for driving the future of innovation and technology, which is guided by four principles – to be open, responsible, secure and resilient.

ACTS and the Alan Turing Institute (ATI) in conjunction with UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) organized a four day visit of Kenyan delegates – 1st week of June, 2024 – to participate in learning and knowledge exchange activities around emerging tech and AI governance in the UK.

The itinerary was deliberately structured to allow for co- creation of an impactful partnership and learning agenda. In this regard, the Kenyan delegates met with representatives from a range of partner institutions in the UK – government departments, academic & research institutions, start-ups as well as civil Society organizations (CSOs).

The visit was structured around a series of workshops and joint activities that allow representatives from UK and Kenya to interact with a view to sharing, knowledge for the purposes of sowing seeds for future collaboration and partnerships.

The Kenya-US pilot initiative seeks to partner with Kenya in a way that can elevate its voice and influence on the global stage with regard to AI governance and safety, with a particular emphasis on ensuring that African voices are being heard and that the concerns and contributions of the Global South are being taken into consideration.

It is also expected that the two countries will jointly work on the development of AI Standards and a definition of AI Safety that is appropriate to the national and regional context and  considers broader ethical issues and values around equity and inclusion.

Hon. John Kiarie, Chair, Kenya Parliamentary Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation (left) and Senator Crystal Asige (second right) joined the ACTS team and other delegates who visited the UK. ACTS was represented by Dr Winston Ojenge (far right) and Sam Wanjau (Second left).

Finally, it will support the development of Kenya’s Emerging Tech Institute and Action Lab by providing input towards a robust and implementable road map, governance framework, structure and strategy and possible twinning and partnerships with UK institutions such as the AI Safety Institute and Alan Turing Institute.

Several activities have been lined up to consolidate and actualize the learning from the visit that are expected to solidify UK’s commitment to equitable partnerships and core principles on science, technology and innovation (in particular a commitment to responsible, safe, secure and inclusive AI and Emerging Tech.

After the visit, the two countries will work on creating linkages between different institutions and agencies, launch new AI-related research partnerships and collaborations between UK and Kenyan stakeholders to ensure implementation and ownership of the outcomes.

He was among key visionaries who were honored for making significant contributions to the world of Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) as a tool for driving global prosperity and promoting public welfare.

He was feted during the multi-sectoral Conference on Research, Science, Technology & Innovation held in Nairobi.

While receiving the posthumous award on behalf Calestous Juma Legacy Foundation (CJLF), ACTS Executive Director, Prof. Tom Ogada, highlighted Prof. Juma’s contribution and the relevance & importance of Science, Technology and Innovation for sustainable development in Africa.

”Thank you for honoring the great African STI guru, Prof. Calestous Juma. We are very delighted that we are continuing with his legacy that he bestowed on us over 36 years ago.” ~ACTS Executive Director, Prof. Tom Ogada.

A heartfelt congratulations also to Prof. Wangari Maathai and Prof. Thomas Odhiambo, founder of ICIPE – International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology for their outstanding contributions to the field.

Prof. Calestous Juma founded ACTS in 1988.

The late Prof.Juma was a prominent Kenyan scientist, academic ,and policy advisor known for his work in sustainable development ,innovation, and technology in Africa.

A passionate advocate for education and development,he was instrumental in advancing policies that integrate science and technology into sustainable development strategies. His legacy continues to inspire efforts toward leveraging science and innovation for global development.

The conference focused on the crucial role of Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) in driving global prosperity and promoting public welfare.

The training program aimed to contribute to capacity strengthening on cold-chain logistics in the agri-food and health sectors. The course attracted participants from government agencies, farmer cooperatives, food industries, refrigeration professionals, and more, highlighting the critical importance of sustainable cold- chain solutions.

The training covered fundamentals and importance of cold-chain, environmental impacts and risk management, postharvest management techniques. Other topics covered include Cold-chain and refrigeration technologies, market logistics, connectivity, and telemetrics and Regulatory compliance for food and pharma storage.

ACTS, in collaboration with ACES, is implementing the Specialized Outreach and Knowledge Establishment (SPOKE) model in Kenya, demonstrating real-world applications of sustainable cold-chain solutions.

A cross-section of participants during of the session in the Cold-chain foundation course held on May 20^th – 24^th at ICIPE campus.

Despite a wealth of data and insights from climate scientists, translating these findings into tangible steps remains a daunting challenge.

Participants engage in a group discussions during the knowledge brokering workshop focusing on bridging the gap between climate research and action.

As the climate crisis intensifies, the gap between scientific research and action becomes increasingly apparent.

Despite a wealth of data and insights from climate scientists, translating these findings into tangible steps remains a daunting challenge.

In light of the above challenge, the Climate Adaptation and Resilience Programme (CLARE), a collaborative UK-Canada research initiative, held a Knowledge brokering workshop focusing on strategies to bridge the ever increasing gap between climate research and action.

The workshop featured dynamic discussions and collaborative efforts among experts, practitioners, and stakeholders. Participants delved into critical topics, including the integration of indigenous knowledge into early warning systems, strategies for social inclusion, and effective collaboration with the private sector.

These conversations were crucial for developing comprehensive and inclusive climate adaptation strategies.

Knowledge brokers play a vital role in this process by acting as intermediaries who translate complex scientific findings into actionable insights. They facilitate dialogue, foster partnerships, enhance co-creation and ensure that diverse perspectives are included in climate resilience efforts. By enhancing decision-making and promoting innovative solutions, knowledge brokers help drive real-world impact and foster a sustainable future.

The discussions primarily focused on issues such as storage and post-harvest losses, and the potential of cold chain investments to mitigate these challenges.

Throughout the forum, farmers underscored the significance of high-quality farming inputs in achieving high yields and promoting sustainable farming practices. The event highlighted a crucial takeaway from all stakeholders: not only are quality farming inputs vital for superior yields and sustainable practices, but the establishment of cold chain infrastructure is also essential. This infrastructure is key top reserving the freshness of perishable goods, expanding market access, and ensuring food safety by preventing the growth of harmful bacteria and pathogens, thus safe guarding public health.

The forum was graced by notable participants of broader stakeholders including Tigoni Grown, Mama Layla Solar, and Kathy’s Fresh. Charles from Tigoni Grown delivered an inspiring address, emphasizing the importance of collaboration for farmer prosperity.

“We want to practice responsible profitable farming. We can do this when we work together. High costs for farming inputs can be tackled through collaboration,” he noted.

Farmers registering for the business forum held in Lari, Kiambu County.

A fun fact shared during the event was the process of grading farm produce, which categorizes products based on quality, ensuring consistency from farm to table. Attendees were particularly impressed by the Grade A Potato showcased at the forum, exemplifying the potential of quality produce.

The Forum was a remarkable opportunity for farmers, stakeholders, and businesses to come together, exchange knowledge, and foster partnerships aimed at advancing agricultural development.

Participants of the stakeholder workshop held on March 19, 2024 at Maanzoni Lodge, Kenya. It attracted over 35 participants.

Kenya has made significant strides in its renewable energy sector, with an estimated 88% of its grid mix in 2022 derived from renewable sources such as geothermal, wind, and solar power. This growth is attributed to favorable policies, international treaty obligations, and regulatory improvements. Despite this progress, solar and wind energy accounted for only 16% of the total generation mix in the 2022/23 financial year, highlighting the untapped potential for expanding these resources.

To address the barriers hindering the full potential of renewable energy (RE) in Kenya, ACTS and the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), supported by the Climate Compatible Growth (CCG) consortium, launched a comprehensive Energy Policy project. This project examines the implementation challenges and opportunities related to Feed-in Tariffs (FiTs) and Renewable Energy Auctions (REA) policies.

On March 19, 2024, a stakeholder workshop was held at Maanzoni Lodge, Kenya, bringing together over 35 participants from government, academia, the private sector, and policy-making bodies. The workshop aimed to validate the project’s findings and foster a collaborative approach to enhancing Kenya’s renewable energy policies.

Participants of the stakeholder workshop at Maanzoni Lodge, Kenya. Key Insights from the workshop were: FiTs guarantee a fixed price per kWh generated from renewable sources, while REAs involve competitive bidding for projects, with the lowest bid typically winning. Both mechanisms aim to promote renewable energy but face different implementation challenges in Kenya’s unique political and economic context.

Challenges Identified

Slow transition to auction policies and lack of stakeholder engagement; grid integration and energy storage deficiencies, financing deficits and unclear regulatory frameworks and inadequate resource assessment and high energy costs.

Proposed Solutions

Digitalizing power systems and investing in renewable energy storage infrastructure; clear regulatory Powering transition to sustainable energy systems in Kenya:perspectives of stakeholders about Feed-in Tariffs (FiTs) and Renewable Energy Auctions (REA) policies frameworks and economic incentives; renewable energy resource mapping and rethinking least-cost development plans; establishing industrial parks to boost demand for renewable energy and enhanced stakeholder engagement and multidisciplinary committees for policy formulation.

Literature review highlights

A thorough review of policies and academic articles from 2008 to 2023 revealed significant opportunities and constraints in Kenya’s renewable energy sector. Key opportunities include technological advancements, increased local and global investment in RE, and supportive government policies. Major constraints include financial limitations, market factors, and policy challenges.

Stakeholder survey findings

An online survey conducted in July 2023 highlighted active engagement in the renewable energy sector but identified weaknesses in the involvement of academia and research institutions. Policy and institutional challenges were noted as major obstacles to implementing FiTs and REA policies effectively.

Future pathways and policy recommendations

Participants in the workshop discussed practical strategies for a smooth transition to REAs, emphasizing the need for clear responsibilities, grassroots involvement, and alignment with broader energy goals. Key recommendations included:developing clear regulatory guidelines; strengthening capacity across all stakeholder groups; addressing market and infrastructural challenges; enhancing public-private partnerships and revising time frames for policy implementation.

Conclusion

Kenya’s journey towards a fully renewable energy grid requires concerted efforts from all stakeholders. Effective engagement, robust regulatory frameworks, and innovative solutions to existing challenges are crucial for achieving sustainable energy goals. The insights from the workshop provide a roadmap for future policy interventions, ensuring Kenya can harness its renewable energy potential fully.

Acknowledgement

This project was implemented by the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) led by Dr Ann Kingiri, Josephat Okemwa and Yvonne Gitu and the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) led by DrAnderson Khebila, Mbeo Ogeya, Moses Kirimi and Cynthia Sitati with technical support from the Climate Compatible Growth (CCG) consortium led by Julia Tomei (University College London, UCL, UK) andStephanie Hirmer (Oxford University, UK). It was supported through the CCG – Flexible Research Fund (FRF), advanced by the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) and delivered byLoughborough University, UK. The project team from ACTS and SEI also acknowledges the great support from the project participants (during the fieldwork or during the workshop)

The successful candidates were selected from a pool of 84 applicants by a distinguished committee comprising of members of the AfricaLics Scientific Board and the Secretariat. They represent a diverse range of African countries (Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya).

The 2024 cohort will get the opportunity to participate in a one-year fellowship programme combining online pre- and post-activities with a study period of 3 months at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa.

Mentoring will be provided by a range of African and international scholars in innovation and development studies who are research active in AfricaLics and Globelics.

The aim of the programme and the scholarships is to help African PhD students working in the field of innovation and development to strengthen their academic/research qualifications, improve the quality of their dissertations and prepare for a career in innovation and development either within academia or outside (e.g. in the private sector or in government/policy making).

The programme does this by increasing the mobility and level of exposure of the PhD students to international knowledge in the field of innovation and development. It forms part of the efforts by AfricaLics to contribute to the development of a vibrant research community in Africa in this emerging and highly multidisciplinary field.

During phase I and II of the Research Capacity Development Programme (2011-16 and 2017-22 respectively), the visiting fellows had the opportunity to visit Aalborg University as part of the programme. However, from 2022, the VFP fellows have been hosted by African universities.

The Swedish International Development Agency, Sida (Stockholm), has so far provided funding for the visiting scholarships as part of the project Enhancing research capacity on Innovation and Development in Africa.

The AfricaLics secretariat (hosted by ACTS) is responsible for the project with the AfricaLics Scientific Board providing advice on scientific matters and issues of strategic importance.

	Molla Tadesse Haramaya University, Ethiopia PhD Research Title: The Role of Indigenous Informal Local institutions in enhancing Social Capital for Adoption of Agricultural innovation: A special emphasis in Ethiopia		Liza Awino Onyango-Abuje Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, Kenya PhD Research Title: Galvanizing System Change Through Youth-Led Digital Innovation: The Case Of Kenya
	Bekele Hundessa Adama Science & Technology University, Ethiopia PhD Research Title: Research and Development( R&D), Innovation and Performance of Enterprises in the Case of Resource-rich Developing Country: Evidence from Ethiopia		Bashir Kagere Makerere University, Uganda PhD Research Title: Firm Innovation Behaviour and Performance

Participants of the Tech Startup Bootcamp hosted by the ACTS-led Green and Digital Innovation Hub Kenya (gDIH) to enable Kenyan innovators access Flat6Labs’ US$95 million Seed Fund.

The ACTS-led Green and Digital Innovation Hub Kenya (gDIH) hosted a Tech Startup Bootcamp to enable Kenyan innovators access Flat6Labs’ US$95 million Seed Fund.

The fund aims to nurture the growth and development of early-stage tech startups on the African continent.

Flat6Labs has a proven track record in carefully vetting out and investing in promising startups in North Africa since it was founded 12 years ago, with more than US$16M invested in startups, and over US$191M raised in follow- on funding while creating more than 2,500 direct jobs and 80,000 indirect jobs through its first two funds in Egypt and Tunisia.

Generally, the bootcamp was designed to enhance the capabilities of tech startups and entrepreneurs in ‘Investment Readiness,’ focusing on key areas such as market research, pitch refinement, and strategic growth strategies.

The boot camp also dedicated significant time to perfecting the art of pitching. Participants learned the essentials of crafting compelling elevator pitches and developing comprehensive pitch decks. They also had the opportunity to deliver live pitches.

The bootcamp was structured to cover essential aspects of startup development through presentations and panel discussions.

A central focus of the bootcamp was understanding the current landscape of the innovation ecosystem in Kenya, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and the critical factors for investor readiness.

A central focus of the bootcamp was understanding the current landscape of the innovation ecosystem in Kenya, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and the critical factors for investor readiness.

The ACTS-led gDIH consortium partners include Konza Technopolis Development Authority, Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA), Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (KIRDI) and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT).

The hub is supported by GIZ Kenya, GFA Consulting Group GmbH, Digital Transformation Centre Kenya, and the European Union.

Gender Youth and Inclusive Development (GYID) programme lead at ACTS, Dr Caroline Mbaya, presiding over one of the sessions during the training.

Investors are increasingly becoming conscious of environmental, social and governance (ESG) safe guards as a prerequisite for funding micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

For this reason, MSMEs in Kenya need to position themselves strategically by adopting and integrating ESG standards in their business operations to stand in good stead for attracting investment.Cognizance of the value of ESG, the ACTS-led Green and Digital Invocation Hub (gDIH) conducted training for MSMES to strengthen their capacity in ESG and carbon credits.

The training also covered key aspects of carbon credits, including carbon markets and their role in combating climate change with an emphasis on ‘Carbon Credit Projects,’ ranging from reforestation to renewable energy, and the importance of selecting viable projects.

Apart from helping businesses manage risks, ESG is also used to evaluate a company’s sustainability and ethical impact. It promotes operational efficiency, positive social impact making companies/businesses more resilient and competitive in today’s market.

The first training focusing Training of Trainers (TOT) was held from 27 – 30 May 2024, saw trainers from the hub trained on key issues on ESG and Carbon Credits. The training for MSMES took place at the EKA Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya from 10 -14 June 2024. This two-phase approach ensured effective dissemination of critical information.

“As sole business owners, we are involved in decision making that can make or break our companies. Having an independent board means we can run to them to get their views and improve decision-making for the betterment of the company.” – Eliud, participant during the ESG training.

“Once you understand the basic concepts ESG, you can align your operations with practices that earn or utilize carbon credits.” – Julius Macharia, Carbon Credits Expert, GFA.

Discussions emphasized how companies can generate revenue by incentivizing emission reductions and adopting sustainable practices, attracting eco-conscious consumers and investors.

The carbon credits training covered carbon markets and their role in combating climate change with an emphasis on ‘Carbon Credit Projects,’ ranging from reforestation to renewable energy, and the importance of selecting viable projects.

“Once you understand the basic concepts, you can align your operations with practices that earn or utilize carbon credits.” – Julius Macharia, carbon credits expert.

The Blue Empowerment project team join community members during the launch of the Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) system.

The Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) is an innovative approach to aquaculture that promotes environmental sustainability and economic efficiency. In IMTA systems, multiple species from different trophic levels are cultivated together in a synergistic manner.

With this technology, fish and seaweed can be farmed in a synergistic system that enhances the production of the two species where the waste produced by the fish provides nutrients for the seaweed, while the fish help to filter and clean the water. This interconnected system mimics natural ecosystems, reducing waste and improving water quality.

This technology is part of wider research project dubbed the Blue Empowerment that brings together KIRDI (Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute), KMFRI (Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute), Kenyatta University, Bahari CBO, Sea Moss Corporation LTD, and the communities of Kwale and Kilifi. The partners held a series of activities that culminated in a colorful launch.

It is a product of wide consultations among experts, researcher, and government official and extensive community engagement sessions have been conducted to ensure local stakeholders were well-informed and actively involved in the project.

These consultations and capacity building initiatives emphasized the importance of agency in the context of IMTA system in Kwale and Kilifi Counties. This collaboration focused on women and community empowerment through a series of activities aimed at fostering inclusivity and sustainable development.

One of the notable outcomes from the training sessions was the positive impact on women regarding gender and inclusion. The training significantly boosted the confidence of many women, empowering them and giving them the Kenya’s coast embraces a new transformative aquaculture innovation ACTS, working closely with partners, is setting up an innovative technology in aquaculture that is expected to change fish and seaweed farming in Kenya’s Coast courage to participate actively in sea and ocean-related activities. This newfound confidence underscores the critical role of agency in development projects. By fostering a sense of agency, individuals – especially women – are empowered to make decisions, take initiative, and contribute meaning fully to their communities. This empowerment not only enhances personal growth but also drives collective progress towards sustainable development goals.

The IMTA system represents a significant advancement in sustainable aquaculture practices. By integrating multiple species that utilize different resources, IMTA creates a balanced ecosystem that enhances productivity and environmental health. This system not only supports economic growth but also helps communities build resilience against the adverse effects of climate change.

The Blue Empowerment project’s efforts are poised to make a profound impact on the local communities by providing new opportunities for economic development and sustainable resource management. The integration of women and marginalized groups into the project underscores the commitment to inclusivity and equitable growth.

IMTA not only enhances resource utilization but also offers economic benefits by diversifying products and reducing the risks associated with monoculture farming. By integrating various species, IMTA creates a more resilient and sustainable aquaculture practice, contributing to healthier marine environments and more stable food production systems.

ACTS is at the centre of a pioneering sustainable cold-chain solution project that is set to exponentially increase income for smallholder farmers in Kiambu County, Kenya

Poor infrastructure, lack of proper storage facilities and limited access to markets contribute to significant losses of perishable produce in Kenya. According to FAO, in Kenya an estimated KES 72 billion (578 million USD) of food is lost annually due to limited investment across the chain.

In this context, cold chain solutions present a compelling opportunity for Kenyan farmers to increase their incomes by reducing post-harvest losses and enabling access to new markets. However, food cold chain contributes to global gas emissions through cold chain technologies. For this reason,a pioneering sustainable project seeks to demonstrate how sustainable cold chain integration can enable smallholder farmers enhance their incomes and contribute to other sustainable development goals.

In this unique model, refrigeration trucks will be deployed to collect produce from farmers ensuring optimal preservation during transit. Upon arrival at dedicated aggregation centers, the produce will undergo sorting and grading, tailored to meet the diverse demands of the market.

This initiative is anchored on a Community Cooling Hub(CCH) project, linked to Africa Centre for Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold-Chain (ACES), which is a first of its kind centre established in Kigali Rwanda to address the sustainable cold chain challenge in the region. Using an innovative “hub and spoke” model, ACES seeks to work with a network of Specialized Outreach and Knowledge Establishments (SPOKEs) to develop and disseminate expertise to accelerate sustainable and resilient cooling and cold-chain solutions across Africa.

Each cold storage has a pre-cooling capacity of up to 1tonne and a storage capacity of 4 tonne. To ensure, efficient connectivity from farm to fork, the cold storage is backed by How cold chain solutions are set to transform smallholder farmers’ fortunes in Kenya ACTS is at the centre of a pioneering sustainable cold-chain solution project that is set to exponentially increase income for smallholder farmers in Kiambu County, Kenya refrigerated transport ensuring cold chain linkages right to the consumer. Cold rooms will be installed at aggregation centers that will be the platform for aggregating, grading and sorting of produce for marketing.

This will not only enhance existing agricultural operations but also diversify crop portfolios, offering farmers the opportunity to cultivate high-value produce. This will be underpinned by comprehensive support mechanisms, with farmers receiving certified seeds and agronomic guidance from a consortium of esteemed companies and governmental bodies.

ACTS is engaging with farmers in Kiambu in the establishment of a horticultural cooperative society. The horticultural cooperative is the business unit that will enable farmers to collaborate, aggregate and leverage the coldchain to engage with domestic and possible export markets to enhance their incomes.

The project will also provide a traceability mechanism whichis particularly important in safeguarding food safety, ensuring quality, meeting regulatory requirements, fostering consumer trust, and enhancing supply chain efficiency. By leveraging their produce as collateral, farmers will gain access to vital credit facilities, fostering a climate of entrepreneurship and sustainable growth within the community.

Dr. Joel Onyango, the Director of Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Impact at ACTS presiding over one of the sessions at the workshop.

As the world transitions towards green energy, critical questions arise regarding who benefits, who bears the burdens, and how to ensure that the transition is inclusive and equitable.

The first and most important question is how can marginalized communities – often disproportionately affected by pollution and environmental degradation – not be left behind in the shift towards renewable energy? And secondly, how can we empower local communities to actively participate in the planning and implementation of renewable energy projects,ensuring that their voices are heard and their needs addressed?

In the realm of employment, it is critical to examine the gender dynamics within the burgeoning green energy sector, with specific regard to decent work and sustainable livelihoods for women and youth.

And now, in an attempt to answer these questions, ACTSin conjunction with the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ),How We Adapt (HWA), the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and the Africa Centre for Energy Policy(ACEP) is conducting a study to explore these dynamics in Kenya. Country studies are concurrently being undertaken in South Africa and Ghana by partners within the consortium,with ACTS leading the Kenyan study.

Specifically, the study aims to explore public policy interventions necessary to cement decent work and sustainable livelihoods, particularly for women and youth,through the localization of clean energy value chains that include SMMEs capability development in Kenya.

The research will explore three overarching questions aimed at informing effective policies in Kenya; and empowering stakeholders to actively participate in achieving localization,decent work, and sustainable livelihoods within the clean energy value chain.

Data for this study will mainly be collected through desk review, firm level surveys and key informant interviews and findings validated through a peer review workshop. Apart from the report, other key outputs would include research summaries, policy briefs and an advocacy toolkit for trade unions. There will also be local seminar series targeting trade unions/SMMEs and a cross-country conference.

The research findings hold significant potential to shape policy and regulatory frameworks aimed at fostering a just energy transition in Kenya. For example, policymaker scan utilize these insights to prioritize localization, decent work, and SMMEs capacity-building, while ensuring gender inclusivity and opportunities for the youth.

Recommendations from this study research will inform initiatives to enhance SMME capabilities in the energy sector through tailored training programs, access to financing, and technical support.

Additionally, by emphasizing gender inclusivity, the research will drive efforts to mainstream gender considerations,promote women’s participation, and address barriers to their involvement in the energy sector.

Further, the research highlight opportunities for youth engagement and entrepreneurship within the energy sector,while also providing insights to inform advocacy efforts by trade unions to protect labor rights and interests, and promote descent working conditions during the energy transition.

A graphic artist illustrating future scenarios for a circular bioeconomy in Kenya’s dairy sector under the VALORISE project which aims to examine how principles and practices of circular bioeconomy can be leveraged in the sector.

The concept of a circular bioeconomy is gaining traction globally as an innovative approach to sustainable development, and Kenya stands at a pivotal point to harness its potential.

Embracing a circular bio-economy especially in Kenya’s food sector, can address pressing issues such as waste management, resource efficiency, and environmental sustainability. However, This transformation requires a collaborative effort to envision and develop shared future scenarios that align with the unique socio-economic and environmental contexts of the country.

How, then can we develop shared future scenarios for how we can integrate CBE in Kenya, and why is it important?

It is in this context that the VALORISE project – a partnership of ACT, Roskilde University, Egerton University, Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT, East Africa Dairy Association and Arla Food Ingredients. VALORISE project is exploring the Creating future scenarios for circular bioeconomy in Kenya’s dairy sector opportunities for integrating CBE principles in the growing Kenya dairy processing industry. The project organized a roundtable workshop as first step toward developing scenarios and pathways toward CBE in the dairy sector.

The workshop was organized using participatory scenario building approach and integrating the SEEDS method.This involved stakeholders exploring initial ideas that would need to be “planted” to develop alternative future scenarios of the Kenyan dairy industry development to shift towards circularity and sustainability envisioning pathways that enhance valorisation of side-streams.

Specifically, the workshop was designed to understand the status of processing in the dairy sector, highlighting recent trends in growth and diversity of dairy processing that are resulting in high volumes of side-streams. In addition,participants discussed optimal pathways for integrating side-stream valorisation in the industry.

Africa holds immense potential for global scientific and technological advancements. However, unlocking this potential requires a paradigm shift – one that embraces collaboration, inclusivity, and sustainability.

For this reason, ACTS is implementing a project that aims to strengthen the capacity of Science Granting Councils (SGCs) in Sub-Sahara Africa (SSA) to fund and manage research and innovation projects in areas aligned with their national development plans that integrate inclusivity and sustainability. Specifically, this initiative aims to refine and adapt research and innovation frameworks to meet the unique needs of African countries, support the design and management of high-quality research competitions, and ensure the seamless execution of projects through robust partnerships.

By mainstreaming gender equality and inclusivity, this initiative not only seeks to drive scientific excellence but also to foster equitable and inclusive growth across the continent.

Currently, the initiative is supporting 17 SGCs to implement more than 80 research and innovation projects across the continent. The initiative has made deliberate efforts to enhance inclusion of early career researchers, private sector actors, small and medium-sized enterprises, and community actors. Interestingly, all councils have committed increased resources and surpassed their pledges (At least USD $740,909 or 12% of total RIM project budget) which is more than 10% that most councils promised. In 2023,a total of USD$ 1,245,655.98 was disbursed to support projects across the 17 councils while USD$ 1,012,013.72was disbursed in 2024.

Number of projects implemented per sector under the RIM project.

In total, councils have selected 79 research and innovation projects for funding. Out of these 66 projects are national while 15 projects are collaborative projects – 9 bilateral projects and 6 tri-lateral projects. There are also 23 public-private partnership projects. Agriculture and emerging technologies are the most preferred sectors by Councils,with energy, health and mining being amongst the five top sectors. Emerging technologies are rapidly gaining interest of the councils. Out of 79 projects selected by councils,emerging technologies account for 20 projects translating to25 % of the total projects being funded by the councils.

Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs)

There is a steady appreciation by the councils of the need to invest public resources to stimulate collaborations between academia-industry through funding PPP projects. Working with industries to co-create and implement projects is thesurest way of enhancing uptake of solutions developed by the academia by industry. Out of 79 projects selected by councils, 23 projects (29%) are Public Private Partnership Projects. At least 10 of the 16 councils (i.e. 63% of the councils) are funding PPP projects. Based on the above categorization, 9 RIM research PPP projects are at the ideation stage; 8 projects at the testing stage and 6 projects fall under the stage of adoption and uptake.

The private entities that form part of PPP arrangements under the RIM project are mainly private companies, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), innovation hubs, science/technology parks and agricultural producer organisations.

Heads of Science Granting Councils (SGCs) in Africa during a meeting under the umbrella of the research and innovation project which aims to strengthen their capacity to fund and manage research and innovation projects in areas aligned with their national development plans and priorities.

Heads of Science Granting Councils (SGCs) in Africa during a meeting under the umbrella of the research and innovation project which aims to strengthen their capacity to fund and manage research and innovation projects in areas aligned with their national development plans and priorities.

ACTS has initiated a new fund to support Science Granting Councils (SGCs) in Africa to convene multi-stakeholder policy events on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI).

The fund is expected to strengthen the role of the Councils in policy and decision-making processes.

Through a call for Expression of Interest (EoI), the Councils will be supported to identify, prioritize and select multi- stakeholder event themes they wish to convene. The councils will then be supported to develop knowledge products that articulates best practice as well as recommendations and action plans.

The fund will also support councils to promote and disseminate the outputs and recommendations to facilitate the implementation of the action plans at national and local levels.

Through a virtual knowledge platform, ACTS will upload the resulting knowledge products from all the Councils on the SGCI website. Four peer to peer learning virtual workshops – two in year 1 and two in year 2 – will be organized to enable Councils to share experiences, and best practices.

Depending on the stakeholder events selected by the SGCs in the different key themes, the stakeholder events convened by the SGCs will take different formats. SGCs will decide on the formats for the events that suit their needs and interests

Ultimately, this initiative expects to enable knowledge sharing, learning, and networking among SGCs and other stakeholders in the STI system.

Policy dialogues will enable efficient and effective use of evidence to instill public confidence and strengthen the councils’ efforts to make stronger arguments for increased public funding from their governments.

In addition, this initiative will enable the councils to increase their engagement with private sector actors with a view to promoting technology transfer and commercialization of research results leading to increased deployment of research results to address sustainable development challenges.

This engagement will enhance the role of councils as national STI policy champions and advisors; and increased public awareness about the role of STI in social and economic development in sub-Saharan Africa to unlock other opportunities from the government in advancement of STI.

Participants in one of the sessions of a RIM project workshop held in Senegal

The late Prof. Calestous Juma, who founded ACTS in 1988, and a renowned Harvard University professor and champion of STI in Africa, succinctly encapsulates the significance of bridging the gap between knowledge and action.

In his seminal work “Innovation and Its Enemies: Why People Resist New Technologies”, he asserted:

“In the ever-evolving landscape of science, technology, and innovation, there exists a profound chasm between knowledge and action. This divide, often referred to as the “knowledge-action gap,” presents a formidable challenge to progress and change”.

These words resonate deeply with our mission, where we strive to translate knowledge to action, turning ideas into impactful solutions that uplift communities and foster sustainable development in Africa.

In this issue, we highlight the interplay between innovative research, policy engagement, and transformative action, emphasizing the need for collaborative efforts to achieve sustainable development. First, we highlight details of a newly formed Kenya-UK partnership that is poised to reshape the landscape of emerging technologies in Africa. There is also an interesting story about a unique artistic methodology for creating future scenarios, specifically focusing on Kenya’s growing dairy sector especially in processing.

Also, we highlight how innovation in sustainable cold chain solutions are set to improve farmers’ fortunes in Kenya and why a new agricultural technology will forever change the farming of fish and seaweed at the Kenyan Coast. We also tell you why it is important to build the capacity of MSMEs on environmental, social and governance safeguards including opportunities with carbon credits. Did I mention that we have a new cohort of AfricaLics 2024 Visiting Fellows? Who are they and where are they from?

Last – which could as well be first – we celebrate the legacy of Prof. Calestous Juma with a Lifetime Excellence Award he received, honoring his significant contributions to the world of Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI).

By Alfred Oduor

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have launched two new Model Quality and Performance Guidelines for Off-Grid Refrigerating Appliances and Model Regulation Guidelines for Energy-Efficient Ceiling Fans

These guidelines were launched on October 22, 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya, during the 35^th meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol. These guidelines are the latest in the series of Model Regulation Guidelines that have been developed by UNEP’s United for Efficiency initiative (U4E) in partnership with Berkeley Lab.

The guidelines were developed by a global panel of experts, and ACTS through Engineer Isaiah Omolo provided some input. The ACTS Executive Director, Prof Tom Ogada lend his voice at the launch lauding the importance of the guidelines, emphasizing the need to deploy energy-efficient and durable off-grid refrigeration equipment that can help to improve the livelihoods of many communities in Kenya.

“Deploying energy-efficient and durable off-grid refrigeration equipment can help to improve the livelihoods of many communities in Kenya to ensure they keep their food and medicines fresh, as well as enabling beverage and food retail providers and fishers to better commercialize their products,” he said.

The voluntary guidelines are intended to inform market transformation efforts in developing and emerging economies that support the adoption of new off-grid refrigerating appliances with recommended parameters for quality assurance, energy efficiency, and use of refrigerants and foam-blowing agents with a lower global warming potential (GWP) than typical legacy refrigerants. Prior guidelines include room air conditioners, domestic refrigerating appliances and commercial refrigeration equipment that have already been deployed in South-East Asia and Southern African countries.

Approximately 3.6 billion people are at medium or high risk contending with extreme and inadequate options to preserve nutritious food due to inadequate access to cooling from fans and other sources, and lack of refrigeration.

Ceiling fans enhance thermal comfort at a lower cost and environmental impact compared to air-conditioning with a typical power consumption of less than 90 watts compared to 1,500 watts for popular air conditioners. Off-grid refrigeration has a crucial role in safeguarding health and well-being, and in enhancing services offered by small-scale vendors.

As of 2022, 775 million people worldwide still lacked access to electricity, of which more than 80 per cent were in rural areas. It is critical to drastically scale-up the off-grid refrigeration market to meet the needs of this massive, underserved segment. The new Guidelines provide recommended scope, definitions, test procedures, energy efficiency and other considerations which can be applied in market transformation programmes in developing and emerging economies.

The off-grid refrigerator guidelines were developed with funding support from the UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and the Clean Cooling Collaborative (CCC). CCC also supported the Ceiling Fan Guidelines development.

The African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) has won a competitive bid to establish and operate the Green Digital Innovation Hub (gDIH) in Kenya.

While making the announcement on 30^th June, 2023, the GIZ Digital Transformation Centre (GIZ-DTC-SKIIVE) team in Kenya revealed that the ACTS Consortium emerged winner mainly due to their ‘exceptional capabilities and dedication to driving sustainable innovation’.

The GIZ-DTC-SKIIVE project team and the ACTS Consortium will spearhead the development of the hub, ushering in a new era of sustainable technological advancements. Together, they aim to drive meaningful change, promote environmental consciousness, and foster innovation that paves the way for a brighter future.

The Hub aims to support Kenya’s digital transformation while promoting sustainable development, the circular economy, environmental protection, and climate change mitigation.

The Consortium will collaborate closely with the GIZ-DTC-SKIIVE project team to embark on a transformative journey. The initial phase will involve a study trip to Europe, allowing the consortium to gather invaluable insights and inspiration. Subsequently, a detailed roadmap will be developed, leading up to the official launch of the Hub in December 2023.

The collaboration between the ACTS Consortium and the GIZ-DTC-SKIIVE project team will extend beyond the roadmap, as both parties will engage in the co-creation of a comprehensive business plan. This plan will outline the strategic framework for the Green Digital Innovation Hub, ensuring its long-term success and impactful contributions to the sustainable technology landscape.

ACTS Executive Director, Prof. Tom Ogada, said the consortium has what it takes to achieve the objectives of the Hub.

“As a consortium, we are extremely delighted to have won the call for proposals to establish the Green Digital Innovation Hub. The vision of the Hub resonates and aligns very well with the aspirations of the individual member organizations of the consortium. We are therefore committed to using our expertise and resources to deliver effectively on the mandate of the Hub and to ensure that the Hub will significantly contribute to the growth of the innovation ecosystem in Kenya,” he said.

The ACTS Consortium will also oversee the incorporation of a non-profit entity, solidifying the commitment to a purpose-driven approach and fostering a collaborative environment within the hub. Additionally, an implementation plan will be meticulously devised, ensuring the seamless execution of initiatives and maximizing the potential for transformative outcomes.

On her part, Sylvia Mukasa, the Digital Innovation Hub Expert of the GIZ-DTC-SKIIVE project team congratulated the ACTS Consortium for emerging the winner.

“We extend our warmest congratulations to the ACTS Consortium for their outstanding achievement as the winning consortium of the Green Digital Innovation Hub. Their selection exemplifies their remarkable accomplishments and perfectly aligns with our shared vision of building a sustainable and connected world. We had some quality contenders with whom we would still want to collaborate with the gDIH as the hub comes to life. We look forward to working closely with the ACTS Consortium to bring their transformative ideas to fruition,” she said.

Apart from ACTS, other members of the Consortium are Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA), Konza Technopolis, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), the Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (KIRDI), and the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO). It also includes Vilgro Africa and AMSCO Development Solutions Limited.

Each member brings unique expertise and a proven track record in sustainable technologies and digital innovation, making them an ideal choice to lead this transformative project.

The Digital Transformation Center (DTC) Kenya is a flagship of the Team Europe Initiative on Human Centered Digitalization, co-financed by Germany and the EU, implemented by GIZ and Estdev. It has been established to support Kenya’s digital transition towards a sustainable and human-centered digital economy and society.

Solar dryers can significantly reduce post-harvest losses by providing a low-cost, energy-efficient method for preserving crops, fruits, vegetables, and other agricultural products. For this reason, ACTS is leading a consortium that aims to fabricate 500 low-cost dryers over 5 years intended to reach over 40,000 smallholder farmers.

The consortium held a 2 day training at the Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (KIRDI) Kisumu Centre on 4^th and 5^th April 2023.

The fabricators were taken through intensive sessions on hybrid solar drying technology including; principles and design considerations, safety protocols and regulations, basic fabrication skills such as metal works, welding and soldering; assembling and installation of the biomass component and operation and maintenance procedures.

The purpose of the training was to support solar dryer fabricators to deliver high technology hybrid solar designs.

Present in the training was Dr. Fred Ogutu, Eng. Jackis Aukah and Winstone Nyaguti from KIRDI, James Abaya (Savannah Circuit Technical Limited), Teddy Mweu (EBAgroPamoja Africa Limited), James Nyamai (Bioafriq Energy LTD), Patrick Muriiti (Africa Natural Products), Erastus Matete &Christian Odhiambo Abonyo (Grekkon Limited), Solomon Mutia (Luthekam Solutions) Dr. Catherine Kilelu and Isaiah Omolo (African Centre for Technology Studies ACTS).

A group photo of participants who attended the training of solar dryer fabricators in Kisumu.

The training culminated in a walkshop around the centre where participants viewed various solutions developed by KIRDI in addition to the solar dryer and interacting with fellow fabricators with whom they could exchange thoughts and ideas.

A solar dryer at the Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (KIRDI), Kisumu.

One of the participants at the training, James Nyamai from Biofriq Energy Limited, said the knowledge gained from the training will help improve the quality of their solar dryers.

‘’This training has really been helpful in terms of getting to understand more about the hybrid dehydrators, how best to calculate some of the parameters scientifically and how to improve the hybrid dehydrators so that we can offer a better product to customers at a low cost’’, said James Nyamai.

ACTS was part of a consortium awarded a grant to scale-up solar dryers to reduce post-harvest loses (PHL) in Kenya. The grant was awarded by the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) through the Seeding The Future Global Food System Challenge. Other members of the consortium implementing the project include the United Nations Environmental programme UNEP) and the Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (KIRDI).

The project seeks to scale and commercialize the proof-of-concept of climate action solutions of low-cost solar drying technology enterprises to cut PHLs and drive the realization of multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), leveraging lessons from the UNEP Ecosystem Based Adaptation for Food Security (EBAFOSA) initiative advancing this concept.

ACTS is coordinating publication of a new book on decolonising knowledge and learning systems in the Global South.

This book will explore knowledge and learning systems and the current efforts to decolonize these systems in the Global South and beyond. The book calls for a re-focus on how knowledge production occurs arguing for resistance of eurocentrism that pervades academics, theory and the development of concepts, deconstruction of what is considered as ‘true knowledge’; a diversification of knowledge particularly by focusing on the producers of this knowledge prioritising Global South knowledges and content to feed global learnings; embracing of different methodologies for knowledge production to inform policy decisions and wider political debates to enable learning, enhance practice and nurture more emancipative outcomes in the Global South.

With current struggles to decolonise education, the book re-examines and reorients the language of knowledge production and consumption, curricula design and delivery and lastly explores new and alternative approaches emerging to support learning in a ‘context-sensitive’ way.

The book covers research approaches used in major disciplines such as natural sciences, humanities, education and economics.

A new book on research methods and scientific communication will soon roll of the ACTS Press. The book, Research Methods and Scientific Communication: A Problem-Based Learner-Centred Approach, takes a practical, learner-centred and problem-based approach to impart in students key learning skills.

This approach is consistent with the paradigm shift in education that advocates for competency-based approach and knowledge discovery by the student, hence the learner-centred approach to learning.

More important, it draws its content entirely from the author’s practical experience in teaching research methods to a new generation of undergraduates.

The author, Prof. Romulus Abila, a Professor of environmental biology at Maasai Mara University, explains that the book is more of a “doing book” that primes learners to search for and analyse, evaluate and synthesise information.

“It is an interactive tool in knowledge acquisition and is consistent with the new paradigm shift in education globally that makes the learner central in knowledge acquisition, he said.

Through case studies, student activities, scenarios and end of chapter questions and assignments, this book is an interactive tool and a primer in learning how to conceive a research idea, formulate research questions, develop a viable research proposal, collect and analyse data and present research findings through various dissemination outlets.

In addition, the book covers research approaches used in major disciplines such as natural sciences, humanities, education and economics. It is therefore appropriate to students across all research disciplines.

Prof. Abila has several years of experience in teaching ecology and conservation biology. He has taught at Maseno University, Kenya, University of Bolton, UK and South Eastern Kenya University, Kenya.

As a research, policy and technology-oriented organization, Konza Technopolis provides an ideal location for ACTS to actualise its mission of strengthening the capacity of African countries and institutions to harness science, technology and innovation for sustainable and inclusive development.

Members of the ACTS Governing Council (GC) and Secretariat after holding a meeting with senior Managers of Konza Technopolis.

ACTS is exploring possibilities of setting up an office at Konza Technopolis – an upcoming innovation and technology hub focusing on information technology, business process outsourcing and research development.

In February 2023, ACTS Governing Council (GC) visited the facility and met with the top leadership to to appraise and evaluate its value proposition and make a decision on the next steps.

During the visit, GC chair, Prof. Alfred Oteng-Yeboah, said the organization needed a place to a call home and Konza was the most ideal location.

“ACTS has always been occupying space in different parts of Nairobi since its establishment 34 years ago and it has dawned in us that it is probably better to find a place that we can call home. Konza is a place that relates very well with our mandate and strategic direction” – ACTS GC Chair, Prof. Oteng-Yeboah

ACTS Executive Director, Prof. Tom Ogada, was impressed by the pace of infrastructural development of the facility adding that ACTS was ready to be part of the journey towards exploiting the power of science, technology and innovation for sustainable development in Africa.

“We are very excited to be part of this journey and look forward to working closely with Konza to promote the agenda of harnessing the power of science, technology and innovation for sustainable development for Kenya and the entire continent of Africa” said Prof. Ogada.

On his part, Konza Technopolis acting Chief Executive Officer, John Paul Okwiri, was excited at the prospect of ACTS taking up space at the hub.

“We are glad the partnership started a few years ago and we will do everything in our power to ensure you settle. We want to work together with you especially on the digitalization aspect. We consider ACTS as our anchor tenant in the technology band,” he said.

Preliminary indications point to ACTS having a satellite office at Konza; discussions are currently underway between the two parties with a view to agreeing on critical administrative protocols. The GC also held discussions with ACTS staff who were generally open to setting up a satellite office at Konza.

Whereas the move to Konza will be gradual, it is expected that the Digital, Innovation and Knowledge Economy (DIKE) programme will be the first to relocate.

ACTS is spearheading development of a new regional strategy on innovation and technology transfer for the East African Community (EAC).

The strategy will guide the region to exploit existing opportunities within the innovation ecosystem and with a view to harnessing, developing, and applying science, technology, and innovation for socio-economic development. It will also help and address the gaps within the ecosystem.

Eventually, the strategy will help catalyse industrial innovation and related outputs, strengthen technology and knowledge transfer, enhance knowledge creation, build effective partnerships, and improve technology management and protection in the East Africa.

Development of the strategy was undertaken through a six-step process: documenting the status of innovation and technology transfer in the region, mapping key stakeholders in the Innovation ecosystem, data collection, preparation of a draft strategy, holding a regional workshop and preparing a comprehensive implementation plan

The results of both the desk review and field data collection were used to prepare the draft regional innovation and technology transfer strategy.

In the process of collecting data for the strategy, it emerged that, whereas the five countries are at different stages in terms of policy and legislative framework. Specifically, all the countries do not have standalone policies on innovation, technology transfer and commercialization of R&D.

Therefore, the technology transfer strategy will give encouragement and provide a framework to the EAC member states develop national policies and strategies on innovation and technology transfer.

Regarding the characteristics of innovators and start-ups in the region, it emerged that the current level of commercialization among research organizations in the region is still minimal with little impact to the economy.

The key challenges for commercialization include lack of requisite skills for technology transfer and commercialization of innovations; inadequate funding to support more innovators and start-ups and low prioritization of technology transfer.

ACTS is among three Kenyan organisations selected to implement the Trans-Path project on learning and management of water resources.

The new project sets out to establish an international network of academics, postgraduate researchers, policy makers, activists, and water stewards for participatory action research on different sites, while also fostering learning across disciplines and locations.

The initiative – Trans-Path-Plan: Water Transformation Pathways Planning – aims to develop science-based tools that support inclusive, pro-active, adaptive transformation pathways towards better management of water resources.

It will build the capacity of policymakers to use more inclusive, transparent, participatory and adaptive planning tools; and support water users in different parts of the world to participate meaningfully in policymaking, planning and management of water resources.

In addition, the project will strive to develop the capacity of water scientists to conduct high-quality trans-disciplinary research to support long-term planning and approaches on water resources and create accountable, transparent, and effective institutions and policies that will ensure transformative actions on water resources are inclusive and sustainable, through appropriate policies.

Apart from ACTS, other institutions from Kenya who are part of the project include Egerton University and Kaimosi Friends University. In Kenya, the project will focus on Kingwal wetland and Yala basin. It will aim to transform unsustainable cultivation and pollution into sustainable wetlands for local livelihoods; and also improve water quality through participatory research and T-Lab approach.

ACTS will use its vast experience and networks to host a summer school on water transformation pathways

It is also anticipated that several junior or early career researchers are supported, with a good representation of female staff in this, each one hosted by one of the research partners and with supervision and guidance from senior staff.

A learning component has been embedded in the project to enable participants to receive training; this will be delivered by the different partners and researchers, sharing their particular expertise and experience with the network. This will mainly be done through online courses and webinars.

However, the project recognises that transformative adaptation will not put an end to the continuous dynamics that characterize complex social-ecological systems given the fact that the transformation process has many components with different types of outcomes and will continuously evolve.

Ethiopia’s Minister of Technology and Innovation, Dr Belete Molla (left) when they met with ACTS Executive Director, Prof. Tom Ogada and head of STIKS programme, Dr Agnes Lutomiah, on March 30, 2023 at the Ministry offices in Addis Ababa.

The Ethiopian Minister of Innovation and Technology, Dr. Belete Molla, met with the ACTS team to discuss and understand the vision and operations of the newly established research Council. The meeting was held on March 30, 2023, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Discussions focused on modalities of how ACTS will work not only with the Ministry but also with the Bio and Emerging Technology Institute (BETin) formerly known as Ethiopian Biotechnology Institute (EBTi). The two parties discussed plans for implementation of the STI policy in the country and roadmaps for intellectual property and technology transfers. To set the collaboration framework in motion, the team also agreed to co-develop the concept note for the IDRC/FCDO funded programme on funding and managing research and innovation projects, which will be driven by national research councils. The goal of the programme is to strengthen the capacities of Science Granting Councils (SGCs) to fund and manage research and innovation projects.

To ensure structural collaboration, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) will be drafted between ACTS and the Ethiopian Biotechnology Institute

A committee has already been constituted to coordinate the process of developing a curriculum and put in place the necessary structures to actualize the idea.

The AI4D Africa Scholarship network has started the process of launching a new master’s degree programme on artificial intelligence and machine learning. Initially, the programme will be offered in a few universities affiliated to the AI4D Africa project.

The decision was reached during the AI4D Africa PhD Summer school held in December 2022 in Mombasa, Kenya. It brought together supervisors and students from 22 universities drawn from 18 African countries.

A committee has already been constituted to coordinate the process of developing the curriculum and put in place the necessary structures to actualize the idea. The committee is chaired by Prof. Fasikaw Zimale from Bahir Dar University in Ethiopia. He will be deputized by Dr. Sonia Semedo from the University of Cape Verde. Each university in the network is represented in the committee.

The committee has been meeting virtually on Wednesday since January 2023. So far, the work group has reviewed curricula from 6 universities, and they resolved to adopt the curriculum from Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NMIST) as it was found to be the most comprehensive out of the samples reviewed.

Through a document sharing platform, each member of the workgroup has been assigned a section to work on; progress is discussed and monitored on a weekly basis.

Although AI and ML has a steep learning curve, it would be important to create a training programme for ML for students who have graduated in other fields to be equipped with knowledge and skills on machine learning.

This would help achieve the goal of creating 500 scholars on AI and ML every year for ten years that will be sufficient to develop solutions in these areas to drive sustainable development in Africa.

A decision will be made on whether the course will be offered virtually or in-person. The courses will also be offered in modular form that allows for flexibility and will have a strong private-sector collaboration component.

ACTS in collaboration with the Centre for Research in Energy and Energy Conservation (CREEC) is promoting adoption of a relatively new agricultural technology – Agrivoltaics

Agrivoltaics, also known as agrophotovoltaics, is a method of combining agriculture and solar energy production on the same land. This innovative approach involves installing solar panels above or alongside crops in agricultural fields.

Under the umbrella of the Agrivoltaics Systems project, ACTS and CREEC have been holding a series of seminars to enhance adoption of this unique agricultural technology in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

The goal of agrivoltaics is to maximize land use efficiency by producing both food and energy on the same land, while also providing benefits such as increased crop yields, reduced water usage, and improved soil health. The solar panels provide shade for the crops, which can help to reduce water evaporation and prevent heat stress on the plants.

ACTS and partners have been organizing webinar series aimed to create awareness of the innovation and inform policy to improve accessibility and rate of adoption at the community level.

Speaking during one of the Webinars, Dr. Anthony Kimaro, from ICRAF Tanzania highlighted various reasons why the AVS should be adopted.

“The good thing is that we are not starting from scratch, we have energy systems, crop production systems that have principles of which agrivoltaics system builds on and the integration is the innovation part. I think we should not be deterred by whatever numbers and challenges but should move forward to pursue this technology.”- Dr. Anthony Kimaro (ICRAF) Tanzania.

Lack of public participation and limited access to fiscal data are major challenges in the adoption of AVS policies in East Africa. Therefore, the government should be more involved in educating the public about AVS and promoting their use in order to create more opportunities and increase sense of responsibility.

The Agrivoltaics project – funded by the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) and the University of Sheffield aims at using land for farming and for collecting solar energy. Project partners include The University of Sheffield, World Agroforestry Centre, University of York, Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), Centre for Research in Energy and Energy Conservation (CREEC), Africa Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), Teesside University, The University of Arizona, Latia, Sustainable Agriculture Tanzania (SAT) and Chloride Exide.

Multi-criteria mapping involves comparing and analyzing different options based on a set of pre-defined criteria, which could include cost, time, quality, risks, resources and stakeholder preferences.

Participants of the multi-criteria mapping workshop under the Blue Empowerment project pose for a group photo during the workshop held in Kwale County.

Multi-criteria mapping is a methodological approach that helps to prioritize and evaluate various project options or alternatives based on a number of predetermined criteria or factors simultaneously.

The ACTS-led Blue Empowerment project employed this methodology to assess and establish the priorities for technology, policy, and governance options that address community needs and fits well into the gender responsive integrated aquaculture system.

The project aims to tackle barriers for the empowerment of fisher women in Kenya’s coastal region through adoption of climate-smart Integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) technology of seaweeds and fish production for improved livelihoods and resilience.

This technique involves comparing and analyzing different options based on a set of predefined criteria, which could include factors such as cost, time, quality, risks, resources, and stakeholder preferences. It is one of the most effective tools for ensuring meaningful stakeholder engagement, especially for projects that work closely with communities.

Essentially, it is a structured process of identifying and mapping relevant ways of setting priorities and making decisions. Once a criteria for decision-making has been identified, it is defined, mapped, weighted and preferences made for each criterion.

This critical exercise was conducted during a workshop held between 27^th February to 1^st March 2023 in Kwale County. It was attended by representatives from the County Government of Kwale and Kilifi, including the Ministry of Fisheries and Ministry of Youth and Gender officials, Council of Governors (COG).

During the two-and-a-half day workshop, participants explored policy, technology, governance and inclusive business options, based on weighted criteria, to identify pathways that would be best suited in promoting uptake of IMTA technology.

Mr. Tei Usi-Bahari Chair of the Bahari CBO Network, a key partner in the Blue Empowerment project, emphasized the need for community inclusion during project implementation.

‘’NGOs, county governments, and government departments should avoid excluding the community from projects, as they play a critical role in seeing successful implementation of projects”, he said.

His sentiments were echoed by community members who expressed their views regarding the project.

‘’This technology that incorporates fish and sea weed farming is something very new and something that can be beneficial to us. I want to encourage my fellow farmers to embrace this new technologies that are helping us move from what we know as ‘analogue’ to ‘digital’. We should also be careful to address the risks that might come with it.’’ Sea weed farmer, Bahari CBO Member.

Other partners implementing the project include Kenyatta University (KU), Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI), Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (KIRDI) and Sea Moss Corporation.

ACTS Executive Director, Prof. Tom Ogada, implored AI4D Africa scholars to focus on completion of their PhD studies and strive to generate new knowledge on AI and ML to address key socio-economic challenges facing the continent.

The AI4D Africa Scholarship project held a successful summer school in Mombasa, Kenya, bringing together more than 75 participants – PhD/Masters’ students, supervisors and partners – from 22 universities in 18 African countries.

A group photo of PhD/Masters’ students, supervisors and partners under the AI4D Africa Scholarship project and ACTS staff who attended the Summer school in Mombasa, December 2022.

Under the stewardship of ACTS, students, supervisors, and partners under the project got an opportunity to explore ways of strengthening, mainstreaming, and expanding capacity building programs to enable wider access to emerging scholars in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in Africa.

Participants were taken through in-depth presentations on various aspects of AI and ML including intellectual property, commercialization of research outputs, artificial intelligence research and ethics, understanding responsible AI development and deployment, strengthening machine learning skills, gender and AI in African context, artificial intelligence and research policy and resource mobilization

The presentations were followed by insightful discussions and sharing of experiences by participants on different issues relating to AI and ML. While at it, supervisors, students and partners were urged to align their research projects with existing ethical standards and human rights components.

ACTS Executive Director, Prof. Tom Ogada, implored AI4D Africa scholars to focus on completion of PhD studies, generate knowledge on AI and ML to address key socio-economic challenges facing the continent and devise effective strategies to strengthen and sustain the network.

In addition, the short courses offered to beneficiaries should be mainstreamed and made available not only to the beneficiaries but to a wider group so as to enhance the capacity of scholars in AI and ML in the continent.

The AI4D Africa Scholarship intends to transform into a continental network that will blaze the trail of AI and Ml in Africa through awareness and training.

The network gained more impetus during the meeting as students, supervisors and partners got to deepen knowledge on their research fields, take stock and strategize on the next steps.

Meanwhile, AI4D Africa Scholarship beneficiaries should interrogate their research concepts or outputs with a view to identifying what can be patented by examining whether the idea is useful to industry and whether it is novel.

Apart from ACTS, other partners that form the AI4D Africa Scholarship network include Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar (UCAD), Institute of Humanities (University of Cape Town, University of California; Research ICT Africa (RIA); and University of Linkoping (LiU), Sweden.

The conference provided a platform for early career researchers to develop their presentation and networking skills while building collaborative relationships with other researchers.

The impact of COVID coupled with undesirable environmental and social effects – including climate change and excessive socio-economic inequalities – have challenged the traditional narrow focused innovation models of growth.

A group photo of participants who attended the 5^th AfricaLics conference held in Yaounde, Cameroun, December 2022.

This means that debates around the role of science, technology and innovation (STI) in shaping the future of African countries will inevitably shift, post COVID. Such debates are crucial for the African region that hosts more than half of the least developed countries in the world; and which will – according to the UN – see its population doubling to 2.4 billion people by 2050.

In this context, the University of Yaoundé II, in partnership with the Pan-African University Institute for Governance, Humanities, and Social Sciences hosted the 5^th AfricaLics Research Conference themed “National Innovation System for Resilience and Sustainable Development in Africa.” It was held on 9^th-11^th November 2022.

The conference was designed to create space for researchers to present their work and learn about new methods and theories. It provided a platform for early career researchers to develop their presentation and networking skills while building collaborative relationships.

It brought together Ph.D. students, early career researchers, and established scholars from various fields to enhance the quality of innovation studies related to development and growth in Africa.

A key discussion point was the need to develop capabilities to help foster sustainable industrialization and development in a manner that respects the planetary boundaries.

It also raises key questions around: How can the innovation and development community help to further develop concepts and strategies that deal with external shocks while keeping the focus on SDGs?

The AfricaLics network – hosted by ACTS – is an academic research and capacity building network that focuses on how innovation (the process through which new or improved products, processes, organizational forms, ways of working and acting are introduced into new environments) occurs and the relationship this has with economic and social development in African countries.

For more information log onto https://conference.africalics.org/

Six PhD students – four female and two male – have been selected to take part in this year’s AfricaLics Visiting Fellowship Programme (VFP).

The successful candidates were selected from a pool of 72 applicants by a distinguished committee comprising of members of the AfricaLics Scientific Board and the Secretariat. They represent a diverse range of African countries (Cameroon, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ghana and Kenya).

The 2023 cohort will get the opportunity to participate in a one-year fellowship programme combining online pre-and post-activities with a study period of 3 months at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa.

Mentoring will be provided by a range of African and international scholars in innovation and development studies who are research active in AfricaLics and Globelics.

The aim of the programme and the scholarships is to help African PhD students working in the field of innovation and development to strengthen their academic/research qualifications, improve the quality of their dissertations and prepare for a career in innovation and development either within academia or outside (e.g. in the private sector or in government/policy making).

The programme does this by increasing the mobility and level of exposure of the PhD students to international knowledge in the field of innovation and development. It forms part of the efforts by AfricaLics to contribute to the development of a vibrant research community in Africa in this emerging and highly multidisciplinary field.

During phase I and II of the Research Capacity Development Programme (2011-16 and 2017-22 respectively), the visiting fellows had the opportunity to visit Aalborg University as part of the programme. However, from 2022, the VFP fellows have been hosted by African universities. The 2022 cohort was hosted by Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) in Kenya.

The Swedish International Development Agency, Sida (Stockholm), has so far provided funding for the visiting scholarships as part of the project Enhancing research capacity on Innovation and Development in Africa.

The AfricaLics secretariat (hosted by ACTS) is responsible for the project with the AfricaLics Scientific Board providing advice on scientific matters and issues of strategic importance.

The workshop was meant to provide an opportunity for the Science Granting Councils (SGC), collaborative technical agencies (CTAs) and relevant stakeholders to share experiences and lessons learnt from the activities of SGCI-2.

ACTS and Ghana’s Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MESTI) held a two-day learning and consolidation workshop for the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) in sub-Saharan Africa. It was held on March 27^th – 28^th, 2023 in Accra, Ghana.

The event focused on activities across SGCI thematic areas, and countries undertaken from 2018 to February 2023, providing an opportunity for the Initiative to continue discussions started during the 2022 Annual Forum held in Cape Town, South Africa on the SGCI- 2 achievements and lessons. It also enabled Councils to further reflect on the key findings and recommendations of the recently concluded SGCI external evaluation.

A panel discussion during the learning consolidation workshop for the Science Granting Council Initiative (SGCI) held in Accra, Ghana, on March 27^th– 28^th, 2023.

SGCI is a multilateral initiative established in 2015 to strengthen institutional capacities of public science funding agencies in sub-Saharan Africa with a view to supporting research and evidence-based policies that contribute to economic and social development.

The workshop set out to achieve five key objectives: showcase the achievements made in this second phase of the SGCI by Councils in progressing their mandates and strengthening national STI systems; pause and reflect on what has worked well, what has worked less well; and reflect on efforts to institutionalize and embed the capabilities and capacities that have been built under the SGCI.

In addition, the workshop was meant to provide an opportunity for the Councils, CTAs, and other relevant stakeholders to share experiences and lessons learnt from the activities of SGCI-2 and co-produce a series of recommendations that can be used to guide development of new work plans for activities post-February 2023 between Councils and CTAs.

While opening the workshop, ACTS Executive Director, Prof. Tom Ogada, called for the restructuring of the current research and development (R&D) funding approach which puts more emphasis on research and little on uptake of research outputs.

“There is an urgent need to direct more resources to technology transfer and commercialization of existing innovation and/ or to create stand-alone innovation funds. This will include investment in entrepreneurship, creation of new start-ups, and strengthening the establishment, coordination, and management of the rapidly increasing innovation hubs in the continent,” said Prof. Ogada.

The SGCI was launched in March 2015 initially as a partnership of the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and South Africa’s National Research Foundation (NRF). SGCI-1 strengthened the abilities of Councils from 15 countries to manage research, design and monitor research programmes.

The second phase began in June 2018 through additional investments by the Swedish Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), IDRC and NRF. The German Research Foundation (DFG) joined in November 2019 while Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation joined in 2022.

The webinar series that commenced in June 2022 bring together a diverse pool of scholars from all over the world and culminated in a summer school held in Egerton University from 21^st -27^th October 2022

Decolonizing knowledge and learning systems is a process of mainstreaming marginalized perspectives and amplifying diverse voices, while challenging and dismantling existing power structures.

It involves acknowledging and addressing the ways in which traditional educational structures have been shaped by colonialism and imperialism by examining the Eurocentric biases and power dynamics that have influenced what is considered valid knowledge and ways of knowing.

Working closely with the University of Innsbruck and the University on Natural and Life Science (BOKU) Vienna. ACTS has been active in the wider process of decolonizing knowledge and learning systems in the Global South through a series of seminars since 2022. The seminar series explore various themes in the decolonization of knowledge and learning systems in the global South to inform policy decisions and wider academic and political debates.

It focused on among other topics: knowledge production, hegemony in publication practices and dichotomy of knowledge system contexts; pedagogies, teaching practices, and emerging techniques in higher learning systems; contextualizing curricula, learning materials, practices and languages for learning; and decolonization and sustainable development a critical approach.

Decoloniality Pathways Summer School 2022/2023 Drawing from the lessons on the webinar series, a Summer School was held to allow participants to explore the various themes to inform policy decisions and wider academic and political debates to enable learning, enrich knowledge, enhance practice and nurture more emancipatory outcomes in the Global South. At the end of the training sessions, the participants joined in the ACTS engagement workshop, as part of their post-summer school alumni engagement.

Lorine Auma, a participant in the Summer school and a student at Egerton University expressed her delight in attending the summer school and the lessons she has learned from it.

‘’It has been an interesting experience. The first day I walked into the summer school class, I felt like I was in a completely different world. I have learned a lot from the different presenters from BOKU, Egerton and University of Innsbruck,” she said.

Dr Joel Onyango, reflects on the trip that aimed to enhance partnerships and staff exchanges within the Africa UniNet network of research institutions and universities in Austria and Africa.

By Dr Joel Onyango, Head of Climate Resilient Economies (CRE) programme, ACTS

The trip was to enhance partnerships and staff exchanges within the Africa UniNet network of research institutions and universities in Austria and Africa. Specifically, the exchange visit focused on developing sustainable partnerships in challenging the dominant narratives in knowledge and learning systems that are continuously characterized by knowledge hegemonies and elitism.

The visit involved BOKU university where the ACTS team (Nora Ndege and Joel Onyango) held a workshop and discussed with the BOKU Cluster for Development Research (CDR) team on the context of decoloniality within the knowledge and learning ecosystems. The workshop included reflections from the CDR team on what decoloniality means for them, and how the decolonial theory and lens can be applied in practice.

The ACTS team also visited the Austrian Foundation for Development Research (OFSE) where concepts on living libraries was discussed in detail after an extensive tour of the OFSE library with diverse literature on Africanacity. The visit included a tour to south of Austria with a walk by the Inn river, and over the Inn’s bridge to the mountain top, courtesy of the Institute for Sociology University of Innsbruck.

Through a series of workshop meetings, the ACTS team together with the University of Innsbruck discussed details on the upcoming decoloniality book volume, the 2023 seminar series (building into the seminar series in 2022), and the summer school scheduled for August 14^th to 21^st in Kwale County Kenya. The foresighted discussions also explored the potential for future partnerships and was crowned by delivering a well-attended public lecture on ‘hierarchies, hegemonies and elitism in decolonizing learning and knowledge systems.’

The exchange visit was not without fun! The ACTS team explored Austrian pastries and sweets including the Viennese apfelstrudel among other flavored strudels. Under the snow, the ACTS team explored the skating experiences in the Tyrol region, and shared cultural experiences and differences between Kenya and Austria.

ACTS is at the centre of an initiative that seeks to strengthen the capacity for trans-disciplinary research in Africa.

Under the umbrella of the Consortium for Trans-disciplinary Futures Research (CTFR), the initiative aims to strengthen collaboration among the African universities, local / indigenous communities, and decision-makers to address emerging and future challenges.

To achieve this goal, the African chapter of the consortium held a webinar on 28th March 2023, that focused on the future of open research in Africa – leveraging lessons and experiences to explore pathways for scaling up trans-disciplinary futures research in Africa.

The seminar took stock of lessons and experiences from applied trans-disciplinary research model in Africa and other regions. It sought to answer the question: what potential opportunities exist for scaling up trans-disciplinary research in Africa?

Norah Ndege, a Science Policy and Research Fellow at ACTS was one of the panelists in the seminar.

CTFR seeks to strengthen the collaboration among the African universities, local / indigenous communities, and decision-makers in Africa to address emerging and future challenges.

Leveraging grassroot agency, ‘informal’ spaces, and existing academic research platforms within Africa, the Consortium seeks to consolidate research evidence by opening up the African spaces of research to allow diverse and neglected ways of knowing and doing to thrive and support the decision-making environment.

According to a recent survey conducted by ACTS, Eastern Africa is leading in the adoption and deployment of digital agricultural technologies in the continent.

Findings of the survey, which sampled 34 producer organizations across 9 African countries, reveal that East Africa leads with 217 digital solutions compared to 135 in Western Africa and 85 in Central and Southern Africa.

Kenya recorded the highest number of solutions deployed in the region, mainly attributed to good mobile connectivity, high mobile penetration rates as well as robust mobile money services.The survey was commissioned by Fairtrade Africa (FTA) to assess the status of digital innovation integration among its certified producer organizations (POs) in Africa.

Findings indicate that digital advisory services are the most developed and deployed digital solutions, followed by agri-finance, marketing and supply chain. These were mainly delivered through short message services (SMS) and interactive voice response (IVR) to smartphone applications, OBD (outbound voice dialing), helplines and USSD (unstructured supplementary service data).

The study found 39 diverse types of digital technologies and solutions used by the POs. About 51% of the solutions adopted are characterized as basic to above basic, which is a step-up from manual or paper-based operations.

Farmers rated increased productivity, improved farming practices as the most important outcomes resulting from adoption of digital solutions, followed by ease of record keeping and increased profit. However, they indicated that difficulty in language and user interface and high cost of the technologies were the main barriers towards adopting digital technologies.

Findings also indicate that at least 32.9% of farmers are using one digital technology or service; male farmers were more likely to adopt digital technologies than their female counterparts.

The study recommends connecting Fairtrade certified POs with identified developers of systems, supporting development of other custom solutions for specific needs, promoting digital solutions that builds trust along the target supply chains and developing strategies to close gender disparities in digitization of agricultural solutions.

ACTS has begun implementing a new programme to support Science Granting Councils (SGCs) in managing research and innovation projects in Africa.

The three year programme aims to strengthen the capacities of SGCs to fund and manage research and innovation projects in areas aligned with their national development plans and priorities.

As a lead partner, ACTS is implementing the programme as part of a consortium comprising of the Association of African Universities (AAU) and the University of Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar (UCAD).

Programme approach

To leverage on available resources and expertise, the Councils will be at the driver’s seat during the implementation of the programme with the consortium playing a supportive role. The consortium will also work closely with other CTAs to build synergies.

Meanwhile, the programme will provide opportunities for the Councils to pilot and deploy some of the tools, templates, and guidelines developed from the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCIs). The consortium will work with the Councils to build synergy including joint calls for proposals, workshops and monitoring/ evaluation where possible.

Taking into consideration that Councils fund and manage several projects from different sources, the consortium will work with the Councils to build synergy including joint calls for proposals, workshops and monitoring and evaluation where possible.

The consortium will also make available the existing database of ACTS reviewers in emerging technologies to those Councils that will require them.

Members of the consortium charged with implementing the programme.

Gender considerations

This new programme puts a lot of emphasis on gender equality and inclusivity by ensuring that at least 30% of projects are led by female researchers. In addition, gender and inclusivity will be embedded in the design of research methods, data collection, data analysis, knowledge production and dissemination, and final beneficiaries of project outputs (processes, technologies and innovations); It will also target disadvantaged sectors (e.g informal sector) and researchers (Early Career Academics).

The Councils are currently developing calls for proposals to guide selection of projects to be funded through the programme. A number of Councils have already advertised the calls.

The ACTS programme team during a meeting with National Research Fund (Kenya).

The African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) believes that research, capacity building and policy incentives are key drivers of knowledge creation, dissemination and application.

Generating new knowledge, enhancing the skills of individuals and organizations, and creating a supportive policy environment that encourages the use of evidence-based solutions can drive progress towards a more sustainable, equitable and prosperous future. By focusing on these three elements, ACTS aims to enable African countries and institutions to harness science, technology and innovation for sustainable and inclusive development.

Research helps to generate new knowledge and insights, which can be used to inform policy decisions and guide the development of new innovations. Capacity building, on the other hand, enables individuals and organizations to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to apply the insights generated through research. Policy incentives provide a framework for promoting and supporting the development and implementation of new ideas, technologies, and practices.In combination, these three approaches can unlock the power of knowledge by creating a virtuous cycle of innovation and growth – which aligns neatly with ACTS’ mandate.

In this edition of the ACTS newsletter, we feature a new research initiative for Science Granting Councils, a novel agricultural technology that aims to boost food production in East Africa and shed light on how our Blue Empowerment project is using multi-criteria mapping. We also have a new cohort of of AfricaLics visiting fellows: who are they? What are their research focus?

Meanwhile, our AI4D Africa project organized a Summer School which resolved to initiate a new Masters’ degree programme on AI and machine learning. We also highlight what transpired in a meeting between ACTS and Ethiopian Minister of Technology; a new strategy for technology transfer in East Africa; and, why ACTS is exploring possibilities of setting up an office at Konza Technopolis. Did I mention that ACTS Press is about to publish a new book on research methods? Yes, we have a sneak preview of it.

The NGO source’s Equivalency Determination (ED) completed their analysis and was able to certify ACTS as equivalent to a Certified Public Charity.

NGOsource’s Equivalency Determination (ED) on File “badge” means that ACTS has been determined by NGOsource to be equivalent to a U.S. public charity or government instrumentality for a specific funder during a specific period of time. The U.S. grantmaker evaluates whether an intended foreign grantee (ACTS) is the equivalent of a U.S. public charity. The grantmaker collects a set of detailed information about the grantee’s operations and finances and makes a reasonable determination of its equivalency.

In their book – Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty – economists Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson delve into reasons why some countries prosper socially and economically while others fail. Explaining this dichotomy, the authors posit that nations that prosper socially and economically prioritise application of science and technology, in what they refer to as scientific and technological progress.

In light of the above, the new ACTS Strategic Plan (2022- 2026) provides a clear roadmap on how the centre will consolidate gains made in implementation of its programmes and chart new pathways to strengthen the capacity of African countries and institutions to harness STI for sustainable and inclusive development. This will be done by strengthening and sustaining the recognition of ACTS as a centre of excellence in policy relevant research and development in STI, climate change, energy, agriculture, digital technology and gender, youth and inclusive development. This will be supported by enhance ACTS’ influence and impact through policy advocacy, improved communication, capacity building, knowledge and technology transfer and partnerships.

ACTS will support the development of a cadre of Africacentred researchers, analysts and policy makers on STI, knowledge and society, capacity building, knowledge utilisation, technology transfer, intellectual property, STI roadmaps for SDGs, and evaluation of the impact of STI on the development of African countries. Creating new footprints in the sands of Africa’s STI

Meanwhile, ACTS is also finalising a research strategy that outlines the guiding principles regarding the management, support, and development of research. The strategy will aim to present a framework for the management, support and development of research and innovation activities; align research and innovation activities with the ACTS Strategic Plan 2022 – 2026 strategic objectives and provide an approach for strategic operationalisation of research and innovation activities across programmes. The Director of Research and Innovation, Dr Ann Kingiri, is leading this initiative.

Ultimately, ACTS aims to become a think tank of choice for policy relevant research in the application of STI in strategic thematic areas including climate change, energy, digital innovation, agriculture and food security, gender and youth; inclusive innovation- through quality research, policy.

The framework is expected to foster environmental sustainability, achieve more equitable income distribution and meet other social challenges, particularly for women and youth.

In developing the framework, ACTS is working closely with Transformative Innovation Policy Consortium (TIPC) coordinated by the Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU) at the University of Sussex under the umbrella of the Transforming Climate Innovation Ecosystems through Inclusive Transdisciplinarity (TransCIIT) project.

The project is implemented by the University of Sussex, Kenya Climate Innovation Center, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology and the University of Johannesburg.

The new framework is predicated on the assumption that social transformation hinges heavily on enactment, effective implementation and monitoring of STI policies. However, having effective STI policies is not enough; they must be managed effectively to catalyse the change process. And for this to happen, policymakers must not only have the right frameworks but also the capacity to manage the same. Therefore, the capacity of policymakers in managing STI policies must also must also be enhanced to effectively guide the process of transformation under the new framework.

And whereas policies often do not initiate transformative change, they can make a crucial contribution by steering socio-technical change processes towards transformative goals. Thus, as the new policy framework is being developed, efforts are also underway to develop the capacity of policy- makers in the continent to manage the same.

Apart from developing the new framework and building the capacity of policymakers, the TransCIIT project, which is an offshoot of the Innovation for African Universities (IAU) programme, is also seeking to find ways on how to establish strong relations between the full range of actors in Kenya’s climate innovation ecosystem (CIE), particularly active participation of young people and women (inclusivity), and productive interactions between academic, practitioner, policymaker and citizen perspectives.

This will be done by creating synergies among actors in various sectors and locations engaged in technological and non-technological climate innovation. Specifically, the project focuses on the role universities can play in this effort to maximise the benefits for women and youth. This will contribute to the evidence base of the IAU community of practice and will be an example of how multiple stakeholders – including universities outside Kenya – can co-create solutions.

ACTS is working with local and international partners to develop an integrated strategy intended to spur innovation and support start-ups to successfully transition into commercially viable enterprises.

The stage is now set for implementation of recommendations deriving from a comprehensive mapping study conducted by ACTS, with a view to developing national support structures and associated mechanisms that will drive innovation and fuel the spirit of entrepreneurship in Kenya.

ACTS Executive Director, Prof. Tom Ogada (left), Caroline Kiarie of UNDP (centre) and Josephine Ndambuki of Konza Technopolis during a discussion at the validation workshop.

ACTS has partnered with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Kenyan National innovation Agency (KeNIA), Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KOTDA) and the Association of Countrywide Innovation Hubs (ACIH) to put in place the necessary mechanism and structures to enable start-ups successfully navigate the treacherous path of entrepreneurship.

According to the Executive Director, Prof. Tom Ogada, the potential of Kenya’s innovation ecosystem has not been fully exploited to drive the country’s socio-economic development. Hence, actors must coalesce their efforts anchored on an overarching strategy that will catalyse action towards actualising the vast potential of innovators and start-ups in the country.

“The Government of Kenya, through the relevant ministries, should develop a stand-alone innovation strategy to drive the country from a regional leader to a key player in the global innovation ecosystem. The strategy should provide a clear vision for the country’s innovation ecosystem, taking into consideration the existing strengths and opportunities as well as the identified challenges and gaps,” he said.

Prof. Ogada was speaking during a workshop to validate findings of a study on mapping the innovation ecosystem in Kenya in which he took participants through an elaborate presentation detailing the status of the country’s innovation landscape. The report covered regional and global innovation status, legislative and policy framework, historical perspective, key indicators, challenges and opportunities – and offered practical recommendations on how to enhance the ecosystem.

A cross-section of participants listen to a presentation during the validation workshop held in Nairobi.

He called for the formation of a technical team to develop an implementation framework for the recommendations proposed in the study. The framework should articulate implementation structure, coordination, responsibilities and roles, monitoring and reporting, and resource mobilization.

ACTS and other key actors in the Kenyan innovation ecosystem – UNDP, KOTDA, KeNIA and ACIH – have started discussions on how to implement some of the recommendations emerging from the study.

KeNIA Chief Executive, Tony Omwansa highlighted the need for broaden the innovation ecosystem thinking beyond startups and the hubs and provide ways of advancing innovation beyond the ICT context. The role of education in nurturing innovations, stronger mindsets, critical thinking, and problem-based learning is also important

The chair of ACIH, Magdalene Chekemoi, said it was important to focus on the needs and challenges that stifle innovation and ensure the existence of an inclusive and collaborative ecosystem.

The Chief Executive Officer of KOTDA, John Tanui, highlighted the need to identify and contextualise the metrics used in measuring the performance of the innovation ecosystem in terms of ease of doing businessin the country.

Finally, Bheki Bhembe, a Senior Economist at UNDP, said the programme’s Accelerator Lab aims to drive entrepreneurship and innovation to address the complex youth unemployment challenges.

Africa risks lagging behind in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs if the continent does not embrace and responsibly deploy artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) solutions to address emerging global challenges.

This was the main message emerging from the 3rd Calestous Juma seminar focusing on how AI and ML solutions can be deployed to accelerate realisation of SDGs in Africa. The seminar was meant to create awareness on how Africa can develop its capacity to exploit the huge potential accorded by AI and ML to accelerate realisation of the global goals and enrich the lives of people in the continent. It was held in June 2022.

Specifically,   the   seminar   focused   on   application   and development of responsible AI and ML and showcase cutting edge research projects in AI and ML being undertaken in the continent under the umbrella of a flagship programme on Artificial Intelligence for Development in Africa (AI4D Africa) implemented by ACTS.

The three-year programme is funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA).

The seminar also explored gender dimensions with regard to the application of AI and Ml in Africa. Whereas demand of AI has increased significantly, women still lag behind especially in Africa in in application and development of AI solutions.

A 2020 World Economic Forum report found that women make up only 26 percent of data and AI positions in the workforce, while the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI’s 2021 AI Index Report found that women make up just 16 percent of tenure-track faculty focused on AI globally.

The CJ seminar series, jointly organized by ACTS and CJLF, are meant to honour and cement Prof. Calestous Juma’s legacy as a global icon in the application of STI for sustainable development.

Until his untimely death in December 2017, Prof. Calestous Juma was an internationally recognised authority in the application of science, technology and innovation (STI) to sustainable development especially in developing countries. His work focused on analysing how knowledge and innovation could be harnessed for development in the context of institutional change in socio-economic systems.

	“Africa must embrace and harness the huge capacity of AI and ML to accelerate sustainable development with a view to creating an inclusive society. We   are   currently   supporting 20 scholars on AI and ML in 15 universities spread across 12 countries in Africa. This will create the much needed capacity in AI and ML in the continent.” Prof. Tom Ogada Executive Director, ACTS
	“Africa is lagging behind in the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning because we do not have enough trained people with enough capability to use new technologies to address challenges facing the continent especially climate change, lack of water, lack of food, all of which can be understood better if we apply artificial intelligence.” Prof. Shem Wandiga Dean, College of Scholars, ACTS
	“The AI4D Africa programme is focused on Advancing AI application in dealing with developmental challenges in the continent. However, we risk causing harm with these technologies if we don’t take a responsible approach which is inclusive and rights based ethical and sustainable.” Katie Clancy, IDRC
	“It is important create awareness on the practical application of ethical and responsible artificial intelligence and machine learning for their successful deployment not only from the standpoint of public perception and adoption but also for researchers and policy makers and those who implement those polices.” Angela Christiana, Executive Director, CJLF

A cross-section of participants during the Valorise project workshop held in Nairobi, July 2022. The project focuses on circular bio-economy in the dairy sector.

Food production and processing systems in low and middle income countries are characterised by high levels of wastage – up to a high of 40% – which is highly unsustainable. And although much effort has gone into preventing or reducing such loses, the situation is not improving as expected.

This calls for the need to re-think current production and processing systems and develop new models of converting organic wastes into useful products – animal feed, fibres, bio- energy and industrial raw materials – in what is commonly referred to as circular bio-economy.

Preventing organic wastes and re-using the same have potential economic benefits that translate into viable business models and can improve resource-use efficiency through savings on land, water and feed resources.

In this context, organic wastes refer to residues that remain at the end of the processing of biological raw materials, which in this case is confined to the dairy sector including raw milk that is rejected by the dairies. Hence, ACTS together with other partners have come together to explore ways through which dairy processing enterprises can re-use and add value to organic wastes.

This project will study the application of circular economy principles in Kenya’s growing and modernising dairy industry; and analyse current practices in the country’s dairy industry in order to explore the potential for preventing, reusing or recycling its organic waste.

Specifically, the project will strive to provide a clear understanding of the potential of circular economy in the dairy sector, create a foundation of bio-economic knowledge on which Kenyan dairy-industry stakeholders can use to sustainably grow the sector.

In addition, the project seeks to increase the capacity to conduct research on circular bio-economy, including training a new cohort of researchers with the skills to advance a research and innovation agenda in this field.

To achieve the above objectives, the project will develop an analytical framework that integrates biophysical, technical, economic and institutional factors to understand dairy bio- economy transitions.

It will also map key actors, activities and institutions in the dairy value chain and analyse the flows, volume, quality and spatial distribution of organic wastes in the dairy industry and use the data to estimate the volumes available for circular utilisation.

Finally, the project will review relevant technical solutions and products that can match the current and future needs of a dairy circular bio-economy, analyse the incentives and opportunities that can enable dairy firms to innovate and apply bio-circular principles, explore future scenarios for a dairy bio-economy development, disseminate results to R&D, policy, industry stakeholders and scientists and build the capacity of researchers in research methodology, project management and scientific writing and dissemination.

The project will focus on developing relevant knowledge and tools to solve water-related challenges and strengthen capacities of actors within river basins and wetlands. Two case studies – Local (Kingwal wetland) and regional (Yala basin) – will be conducted to support sustainable wetlands for local livelihoods and water quality. The studies will entail participatory approaches, policy engagement through tested tools, and research and knowledge dissemination through summer schools.

Researchers will work closely with communities and policy makers to develop relevant tools and approaches for water management based on knowledge generated from the studies.

ACTS will implement the project jointly with Egerton University and Kaimosi Friends University College under the umbrella of the Delft Water and Development Partnership Programme (DUPC), which aims to support and catalyse meaningful and lasting transformations to socially inclusive and ecological sustainable water management practices.

“It is expected that the project will help improve and enrich knowledge and insights on adaptation pathways for water management, increased partnership and joint learning, effective and inclusive collaboration”

Also, the project will enhance sharing of water knowledge and expertise across actors as well as institutional strengthening of policy actors who will be equipped with the skills, knowledge and facilities to effectively participate in joint research and education on water and/or implement promising solutions in their everyday practices.

The project is led by Dr. Joel Onyango, Director, Climate Resilient Economies Programme, ACTS and Nora Ndege, Research Fellow and PhD student at the University of Sussex, United Kingdom.

The programme aims to assist African PhD students working in the field of innovation and development to improve the quality of their dissertations, strengthen their academic and research credentials in readiness for a career in academia, the private sector or government/policy making.

The programme does this by enhancing the PhD students’ agility and exposure to global knowledge in the area of innovation and development. The initiative is a component of AfricaLics’ efforts to support the growth of an active research community in Africa in this newly developing and intensely interdisciplinary topic.

One of the group discussion sessions at the VFP workshop held in Nairobi.

The project is managed by the AfricaLics secretariat based at ACTS. The AfricaLics Scientific Board offers guidance on technical issues and matters of strategic importance.

A group photo of the VFP programme participants at the workshop

The programme is coordinated by the AfricaLics secretariat in collaboration with Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology in Kenya, with assistance from the AfricaLics and Globelics scholars based at various universities, the UJ-TRCTI and other pertinent African and international universities active in the field of innovation and development.

It aims is to foster the talent needed to meet a growing demand for research and development in responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) in African public universities. The programme targets registered PhD students who have finished course work as well as research proposals with special attention given to women candidates who have completed MSc in areas relevant to AI and Machine Learning and wishing to pursue PhDs studies.

Preference is also given to low-income countries which are not endowed with universities that can offer PhD in AI and Machine Learning. Early Career Academics (ECA), mainly those who have completed their doctoral   studies,   are   also   supported to become fully-fledged, independent, and competent researchers. This is done through capacity building, mentorship and interaction with peers.

In addition, the programme offers a series of complementary activities to build the capacity of beneficiaries. These include short-courses, PhD Academy, quarterly seminars, annual workshops, regional conferences and online training workshops for supervisors and PhD mentoring.

The programme is also enhancing the capacities of the existing ICT departments to offer MSc and PhD in AI and ML through research tools such as data bases, GPUs and related infrastructure for AI and ML will be required.

This not only facilitates the research activities of the ECA and consequently enhance career progression, but also enhance their recognition within the departments, particularly if these infrastructures are made available to other postgraduate students and final year undergraduate students within the departments.

	Tiomela Lontsi Brice Borel Research area: Automatic generation of biomedical image captions (Biomedical images captioning). University of Yaounde, Cameroun
	Dr. Sosdito Estevao Mananze Research area: Application of Artificial Intelligence to optimize cultural operations in Agriculture in Mozambique. Eduardo Mondlane University – Higher School of Rural Development, Mozambique
	Reine Clarisse Djamkou Research area: School curriculum and learning contents matching using machine learning algorithms. University of Yaounde I, Cameroun
	Christian Leigh Noudjimti Research area: Development of numerical and statistical methods for weather prediction   for   intelligent   management of electrical networks with a high rate of renewable energy. University of N’Djamena, Tchad
	Alagah Komlavi Atsu Reseach area: Development of an Intelligent System for the Management of Agricultural Crop Diseases for Sustainable Development in Niger. Abdou Moumouni University of Niamey, Niger
	Dr. Ugochi Adaku Okengwu Research area: An AI enhanced detection and treatment of tomato plant diseases in Africa. University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria
	Mushagalusa Ciza Arsene Research area: Practical use of Random Forest regression for predicting disease vector abundance: application to the abundance of Rhipicephalus appendiculatus in permanent livestock pastures. University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin
	Dr. Sónia Semedo Research area: The use of artificial intelligence in mitigating crop losses. University of Cape Verde
	Dr. Thomas Messi Nguelé Research area: Using Machine Learning Algorithms for Efficient Complex System Analysis on Multi-core architectures. University of Yaounde I, Cameroun

Participants of the 8th AfricaLics PhD Academy hosted by Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) in Nairobi.

Nearly 30 PhD students from Sub-Saharan African countries converged in Nairobi, June 2022, for the 8th AfricaLics PhD Academy. The Academy was hosted by the Jaramogi Odinga Oginga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) and the AfricaLics Secretariat based at ACTS.

The AfricaLics network is an academic research and capacity building network that focuses on how innovation (the process through which new or improved products, processes, organisational forms, ways of working and acting are introduced into new environments) occurs and the relationship this has with economic and social development in African countries. Such research is becoming known in the network as ‘innovation and development studies’ because it is at the intersection of innovation and development studies.

The PhD Academy is only one of a number of activities being undertaken under the AfricaLics network.

On 9^th February 2022, ACTS signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with JOOUST to host the Visiting Fellowship Programme (VFP) under the AfricaLics project.

The MoU between JOOUST and ACTS has resulted in the revamping and renaming of an existing program as an institute or a center, which opens significant opportunities for mainstreaming the R&D and anchor the Visiting Fellowship Programme (VFP) and the recently launched Master’s degree programme at the university.

The JOOUST management team was delighted to fast-track the formalisation processes needed to assist in getting this program off the ground.The AfricaLics PhD Academy and the VFP programme are supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) under the ACTS’ run project ‘Enhancing Research Capacity on Innovation and Development in Africa’.

“The AfricaLics PhD Academy started 10 years ago in Nairobi and has returned this year to its birth place. At the end of this 8th Academy, we will have trained over 200 PhD students in this emerging field of study for the continent. The Academy provides an opportunity for students who often sit in disciplinary departments to experience this new emerging multi-disciplinary field and become members of a network of scholars who work in this field; providing  an important peer support system as they continue with their careers” Prof. Rebecca Hanlin, ACTS non-resident research fellow and member of the AfricaLics Secretariat.

“JOOUST is honoured to have been able to host the PhD Academy and the VFP programme. This year sees the VFP programme being hosted for the first time in Africa. This is possible because of the burgeoning expertise on the continent. JOOUST is at the forefront of these activities having been among the first universities in sub-Saharan Africa together with University of Johannesburg to have a dedicated PhD programme in innovation and sustainable development.” Prof. Benard Muok, JOOUST Director at Directorate of Research, Innovation and Partnership.

ACTS is driving a new national strategy aimed at increasing the use of clean cooking methods to reduce over-reliance on bio-fuels. The initiative is already gaining momentum countrywide with more households showing indications of shifting from using bio-fuels to electricity; the latter is cheaper and environmentally friendly.

Under the umbrella of the Modern Cooking Services (MECS) which include partners from the Clean Cooking Association of Kenya (CCAK), Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC), and Gamos East Africa, the initiative is expected to increase the number of households in Kenya using electricity to cook.

From left, Dr. Joanes Atela, Director Impact and Partnerships ACTS, Joshua Munywoki, Principal Wote Technical and Training Institute (WTTI), John Wamae, Director TVETs Makueni County, and Mary Mbenge, Chief Officer, Natural Resources, Environment and Climate change, Makueni County during the e-cooking hub launch at WTTI Makueni County.

E-cooking Hubs

The hubs allow local capacity building in e-cooking, technology skills transfer, business model testing, research designs which inform local policy development and strategies. With the hubs in operation, electric cooking can rapidly scale up as an aspirational solution for a sizeable population still struggling to cook with unclean fuels.

Seed funds will be awarded to the four hubs to keep them running for the local communities to be continuously sensitised on e-cooking.

Community of Practice

Apart from the e-cooking hubs, MECS and partners has established an e-cooking community of practice (CoP) that brings together various stakeholders in the e-cooking space in Kenya and beyond. The CoP was launched in April 2022 virtually and aims to initiate and sustain continuous dialogue on electric cooking options in Kenya towards the realisation of universal clean cooking access in Kenya by 2028.

The first monthly dialogue focused on understanding the electric cooking techo-policy landscape in Kenya while the second focused on the role of mini-grids in promoting e-cooking in the country.

While acting as a platform to bring different stakeholders together to dialogue on the e-cooking opportunities in Kenya, the CoP also allows data and information sharing and thus allowing inclusive and effective collaborations between the electrification and clean cooking sectors which had previously been working independently.

As a result, an enabling e-cooking environment will be created to allow policymakers formulate policies that endorse electric cooking in the country.

E-cooking demonstrations

Finally, the partners are supporting the weekly ‘Pika na Power’ demonstrations program at KPLC. The programme is meant to create awareness, enhance the capacity of the public on e-cooking and thus generate evidence of effectiveness, efficiency, convenience, and affordability of e-cooking.

Different technology providers get the chance to showcase energy-efficient electric appliances making it easier for the public to make informed decisions on the appliances to buy for different cooking needs.

Anew integrated agricultural technology is set to positively shift the economic dynamics of women in Kenya’s coastal region by enabling them to sustainably and optimally exploit marine resources.

In this set-up, species with mutual and interdependent benefits are farmed together, which provides resilience against failure of one agro-produce. In this case, rabbitfish – which is highly coveted in the region – is farmed together with seaweed in an integrated and mutually beneficial production system. The IMTA technology involves building special cages along pre-identified areas of the ocean which will allow women to cultivate seaweed and also rear fish in the same system.

Under the umbrella of the Blue Empowerment project, funded by the International Centre for Research and Development (IDRC), the initiative is being implemented by scientists drawn from ACTS, Kenya Marine Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI), Kenya Industrial Research Development Institute (KIRDI) and Kenyatta University. The scientists are working closely with local organisations – Bahari Community Based Organization (CBO) and Seaweed Corporation, a private organisation involved in the production of seaweed.

	“Women continue to have limited access to ocean resources because they feel insecure at sea, lack the skills and capital to invest in fishing vessels and post-harvest handling facilities and suffer social pressure and discrimination from the hierarchical power dynamics in their communities.” Dr. Joel Onyango, ACTS
	“This technology is meant to empower women in light of the Covid-19 challenges and also to address barriers of development of women in the coast region especially as it appertains to access to ocean resources.” Dr. Linus Kosambo, KIRDI
	“If we can be supported to get a good and reliable market, we can make much more money and the women will support their families in a better way and transform our community. We are happy because of this project will improve our production and marketing.” Fatuma Usi, Bahari CBO
	“Apart from making money from the fish and seaweed, women will also be supported to add value to seaweed and earn more money from the crop. At the same time, the economic fortunes of women in the coast region will improve significantly as they get directly involved in the production system of marine resources.” Dr Caroline Wanjiru, Kenyatta University
	“Women are marginalised in harnessing marine resources and this initiative gives them an opportunity to improve their lives and those of their families. It will enable women to earn more money especially from rabbitfish, which is a coveted fish in the coast region.” Morine Mukami, KMFRI
	“We expect the Blue Empowerment project to uplift the financial standards of the community and place Kenya on the map of ledaing seaweed producers in Africa. And with the IMTA model, we are not only producing seaweed but also putting food on the table.” Victor Opondo, Seaweed Corporation

Dr. Catherine Kilelu, ACTS’ head of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Security programme, making a presentation during the workshop.

ACTS is spearheading a national drive to increase adoption of sustainable cooling solutions geared towards reducing food loss and waste among smallholder farmers.

In collaboration with the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold Chain (ACES), ACTS recently organised a workshop in Nairobi where stakeholders deliberated at length on how to transform the agri-food sector by promoting sustainable cooling technologies and related policies.

During the workshop, key actors in Kenya’s agri-food sector called for increased investment in cold-chain infrastructure and related technologies to reduce food loss and waste. This should be supported by effective policies bearing on access to sustainable cooling including links with renewable energy issues related to the environment.

Dr. Catherine Kilelu, who heads ACTS’ Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Security programme, informed participants that the agri-food sector in Kenya contributes about 51% of the country’s GDP and accounts for about 60% of job opportunities. However, approximately USD 662 million is lost annually due to post-harvest food loss and waste.

“In Kenya, an estimate of 30-40% of fruits and vegetables worth USD 140 million are lost yearly. Hence, the transition to sustainable cooling solutions is critical. This will not only reduce post-harvest losses but also greenhouse gas emissions,” she said.

Community Cooling Hubs

Currently, ACTS is implementing a Community Cooling Hub (CCH) project, which seeks to understand and design sustainable cooling services targeting a broad range of diverse rural farmers as well as owners of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The innovative model, which targets smallholder farmers, has the potential to address food loss and waste with a view to improving nutrition security, improve livelihoods, and bolster agro-industry development. The project aims to deploy accessible, efficient, affordable, resilient, and sustainable cooling solutions targeting smallholder farmers in Kenya.

Warehouse Receipt System

During the workshop, it was also revealed that the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, has operationalised a warehouse receipt system in different parts of the country, where farmers or traders deposit commodities e.g., potatoes, cereals, livestock products, processed milk, and fiber crops in a certified warehouse and are issued with a warehouse receipt as proof of ownership.

The warehouses are expected to reduce post-harvest losses, improve quality and quantity of produce, promote aggregation of produce by small-scale farmers enabling access to large traders, agro-processors, and value addition and promote flexibility in pricing commodities.

National Cooling Action Plan

Participants were also informed about the National Cooling Action plan (NCAP) adopted in May 2022; it focuses on promotion of the use of natural refrigerants, promotion of energy-efficient refrigeration and air-conditioning appliances and improving agricultural cold chain.

The plan also outlines roadmaps on how to support research and development for technicians and promote access to innovative business models for sustainable cooling.

This shift is characterised by re-designing policy frameworks related to STI, building the capacity of relevant actors and bridging the gap between research outputs and development practice. By conducting cutting edge research, having regular policy engagements and building the capacity of relevant actors across different STI dimensions, the new paradigm is expected to accelerate the pace and improve the quality of development activities in the continent.

The significance of creating a stream of new knowledge, coordinating innovative ideas through relevant policy instruments and developing mechanisms through which these knowledge and ideas can be translated into practice are key elements of achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Africa Union’s Agenda 2063.

In this edition of the ACTS newsletter, we showcase how different projects being implemented by ACTS are enriching continental initiatives geared towards strengthening the research-policy-practice nexus. The initiatives cut across different spheres of STI ranging from creating an enabling policy environment for innovation, accelerating transition to inclusive sustainable and resilient cold-chains and empowering women to control and exploit Kenya’s marine resources.

ACTS is also driving a new national strategy aimed at increasing the use of clean cooking methods to reduce over-reliance on bio-fuels in Kenya; and developing a new continental framework to guide policymakers in formulating, implementing, monitoring and evaluating policy interventions.

We also give you a glimpse of how ACTS is coordinating a continental platform where PhD students in African universities – within the field of innovation and development studies – can gain more knowledge, interact with leading academics and receive feedback on their PhD studies.

Meanwhile, ACTS, together with partners, is also exploring new ways of converting organic wastes from dairy processing systems into useful products: feed, fibre, bio-energy and industrial raw materials. We also feature details of a new research project investigating better ways of managing water resources in river basins and wetlands in Kenya.

Of course, we cannot talk about technology without artificial intelligence of which a new cohort of scholars have joined the ACTS family under the AI4D Africa programme.

A mid-term evaluation of the sixth strategic plan was undertaken in late 2020 to determine its success in the realisation of the set objectives, what worked well and what did not, lessons learned and best practice; the impacts and opportunities of Covid-19 pandemic on ACTS as an organisation; and recommendations for the seventh strategic plan (2022-2026). The results of the review influenced the 2022 – 2026 strategic plan.

The plan has prioritised development of a cadre of Africa centred researchers, analysts and policy makers on STI, knowledge and society. STI capacity building, knowledge utilisation, technology transfer, intellectual property, STI roadmaps for SDGs, and evaluation of the impact of STI on the development of African countries.

The Executive Director, Prof. Tom Ogada, opines that the strategic plan distils ACTS’ aspirations and commitments to support African countries and institutions to tap into the potential of STI for sustainable socio-economic development.

A growing cadre of African scholars are increasingly tapping into the power of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to solve common sector-based challenges facing the continent. Supported by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) through the Artificial Intelligence for Development in Africa (AI4D Africa) programme, the scholars are creating new footprints in the continetnts’ AI landscape.

A sample of the AI and ML based technological solutions being developed under the programme provide solid grounds for optimism in the capacity of African scholars to identify and develop technology based solutions to common challenges. AI4D Africa is implemented by ACTS as the lead partner. Below are testimonies from AI4D Africa scholars.

AI can solve Africa’s challenges

Elias Sime, AI4D Africa beneficiary, Bahir DarUniversity, Ethiopia

Artificial intelligence and machine learning is important in solving Africa’s problems because it can address issues that are difficult to solve with conventional sciences that are non-linear and complex. Africa should enhance expertise on artificial intelligence by giving special attention to women and providing special training on AI and Ml. One of the major challenges facing PhD candidates in Ethiopia and in many countries of Africa is financial limitation. Due to this problem, many PhD candidates are forced to change their research interest, withdraw from their PhD program or take longer time than normal to finish their PhD. I thank IDR/SIDA for their support and advice students especially women to get acquainted with the science of AI and ML through training or self-learning.

We need to support women in AI

CMahadia Tunga, AI4D Africa beneficiary, University of Dar-es-Salaam (UDSM), Tanzania

Africa has clearly limited expertise on artificial intelligence especially women, less than 30% of the workforce in data and AI-related jobs are women. To solve this challenge in Africa, we need to work on mindset change. Cultural settings are the root cause, most STEM books at lower levels of education portray engineers and related science professionals as men. We need to intervene by inclusive educational programs and a conducive working environment for women in technology. The grant from IDRC/SIDA is helping me to focus on my research agenda, expose to AI professional programmes, and grow my research network. The capacity development programs will help me to enhance my research skills in AI. Without this program, I would not be able to access professional programs from abroad which are not available in my country.

AI is a powerful tool for Africa

Calmette Ariane, AI4D Africa beneficiary, University of Abomey-Calavi Benin

Artificial intelligence is a powerful tool that has been proving its worth all over the world in recent years. Thanks to artificial intelligence, the most challenges that affect Africa, as well as the growth and development of certain key sectors, can be addressed. Indeed, with the concept of “smart agriculture”, will be practiced more efficiently, which will increase yields. Similarly, in the health sector, health care will be more responsive, of better quality, and more accessible, leading to better outcomes. In addition, public services will be more effective and responsive to citizens, increasing their impact. Financial services will be safer and reach more citizens in need, expanding access. Finally, there will be more opportunities for people to participate in the development of their communities, as well as to learn and grow. I thank IDRC/SIDA for their support. For those keen on pursuing courses on AI and ML especially women, I would tell them to have a lot of ambition, think about a key problem that they can solve with AI and ML, and then go ahead because AI and ML are the future of Africa.

Africa must develop AI talent

Gloria Tahi, AI4D Africa beneficiary, University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin

Artificial intelligence is an opportunity to develop Africa’s competitiveness. AI can help solve the economic problems facing Africa. African national champions can find ways to develop AI talent by partnering with global educational institutions for this purpose. Africa faces several known challenges in AI development, such as lack of investment, scarcity of specialised talent, and lack of access to the latest global research. These obstacles are being overcome, albeit slowly, thanks to African ingenuity and investments by multinational companies, all of which have opened AI labs in Africa. Innovative forms of cross-continental collaboration, which fosters a community of AI researchers in Africa, and Zindi, a platform that challenges African data scientists to solve the continent’s toughest problems, are gaining traction, supported by the recent “homecoming” of several globally trained African AI experts. I thank IDRC/SIDA for the opportunity they have given me. Their grant will help solve a major problem related to agriculture in West Africa. And advice those keen on pursuing courses on AI and AL especially women to ask the right questions; Take a longterm approach; Fill the gaps in skills; put people at the heart of the strategy; and work in a multidisciplinary team.

The entities will not only help converge and catalyse action among clean cooking and electrification stakeholders at the regional level but also broker linkages between the national and local governments by integrating electric cooking in the county energy planning processes. In addition, the hubs will help to create direct linkages between local communities and technology service providers and provide a platform for technology access, awareness, capacity building, policy influence, and consumer financing.

To ensure the launch of the hubs is successful, ACTS is working closely with key MECS partners including Kenya Power and Lighting Company, the Clean Cooking Association of Kenya, the Ministry of Energy of the National Government, the county governments, and the local hosts of the hubs.

The hubs are expected to strengthen relations among partners in the MECS space, mainly public and private sector entities such as the Ministry of Energy, county governments, academic institutions, local communities, technology service providers, and clean cooking and electrification sectors. ACTS has been generating evidence related to MECS through research and strategic stakeholder engagements to understand the challenges and opportunities related to the adoption of clean cooking.

Dr. Joanes Atela (right), Director, Partnership and Impact at ACTS and Rachel Mwangangi (middle), Deputy Director, Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, Kitui County, during the launch.

The AfricaLics project is funded by the Swedish Development Agency (Sida) as part of the project Enhancing Research Capacity on Innovation and Development in Africa.

The discussions to sign the MoU resulted in the revamping and renaming of an existing program (as an institute or a center), which opens significant opportunities for mainstreaming the R&D anchor, the visiting Fellowship Programme (VFP), and the recently launched Master’s degree programme at the university. The JOOUST management team was delighted to fast-track the formalisation processes needed and to assist in getting this program off the ground.

From Left: Prof. Benard Muok Director of Research Innovation and partnership at JOOUST, Prof. Stephen Agong’ the Vice Chancellor, JOOUST and Dr. Anne Kingiri, Director of Research and Innovation at ACTS during the signing of the MOU.

The AfricaLics visiting fellows programme brings together PhD students from African universities with a focus on innovation and development by increasing the international mobility and level of exposure of the PhD students to international knowledge and the development of a vibrant research community in Africa in this emerging and highly multidisciplinary field. The program allows students to participate in various activities, including mentorships from a diverse array
of African and international scholars, support from the trilateral research chair in Transformative Innovation, the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and Sustainable Development (TRCTI), and a combination of pre- and post-activities over a four month study period (in Kenya for 2022 cohort).

The concept has already demonstrated its value for multiple stakeholders in energy, agriculture, water, and microclimate creation. It is exciting, for many stakeholders in arid-and-semi-arid areas, who harvest the solar irradiance in often off-grid areas, use the water harvested for irrigation and animals, produce food beneath the panels, and/or create ‘cooler’ shade for animals.

Other implementing partners include Centre for Research in Energy and Energy Conservation (CREEC), Center for International Forestry Research – World Agroforestry Centre (CIFOR-ICRAF), University of Sheffield, Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), Latia Farm Kenya and Sustainable Agriculture Tanzania (SAT).

The project aims to change the perception on current vs future cost of agrivoltaics, as well as influencing public opinion on the practicality and suitability of this technology in the region. The team has set up demonstration centres in Kenya (in collaboration with Latia Farm) and in Tanzania (together with SAT Tanzania) to show how useful, practical, and viable agrivoltaics systems can be.

The agrivoltaics project team is keen to follow-up on this process towards reframing energy-agriculture system as a single rather than a diversity of problems. The first step is creating networking opportunities, as well as dialogues and formation of community of practice.

ACTS is spearheading a new project that aims to empower women in Kenya’s coastal region to optimally and sustainably exploit the lucrative blue economy.

Dubbed the Blue Empowerment project, the initiative will specifically support women in Kilifi and Kwale counties through adoption of climate-smart integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) of seaweeds and fish for improved livelihoods and resilience. The project will also promote adoption of sustainable and inclusive IMTA business models.

It will work closely with the Beach Management Units (BMUs), technological institutions, women groups, private sector, policy makers and other stakeholders in the blue economy to study, co-design, deploy model IMTA farms and use them as platforms to gain practical insights, evidence and generate data for adoption towards sustainable development in the coastal region.

It will also map socio-technical pathways that can support enabling policies, technology uptake, and governance frameworks for IMTA adoption and women fisherfolk empowerment while at the same time design, set-up, test and optimise gender transformative fish-seaweeds IMTA solutions for the socio-economic empowerment, COVID-19 and climate change resilience of fisher women.

Mwazaro community launching a locally constructed cage to the sea in Kwale. The project aims to empower women in Kenya’s coastal region to optimally exploit the blue economy.

At the same time, the project will aim to promote knowledge translation, dissemination and learning for IMTA systems upscaling, climate change and COVID-19 response strategies for the local community and women empowerment in the targeted counties.

Apart from ACTS, other implementing partners include the Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (KIRDI), Bahari CBO Network, Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI), Kenyatta University (KU), C-Weeds Corporation Ltd, and the people of Kilifi and Kwale counties in Kenya. It kicked off in March 2022, and will run until August 2024.

During the two months stay, the students worked closely with Dr.Ann Kingiri, Dr. Agnes Lutomiah and Mr. Josephat Okemwa in understanding the government’s role in supporting energy firms to successfully meet Kenya’s energy vision set for 2030.

Olosho-Oibor community minigrid-Kajiado with the project Head during one of the field study. The students carried out interviews with different energy stakeholder including government institutions, private companies, researchers and community heads of the minigrids

The programme will now receive additional training and capacity building support at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST), Kenya with support from the Trilateral Chair at University of Johannesburg (UJ), South Africa.The call for participants in the 2022 cohort went out in September 2021 and by December 2021, a total of 107 applications were received of which 36 applicants were from LICs, and 38 applications were from female applicants. Most applicants came from Nigeria (31), Ethiopia (24) and Cameroon (12). Twenty-five applications were shortlisted, out of which six PhD visiting fellows were selected – three male and three female: three were from Ethiopia, one from Cameroon, one from Kenya and one from Uganda.

AfricaLics Post-Docs – From left: Dr. Abdi Yuya, Dr. Charity Osei-Amponsah and Dr. Kassahun Yimer .

This was the focus of a workshop held on 7 – 10 March 2022) under the ACTS’ led Evi-Pol project. The workshop was attended by 14 out of the 16 science granting councils involved in the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) in Sub-Saharan Africa which aims to strengthen the capacities of the councils in sub-Saharan Africa to support research and evidence-based policies that will contribute to the continent’s economic and social development.

The concept of a boundary organisation refers to how science councils operate in Africa, linking science and politics while at the same time mediating between stakeholders in these two spheres. The concept presumes that councils can more proactively manage the relations between stakeholders to ensure efforts to fund and promote research, science, technology, and innovation are focused on relevant sectors to meet the needs of society.

Over the four-day period, staff from the 14 councils interrogated their role as boundary managers by looking at how research programmes are designed and funded; what data they collect and how they use that data as evidence to make policy and process decisions. They also considered the systems and procedures they have in place to collect and analyse data. The workshop highlighted the important role of understanding the context in which councils work – who are the stakeholders they work with, what are the dominant narratives and debates in the field, who are the dominant actors and stakeholders and how they use these organisations to assist them in moving debates forward and ensuring research is funded to fill gaps and provide solutions that the countries need.

An interesting debate took place on what characteristics a boundary manager should have to be successful. The qualities of flexibility and openness to ideas and opinions was mooted. Another key discussion point was the importance of being a knowledge broker – what knowledge (evidence) is needed and where that knowledge resides and making it available to those who need it. Councils shared their experiences of being knowledge brokers and boundary managers. For example, Zimbabwe is working to build relationships with researchers while in Cote D’Ivoire there is more focus on managing relations within and between ministries.

The baseline studies are primarily intended to provide country specific baseline assessments for the World Bank’s multi-country “Cooling Facility”, an umbrella programme intended to mobilise $157 million from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) in form of concessional loans and grants.

The loans and grants will be used to support policy, regulatory and enabling environment support and cooling investments aimed at promoting the adoption, scale-up and deployment of sustainable cooling technologies and appliances. The baseline studies will be used by World Bank country offices to better understand the current landscape of cooling with a view to engagimg with government counterparts and key stakeholders on the subject.

The team for this study will collect data mainly from literature review to identify data gaps for both Kenya and Malawi. The desk review will be supplemented by up to 20 stakeholder interviews per country. Information from stakeholders will to add depth to secondary data and fill gaps identified from the literature.

The stakeholders will be identified based on relevance and coverage of the sector.

The 2nd Calestous Juma Seminar Series themed ‘Steering Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) to Achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)’ was held virtually on 29th-30th, November 2021. The seminar, which attracted more than 200 participants drawn from different parts of the globe, was jointly organized by the ACTS and the Calestous Juma Legacy Foundation (CJLF).

The first day featured insights from the Steering Research and Innovation for Global Goals (STRINGS) project, a global collaborative initiative led by the science policy research unit at Sussex University, whose key objective is to provide evidence and policy events and discussions to map, illustrate and better understand the alignments and misalignments between investments and priorities in STI and SGDs; and to get policy changes to improve STI and related investment towards SDGs.

The second discussion item explored a case study on STI pathways to sustainable fisheries and aquaculture in Lake Victoria Basin (LVB). The case study focused on innovations (technological, institutional and social) to strengthen monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) with a view to reducing illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing and overfishing in the lake – cage culture pathway and pond fishing farming – two potential pathways to reduce pressure on inland capture fisheries. This was followed by an exciting panel discussion where experts explored technical issues relating to STI and their link to societal challenges.

The second day featured a rich memoir of Prof. Juma, ably delivered by Prof, Norman Clark from the University of Sussex. It explored the journey of Prof. Juma from his humble beginnings in Western Kenya to a global icon for the application of science, technology and Innovation.

Prof. Juma’s memoir paved way for a discussion on the global pilot program of STI for SDG roadmap, designed by the United Nations Interagency Task Team (UNIATT) whose main objective is align the SDGs with actions in STI. The final session of the seminar focused on steering agri-food system transformation and the role of STI.

The 3rd CJ seminar themed ‘Accelerating realisation of SDGs through deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) solutions’ will be held on 14 – 16, June, 2022

Some of the key presenters during the 2nd CJ seminar series. Angela Christiana, CJLF (Top left); Prof. Tom Ogada, ACTS, (top right); Prof. John Mugabe, University of Pretoria, (bottom left) and Alison Field-Juma, CJLF, (bottom right).

ACTS has been commissioned by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to map out the innovation ecosystem in Kenya.

Through its Accelerator Lab, UNDP is working with Konza Technopolis to support and scale up local innovations in Kenya. The two partners are part of the SDG Accelerator Lab, which is a multi-sectoral platform that brings together government, development partners, academia, civil society, private sector, and communities to accelerate and stimulate innovation ecosystem towards growth and development.

The mapping aims to identify opportunities for collaboration, learning and investment, and the challenges that need to be addressed to accelerate the growth and development of local innovators across the country. Evidence generated through this survey will be invaluable in preparing appropriate interventions to enhance the growth of the Kenyan innovation ecosystem.

Specifically, the study aims to establish the status of the Kenyan innovation ecosystem – characteristics, organisation (players and actors), challenges, and opportunities; identify key levers and approaches on how to stimulate the sector for more economic growth towards achieving key development agenda items (SDGs, Vision 2030), including requisite skill sets, partnerships, and resources and highlight emerging themes and opportunities for collaboration, partnership and cross-learning.

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• Quaterly Newsletter – May 2022

ACTS is part of a consortium awarded a grant to scale-up solar dryers to reduce post-harvest loses (PHL) in Kenya. The grant was awarded by the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) through the Seeding The Future Global Food System Challenge. Other members of the consortium implementing the project include the United Nations Environmental programme UNEP) and the Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (KIRDI).

The project will aim to accelerate scaling-up the solution in more locations and support youthled SMEs to deploy more affordable solar dryers. It will target 500 low cost dryers over 5 years reaching over 40,000 smallholder farmers with a view to growing market for “pay as you dry” services across various agri-value chains.

In addition, the project will strive to expand inclusive entrepreneurship and green jobs especially for youth and women in agro-processing.

It will seek to scale the proof-of-concept of climate-action low-cost solar drying technology enterprises to reduce PHL and drive realisation of multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The project leverages on lessons from the UNEP Ecosystem Based Adaptation for Food Security (EBAFOSA) initiative that promoted solar drying technology and dryers as “pay-as-you go” business models through collective action among smallholder communities in Kenya.

The initiative will also aim to establish a business and knowledge hub to scale climate-solutions and foster policy engagement and dialogues.

The provision of the dryers as a shared service predicated upon payment of a small maintenance fee, which lowered the cost of dryer services to a fraction of the cost of ownership i.e. 0.05% of the cost of a full dryer. Through this initiative, the project has provided solar-drying services to 300 cassava farmers in Kenya and Uganda.

ACTS Executive Director, Prof. Tom Ogada, called for a shift from the unsustainable traditional methods – used in deploying technologies – to new business models and approaches.

This is to ensure that technology transfer not only creates jobs but also enhances income opportunities to technology beneficiaries as well as ensuring sustainability and longevity of these technologies.

A solar drying system in Migori. The project will accelerate deployment of such solutions in more locations and support to youth-led SMEs to deploy more affordable solar dryers.

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• Quaterly Newsletter – May 2022

The digital economy is increasingly becoming a key driver in the global economy. It is projected that by 2026, it will account for 25% of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP), up from 15.5 % in 2016.

Kenya is amongst the few countries in Africa that are taking an early lead to tap the benefits of digital technologies for economic growth. As a result, while Africa expects the digital economy to contribute about 5.2% of its GDP by 2025, Kenya’s digital economy is expected to generate 9.24% of her total GDP by 2025. This, amongst other factors, demonstrates the importance of the digital economy to Kenya’s economic prospects and transformation. Therefore, interventions that can contribute to further strengthening the digital economy in Kenya are desirable. One such intervention is talent cultivation.

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This initiative inspires and supports innovative, diverse, and multidisciplinary teams to create game-changing innovations that will help transform the food system.

We are please to announce that ACTS  has been awarded Growth Grant Winners in collaboration with the Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute and United Nations Environment Programme, Nairobi Office for its project to promote enhanced access to solar drying technologies to smallholder farmers; thus, providing optimal dehydration of fresh produce for enhanced product quality and post-harvest management.

To incentivize innovation at all levels, including idea generation, development, and scale-up, the Challenge offers three awards levels: Seeding The Future Grand Prizes, Growth Grants, and Seed Grants, totaling more than $1 million.

More information can be accessed through this link: https://www.seedingthefuture.org/challenge

Press Release – 15^th November 2021

Renewable energy is increasingly becoming the new currency in the economy of sustainable industrialization. For this reason, understanding the key elements and dynamics underpinning development, deployment and utilization of green energy in developing countries is paramount.

In light of the above, a new book – Building Innovation Capabilities for Sustainable Industrialization: Renewable Electrification in Developing Economies – which has just been published, provides valuable insights on how the potential of renewable electrification in developing economies can be actualized.

Capacity building for renewables in developing economies is critical especially coming immediately after COP26 where commitments made should both reduce emissions this decade and accelerate momentum. The book provides useful insights and practical recommendations on capacity building on green energy, which will be a key factor in reducing green-house gas emissions in light of discussions during the COPP26 Conference, where experts estimate that we are now on a path to between 1.8°C and 2.4°C of warming as opposed to the 1.5°C under the Paris Agreement.

Authored by renowned researchers and scholars from the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), Moi University and Aalborg University, the book posits that while renewable electrification in developing countries provides important opportunities for local economic development, new pathways are required for turning these opportunities into successful reality. It offers a novel input into the debate on development of capabilities for sustainable industrialization and delivers key insights for both researchers and policy makers when it comes to the question of how to increase the economic co-benefits of renewables expansion.

The chapters in the book use a tailored analytical framework in their studies of renewable electrification efforts in Kenya and other countries in sub-Saharan Africa. They draw on a mix of project, sector and country level case studies to address questions such as: What capabilities are developed through on-going renewable electrification projects in developing economies? How can the expansion of renewable electrification be supported in a way that also encourages sustainable economic development? What role do international linkages (South-South and North-South) play and what role should they play in the greening of energy systems in developing economies? The authors provide a new understanding of how green transformation and sustainable industrialization can be combined, highlighting the opportunities and constraints for local capability building and the scope for local policy action.

This book will be of great interest to students and scholars of development studies, energy studies, sustainability and sustainable development, as well as practitioners and policy makers working in development organizations and national governments.

More about the book

The book is the result of more than five years’ collaboration between ACTS, Moi University and Aalborg University during the ‘Innovation and Renewable Electrification in Kenya’ project.  This project investigated how best to provide a better foundation for selecting and deploying available technologies in a way that increases inclusiveness and contributes to poverty reduction.  It did this by focusing on the degree to which local capabilities were being built from renewable energy projects, mostly in Kenya and using wind and solar technologies.  The project was funded by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Grant: DFC 14- 09 AAU). The project website is: www.irekproject.net

Below are titles and authors of the chapters in the book:

Chapter 1: Renewable electrification and sustainable industrialisation, Rebecca Hanlin, Margrethe Holm Andersen, Rasmus Lema and Charles Nzila; Chapter 2: Towards a conceptual framework: Renewable electrification and sustainable industrialisation, Margrethe Holm Andersen and Rasmus Lema; Chapter 3: Challenges and opportunities for the expansion of renewable electrification in Kenya, Mbeo Ogeya, Philip Osano, Ann Kingiri and Josephat Mongare Okemwa; Chapter 4: Centralised and decentralised deployment models: Is small beautiful?, Ulrich Elmer Hansen, Cecilia Gregersen, Faith H. Wandera, Nina Kotschenreuther and Rebecca Hanlin; Chapter 5: Understanding the diffusion of small wind turbines in Kenya: A technological innovation systems approach, Faith H. Wandera; Chapter 6: Are the capabilities for renewable electrification in place? A Kenyan firm-level survey, Charles Nzila and Michael Korir; Chapter 7: Interactive learning and capability-building in critical projects, Rebecca Hanlin and Josephat Mongare Okemwa; Chapter 8: Interactive learning spaces: Insights from two wind power megaprojects, Cecilia Gregersen and Birgitte Gregersen; Chapter 9: Moving forward? Building foundational capabilities in Kenyan and Tanzanian off-grid solar PV firms, Joni Karjalainen and Rob Byrne; Chapter 10: Chinese green energy projects in sub-Saharan Africa: Are there co-benefits? Padmasai Lakshmi Bhamidipati, Cecilia Gregersen, Ulrich Elmer Hansen, Julian Kirchherr and Rasmus Lema; Chapter 11: Local Content and Capabilites: Policy process and stakeholders in Kenya, Ann Kingiri and Josephat Mongare Okemwa; Chapter 12: Renewable electrification pathways and sustainable industrialisation: lessons learned and their implications, Rasmus Lema, Margrethe Andersen, Rebecca Hanlin and Charles Nzila

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Signed version of the Press Release

A team of research experts from ACTS are part of a project working towards exploring alternative methods of pursuing knowledge with a view to making them more suited to wider application without necessarily losing on scientific rigor.

ACTS is implementing the project in partnership with the University of Innsbruck (UIBK) and University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU). Dubbed Decoloniality Book Project, the initiative aims to rid existing research methodologies of rigidities that hamper effective outcomes and utility. It is based on the premise that whereas existing methodologies help standardize research approaches, their adoption, application and utility of associated findings vary widely depending on the type of research, discipline, personal preferences, understanding of the methodology and even geographical location.

How do we ‘decolonize methodologies’ in research and policy appraisal and provide alternative opportunities for thinking, knowing – thereby liberating the pursuit of knowledge from the stranglehold of globalizing structures and their conditioning effect?

Decoloniality Book

Opportunities arising from and challenges hindering the application and utility of findings deriving from established methods will be distilled in a book which sets out to explore how these methods can be modified in a way that ensures they effectively inform policy decisions and generate wider political debates intended to enrich knowledge, enhance practice and nurture better socio-economic outcomes.

More information about the project can be accessed here

ACTS is implementing a project on Multihazard Urban Disaster Risk Transitions that focuses on disaster risk management interventions and capacity building in Nairobi, Kenya.

The project provides options for anchoring actions for climate change adaptation, while also contributing to mitigation against urban disasters associated with climate variability. The Nairobi Risk Hub is part of the larger Urban Disaster Risk Hub (Tomorrow’s Cities). It is a five-year global interdisciplinary research hub funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF).

The aim of this project is to catalyze a transition from crisis management to multi-hazard risk-informed planning and decision-making, for cities in low-and-middle income. Specifically, the Nairobi Hub seeks to provide Nairobi with the capacity and policy framework that enables a shift from crisis response towards integrated development planning for enhanced disaster risk preparedness and management.

It utilizes interdisciplinary research as a tool to convene stakeholders from across sectors and local communities to facilitate collective action towards addressing the drivers and impacts of multiple hazards. Its programs of work seek to establish a new integrated evidence base on the city’s most prominent hazards and risks, their drivers, uncertainties, root causes and potential solutions, as well as to build greater capacity for collecting and applying this evidence in disaster risk management.

Since it started, the project has covered significant ground in mapping out stakeholders and documenting their perceptions and understanding of risks among the urban poor. This has been achieved through structured dialogue with local community leaders, city policy makers, national policy makers, researchers, institutions of higher learning, opinion leaders, practitioners, civil society organizations and global partners

Community level engagements at community levels focused of poverty, high cost of living exacerbated by COVID-19, insecurity, land access and affordable housing. Local leaders attributed high poverty to perennial floods and fires which tend to occur concurrently due to high exposure (e.g. markets located near rivers) and dynamic vulnerabilities to environmental and physical factors like poor basic infrastructure.

One of the community engagement fora by the Nairobi Risk Hub to understand perceptions and of risks among stakeholders.

Discussions revealed that risk is hardly integrated into even the emergency response activities at the local and city levels. This is mainly due to limited knowledge and resource capacity.

The engagement also unpacked the limited interaction between the urban poor and different disciplines social and physical sciences) and expertise revealing the limited understanding about the context, root causes of the risk and potential remedies among the urban poor. There is also persistent gap among the various stakeholders engaging the local communities in risk reduction.

The process incorporated elements of co-production of knowledge and evidence, facilitating local community led discussion, listening to the local community and their leaders, creating space for dialogue with them and other stakeholders, to cross-fertilize ideas and knowledge, engaging all sectors at the city level and strengthening relations and incorporating them into research activities.

Following the engagements, there has been buy-in from the city policy makers, local communities and stakeholders, which is evident in the ongoing implementation of the impact case; and also enhanced an in-depth understanding of the interactions between the social drivers and multiple physical hazards and their impacts that could provide a good framing for DRR plans for the city and spur a framework for collective action through the evidence-based convening of DRR decisions and actions. Key Nairobi Risk Hub Engagement Activities.

More information about the project can be accessed here

Why Digital Economy?

The world is on the edge of a technological revolution that will disrupt the way we live, work and socialize.

A key aspect of this revolution is the digital economy, which covers all business, economic, social and cultural activities that are supported by the web and other digital communication technologies. The digital economy is characterized by the blurring of boundaries between the physical, digital and biological worlds. It’s mainly a product of advances in artificial intelligence (AI), Machine Leaning (ML), robotics, the Internet of Things (IoT), 3D printing, genetic engineering, quantum computing, and other technologies. These developments fall under what is popularly known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).

AI4D Africa Scholarship Project

Under the digital economy program, ACTS has launched Artificial Intelligence for Development Africa (AI4D) scholarship program to foster and nurture talent in responsible Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in African public universities. The three 3-year scholarship program funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) aims to meet the growing demand for research and development in responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in the continent.The project is implemented by ACTS based in partnership with Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology in Ghana; University of Linkoping, Sweden, University Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar, Senegal. Other partners include University of California, United States; Human Sciences Research Council and Institute for Humanities in Africa based in South Africa; and the University of Eduardo Mondlane, Mozambique.

The scholarship program aims to create a critical mass of scholars to enhance research and development in AI and ML while public universities in sub-Saharan Africa will have developed their capacities to provide postgraduate training in the two fields.

A series of complementary activities have also been lined up to enhance research capacities of the scholars which include short-courses, PhD Academies quarterly seminars, annual workshops, mentorship, regional conferences and online training.

Following a rigorous selection and evaluation process, the 1^st cohort of 22 scholars – 15 PhD students and 7 Early Career Academics (ECAs) – have been selected from Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Uganda, Botswana, Zambia, South Africa, Senegal, Benin and Rwanda. Selection of the second cohort is underway and is expected to add more fellows to the project.

During the official launch of the AI4D program on August 31, 2021, the Executive Director for the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), Prof. Tom Ogada, said the program will help harness technologies in AI and ML.

“We are fully committed to ensure successful implementation of the program not only for the benefit of the scholars but also to help harness AI and ML technologies” he noted.

Katie Clancy of IDRC added that the program will spearhead research in AI and ML in the continent.

“We are excited to partner with SIDA and ACTS to strengthen artificial intelligence and machine learning ecosystems in Africa through high quality research, responsible innovation and nurturing of talent” she noted.

Apart from the scholarship, the program will create and support a network of scholars to catalyze uptake of AI and ML disciplines especially among women and the youth

Dr. Vilhelm Muller of SIDA lauded the formation of the AI4D Africa scholarship network that will create a forum for sharing ideas on AI and ML in the continent.“Networks enhance the probability of the outcome of the AI4D Africa initiative and should be maintained even after the scholarship and interact with other networks within innovation” he noted.

ACTS established a College of Scholars on June 23, 2021 to develop and guide implementation of special projects related to its core mandate of harnessing applications of STI policies for sustainable development in Africa. The college will work closely with other networks to identify and implement joint projects, deliberate on emerging technologies and how they can be deployed to enhance productive capacities of the youth by creating new markets. During the launch, the new Dean of the College of Scholars, Prof. Shem Wandiga said it was an opportune time to have the college when Africa needs new ideas.“The African continent is standing at crossroads of challenges and needs new ideas from its citizens not only for survival but also for its prosperity. These challenges call for building back a better Africa to be a priority of our foremost activities and will revolve around helping our fellowmen and women in getting over these challenges” he noted.He urged members of the College of Scholars to chart out precisely how they shall change minds and chart new pathways for the future of Africa.The college presents a great opportunity for experts in the region and globally to address the various challenges facing the African continent, which have been exacerbated by the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. The launch of the College was graced by ACTS Executive Director, Prof. Tom Ogada and the Governing Council Chair.

Role of the College of Scholars

Specific role of the college will include but not limited to:

• Deliberate on the implementation of the program. It will act and prepare reports for consideration by the Executive Committee and the Governing Council.
• Undertake detailed evaluation and assessment of the program and activities at the center.
• Plan an annual policy research conference of the center in collaboration with the secretariat
• Provide general advice and guidance any other activities assigned to it by the Governing Council.
• Undertake specific activities assigned by the Governing Council

Members of ACTS College of Scholars

	Prof. Shem Wandiga, Former Director, Institute of Climate Change and Adaptation (ICCA), University of Nairobi (Dean)			Prof. Landry Signé, Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution
	Dr. Veerle Vanderweed,Managing Partner, Platform for Transformative Technologies			Prof. Mammo Muchie, Research Professor, Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa.
	Prof. Xiaolan Fu, Founding Director of the Technology and Management Centre for Development (TMCD), University of Oxford			Prof. Paul Zeleza, Outgoing Vice Chancellor, United States International University, Kenya
	Prof. Bitange Ndemo, Professor of entrepreneurship, University of Nairobi

Creating a sustainable research culture in computer science targeting agriculture, health, finance and transport is a fundamental pillar towards making Kenya become a high middle income economy.

For this reason, ACTS in collaboration with California Polytechnic State University, has been implementing a project on supporting STEM research cultures in Africa – Building institutional capacity for computing research in Kenya (CB4ICTD). The project is funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC).

The project specifically aims to co-create and evaluate ini-tial programs that address institutional barriers to building research capacity and conduct further policy-relevant re-search to advance knowledge about institutional capacity building and better understand how the pilot strategy might be applied to other STEM fields and African countries.

The project is anchored on three pillars which include industrial fellowships where computing faculty members spend 3 – 6 months in a firm conducting a collaborative research project; industrial studentships which enables faculty to retain their best students to work on research projects; and Postdoctoral fellowships where recently graduated PhDs serve as postdoctoral fellows in departments to strengthen the research functions of a university.

The CB4ICTD project has demonstrated that institutional and structural factors such as university and departmental structures and strategies, and the relationship between a university and the private sector strongly influence research-er productivity and research impact. The fellowship beneficiaries engaged industry on their re-search and used the academia industry linkages to develop grant proposals that provided pathways to scale their re-search to impact the society. So far, 6 policy briefs and 4 blogs have been developed in various STEM fields.

More information about the project can be accessed here.

This 5 years Trilateral Chair program is being implemented by ACTS in partnership with the University of Johannesburg (South Africa) and the University of Sussex.

The research program has the ambition to develop and test a new theoretical framework to understand transformation, in the context of 4IR and from an African perspective. The motivation is the need to unpack the social and technological relationships that explain the rate, direction and patterns of (radical) innovation adoption, diffusion and use.

This is a process involving not only technologies but also changes in consumer practices and needs, the skills and capabilities of all actors involved, infrastructures, governance, regulation, industry structure and cultural meaning of the socio-technical system involved. The main aim is to ensure that 4IR potential is harnessed for the specific conditions in Sub-Saharan Africa and in particular South Africa and Kenya, but with the African continent in mind.

The main research questions pursued are (a) how are changes in socio-technical systems influenced by the rapid technological developments under the 4IR? and (b) how can the transformative potential of these changes be exploited to encourage sustainable development?

Over the course of the program, a total of eight PhD projects will be supported with full scholarships, two of which are based at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) and hosted by ACTS. A sub-contract agreement was signed between ACTS and JOOUST in 2020. ACTS is responsible for funding the program’s collaborative activities in Kenya. As the project facilitating organization, JOOUST provides training, mentoring, capacity building and administrative support to students.

Other activities implemented within the program include 1) conversation between the PhD students and authors. This platform was developed for students and emerging scholars within the Trilateral Chair to engage interactively with key readings written by leading scholars in the field, and to facilitate their incorporation into ongoing and planned research projects. 2) PhD Engagement Week designed to discuss the PhD cohort, provide a platform for students and senior researchers to meet each other, as well as sensitize the students under this program about the different theoretical frameworks and thematic areas relevant for their study. 3) Introduction to Systematic Literature Reviews (SLR) course.

ACTS has teamed up with training and research institutions to develop market-driven climate change training modules for different cadres and levels of education in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) region.

The other consortium partners include the Institute of Climate Change and Adaptation (ICCA), University of Nairobi and Tetralink Taylor & Associates East Africa in collaboration with the Environment, Climate and Sustainable Development Institute (ECSDI), University of Zimbabwe. and Ethiopia’s Environment and Forest Research Institute (EEFRI).

Under the umbrella of Capacity Building of Technical Institutions involved in Climate Change Education Training and Scientific Research (CapCET), the consortium will develop specific modules based on existing training demands on climate change.

According to Dr Joel Onyango, the project lead and a senior researcher at ACTS, the ultimate aim of CaPCET is to enhance the capacity of training institutions and professionals in climate change within the COMESA region. The project is based on the premise that Africa in general, and the COMESA region in particular, continue to experience unique climate change challenges that require a dynamic approach to capacity building.

A needs assessment on climate change training demands conducted in Ethiopia and Zimbabwe revealed an array of training gaps that needs to be addressed with a view to building the capacity of different actors in the climate change space; and stand the continent in good stead of reversing or slowing down the effects of climate change.

Specific topics requiring special attention for training in climate change include ecosystem based climate smart agriculture, climate transparency and reporting, calculation of greenhouse gases and climate modeling

The findings of the needs assessment presented during a webinar held on 27th October, 2021, identified climate change mitigation and adaptation, climate financing, disaster risk management and climate resilience building as the key training demands identified by stakeholders.

ACTS Executive Director, Prof. Tom Ogada, noted that there is lack of clear strategies to mobilize funds for climate actions, which is a key area of training.

“To enhance climate change financing, we should also separate adaptation and mitigation projects and proposals” – Prof. Tom Ogada, Executive Director, ACTS

On his part, Prof. Kefasi Nyikahadzoi, the Director of ECSDI at the University of Zimbabwe noted that knowledge on climate change has not permeated to the people who need it most – especially extension workers who work directly with farmers to improve their livelihoods. He called for re-packaging of information from research on climate change to benefit those being affected by the effects of climate change especially vulnerable groups like small scale farmers.

“Existing curricula do not articulate issues of climate change, we need to package the curriculum to suit all levels and especially the vulnerable groups” – Prof. Kefasi Nyikahadzoi, the Director of ECSDI at the University of Zimbabwe

Prof Linda Mhlanga, the Deputy Director of ECSDI said the University of Zimbabwe does not have a stand-alone training programme on climate change.

“What exists are specific courses spread across different undergraduate and postgraduate programs. For this reason, he noted that the CaPCET project comes in handy as it will come up with an integrated and well-coordinated curriculum that will be offered at the university” – Prof Linda Mhlanga, the Deputy Director of ECSDI

Dr. Agena Anjulo, EEFRI Deputy Director General, Ethiopia said there is an urgent need to improve resource management to enhance climate change adaptation and mitigation actions at the community level.

The African Network on Learning, Innovation and Competence Building Systems (AfricaLics) is a research and capacity building network with a Secretariat hosted by ACTS.

The Network’s vision is to support African countries towards developing and utilizing high quality research, conducted by African researchers, to enable more informed policy decisions to be made relating to the use of science, technology, and innovation (STI) for economic and social development as well as efficient governance.

ACTS hosts the AfricaLics Secretariat. With support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the Network has been implementing a research capacity building (RCB) program entitled “Enhancing research capacity on Innovation and Development (I&D) in Africa.” Some of the activities under this RCB program include PhD academies; Research conferences; PhD visiting fellowships program (VFP); Policy engagements/Outreach (webinar series) among others.

PhD Academies

The purpose of the PhD Academies held annually is to support the training of African Doctoral students engaged in research in the field of I&D; a multidisciplinary social science research area that includes elements of innovation studies and development studies.

This is an under-acknowledged field of study in much of Africa. The Academies provide a chance for PhD students to come together and support each other as well as receive training and stimulate their awareness of policy and management issues related to this field of research.

The major goal is to ensure that young scholars are equipped with the requisite research, theoretical and analytical capability to interrogate the African innovation landscape with the goal of being able to generate evidence-based insights for potential uptake by policymakers, private sector and civil society actors, international development agencies and other stakeholders.

In 2021 AfricaLics in collaboration with the university of Gondar hosted the 7th PhD academy which was two weeks of online training (Week 1: 26^th – 30^th July 2021 and Week 2: 20^th – 24^th September 2021). Due to the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, the Academy was held online through Zoom.

The Academy hosted students from Africa and a handful of students from the rest of the world. The Academy invited frontier researchers in the field of innovation and development from around the world to provide lectures and mentor students.

PhD Visiting Fellowship Program (VFP) For African Countries

The VFP fellowships offer opportunities for PhD and postdoctoral students from low income and low-middle income African countries to receive additional training and capacity building support in innovation and development at Aalborg University (AAU), Denmark. Despite the COVID-19 global pandemic, five AfricaLics PhD visiting fellows from the 2020 – 2021 cohort had an opportunity to visit and stay in Denmark between August 2021 and end of October 2021.

The study visits to AAU provided the students with opportunities to present their work and interact with peers, mentors and other scholars working in the field of I&D. It provided them with time away from home to focus on writing and studying, attend a few events and selected PhD courses and make use of library facilities and other support services. The five PhD fellows were from Ghana, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Tanzania and Zambia.

Research Conferences

The overall purpose of the conferences is to present and discuss current state of the art research on Innovation and Development issues in Africa. Conferences target specifically the academic community, but also bring in policy makers, the business community and civil society. Conferences aim to bring together leading scholars (between 150 – 200) working on I&D in Africa and other actors interested in the I&D field. To date AfricaLics has organized 4 research conferences, which are held after every 2 years.

Visiting PhD fellows with AAU mentors.

More information about AfricaLics PhD Academies can be accessed here.

A new book – Building Innovation Capabilities for Sustainable Industrialization: Renewable Electrification in Developing Economies – has been published. It is edited by Rasmus Lema, Margrethe Holm Andersen, Rebecca Hanlin and Charles Nzila.

This book argues that renewable electrification in developing countries provides important opportunities for local economic development, but new pathways are required for turning these opportunities into successful reality.

The chapters in the book draw on a mix of project, sector and country level case studies to address questions such as: What capabilities are developed through on-going renewable electrification projects in developing economies? How can the expansion of renewable electrification be supported in a way that also encourages sustainable economic development? What role do international linkages (South-South and North-South) play and what role should they play in the greening of energy systems in developing economies? The authors of the chapters provide a new understanding of how green transformation and sustainable industrialization can be combined, highlighting the opportunities and constraints for local capability building and the scope for local policy action.The book will be of great interest to students and scholars of development studies, energy studies, sustainability and sustainable development, as well as practitioners and policy makers working in development organizations and national governments. The Open Access version of this book, is available here. The book has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license.

ACTS in collaboration with Birmingham and London Southern Bank University is implementing a community based cooling project to stem post-harvest losses in Kenya. The hubs will also be used to store animal and human vaccines. The project covers dairy farming in Kiambu, horticulture in Kitui and fish farming in Homabay counties.

Under the banner of Community Cooling Hubs (CCH), the project aims to drastically reduce post-harvest losses at the community level by promoting and deploying easily accessible cooling technologies.The project will deliver clean energy solutions to smallholder producer communities in Kenya in a bid to address food losses and waste while also adding value to various agri-food sectors in Kenya.

A needs assessment to understand community cooling needs and demands on specific value chains has already been conducted, providing valuable insights that would form the basis for implementing the project. The assessment revealed storage challenges facing specific value chains – lack of transport, market and storage facilities, exploitation by middlemen and inadequate capital to finance agronomic practices.

Other challenges mentioned are lack of veterinary services and knowledge on value addition and unpredictable weather patterns.

Milk coolers at Kiriita Cooperative Society premises in Kiambu

ACTS, in collaboration with Loughborough University, has been implementing the Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS) project over the last one and half years. The project aims how to rapidly accelerate a transition from biomass to genuinely clean cooking.

The MECS project is premised on the fact that existing strategies are struggling to solve the problem of unsustainable but enduring cooking which place a particular burden on women. After decades of investment of improving biomass cooking, focused largely on increasing the efficiency of biomass use in domestic stoves, the technologies developed have had limited impact on development outcomes. The MECS project aims to break out of this ‘business as usual’ cycle.

The project combines creating a stronger evidence base for transitions to modern energy cooking with socio-technological innovations that will drive the transition forward.

The MECS Kenya component has built strong impact trajectory including engagement with policy makers, at sub-national, national and international levels. This includes direct work and partnership with counties and specific energy centers within the counties. Several counties are now being engaged in e-cooking as part of supporting their energy planning and convening actions through county energy centers.

The ACTS team is currently involved in the national energy planning processes through the National Sustainable Energy Technical Assistance (SETA) initiative under the Ministry of Energy. The team has introduced e-cooking as a key option for energy efficiency and is working with the Directorate to align accordingly.

MECS has a huge opportunity to transform the clean cooking landscape in Kenya and create a model for Africa. However, this can be achieved through mutual support, trust and equitable partnerships that helps to unlock opportunities and incentivizes progress. More information about the project can be accessed here.

The    Science    Granting    Council    Initiative    (SGCI) coordinated by ACTS started in 2015 and aims to strengthen the capacities of science granting councils (SGCs) in sub-Saharan Africa in order to support research and evidence-based policies that will contribute to the continent’s economic and social development.

It does this through programmes focused on management of research grants; the use of evidence to inform STI policy; supporting knowledge exchange with the private sector; and establishing partnerships between Councils and other science system actors. It also focused on the cross-cutting issues of strategic communication, gender and inclusivity. The SGCI currently operates in 15 sub-Saharan African countries.

The SGCI-Phase 2 aims to strengthen the capacity of Africa’s SGCs to design and monitor research programmes, and to formulate and implement policies based on the use of robust STI indicators. The Evi-Pol project falls under SGCI- Phase 2 and has the objective to strengthen the capacity of SGCs to generate and use evidence in policy and decision- making, and to enhance their roles as policy champions. The project focuses more generally at deepening understanding and knowledge on policy processes among SGCs.

The specific objectives of the Evi-Pol project are: support SGCs to conduct reviews of national STI policies and deepen their knowledge and understanding of the policy processes; support the Councils to develop robust organizational-level monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) frameworks and plans; support the Councils to develop data management systems and frameworks and systematically collect, analyze and use relevant data/ evidence; Promote peer to peer learning and knowledge exchange between Councils and local STI experts. The SGCI-2 has a peer-to-peer learning component which strengthens the mutual learning and sharing of experiences in dealing with policy gaps of mutual interest. The knowledge platform or help desk, which is within this objective, has been designed under the Evi-Pol project to embed capacity building in the delivery of the services solicited by SGCs.

Evi-Pol supports the councils to develop data management systems (DMS) and frameworks; systematically collect, analyze and use relevant data/ evidence and promote peer to peer learning and knowledge exchange between councils and local STI experts. Among recent activities, the Evi-Pol team held a DMS masterclass on 26 October 2021 which aimed to explore current issues in data systems interoperability, integrating data sets and to relate these to current practices in different organizations. Another activity is the development of a help desk that is intended to be a one stop point for where the SGCs can request support for discrete small pieces of work and on demand large pieces of work relating to use of evidence in STI decision making and/or the STI policy process. To ensure this, STI policy consultants to provide discrete support in line with the Councils’ needs will be considered from a pool of experts within AfricaLics community. More information about the project can be accessed here

A seminar series on knowledge and innovation for development in honor of Prof. Juma, the founder of ACTS, was successfully launched on 12^th August 2021.

The inaugural seminar series, jointly organized by ACTS and the Calestous Juma Legacy Foundation (CJLF) focused on ‘Re-igniting Africa’s Industrialization Through Innovation’. It attracted more than 200 online participants.

The two-day event featured an insightful keynote address by Prof. Banji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka of the African Development Bank (AfDB) on the first day. The keynote focused on key themes relating to industrialization in Africa: the renewed debate on industrialization, the reason for the continent’s poor industrialization record and consequences of relying on natural resources. From the keynote, key challenges facing Africa’s industrialization were highlighted. These are: dependence on natural resources, limited local manufacturing, increased concentration of industrial activity specialized in high value added activities and serving international markets and high dependence on imports – reflecting uneven manufacturing and innovation capabilities.

The second day focused on innovation and renewable electrification in developing countries with key insights on important opportunities for local economic development. The discussions were based on a study on the Innovation and Renewable Electrification in Kenya (IREK) project “Building Innovation Capabilities for Sustainable Industrialization: Renewable Electrification in Developing Economies”.

Speakers proposed a raft of key recommendations which exhorted African countries to pursue an active industrial strategy; build sectoral innovation and production systems for better health, enhance contributions of the informal economy to industrialization, enact policies that strengthen innovation and technological capabilities in informal enterprises and develop strategies to enhance local participation in global renewable value chains.

The late Prof. Juma: a world renowned scientist who strongly believed in the power of leveraging STI to transform national economies and accelerate social progress.

“This is the first collaborative event organized by ACTS and CJLF to keep CJs dream alive by creating a platform that will elicit discussions around knowledge and innovation for development”- Prof. Tom Ogada, Executive Director, ACTS

“Calestous has been many things to many people; but for us at ACTS, we saw him and continue to see him as an intellectual giant who made the youth of Africa proud in his accomplishments in the spheres of science, technology and innovation” – Prof. Alfred Oteng-Yeboah, Chair, ACTS Governing Council

“We plan to continue participating and hosting similar seminars to enhance expansion of technology and innovation knowledge and work together with ACTS in producing some outputs from these sorts of conversations” – Angela Christiana, Executive Director, CJLF.

Participants’ Reactions

“Great series of presentations on the neglected issue of local capacity building in renewable development in the region” – Stephen Karekezi

“Thank you for organizing this meaningful lecture series” – Yuna Choi, South Korea

“As a graduate student, Prof. Juma constantly encouraged me to reimagine the role of universities as engines of economic development and renewal with a focus on Africa” – Martin Mbaya, Kenya.

CJ Seminar Series outputs

A scholarship program to foster and nurture talent in responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in African public universities will be officially launched on Tuesday August 31^st, 2021. The scholarship will be awarded to successful registered PhD students (4 female and 4 male), two each from the 4 regions of the Sub-Saharan Africa. Please use this link to register for the launch.

It will support selected scholars to undertake and successfully complete PhD research in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in African universities; and early career academics (ECA) to strengthen their research and development capacities in the two areas. Special consideration will be given to research projects on responsible AI innovation for sustainable development, gender equity, equitable regional distribution in low-income countries.

Special support will be given to women candidates who have completed MSc in areas relevant to AI and ML to pursue PhDs studies. In this respect, at least 4 women will benefit from this scheme, one per each region. The same approach will be given to low-income countries.

The 3-year program, funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, aims to meet the growing demand of demand for research and development in responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in the continent.

It is implemented by the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) based in Kenya in partnership with Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology in Ghana, University of Linkoping, Sweden and University Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar, Senegal.

Other partners include the Regents of the University of California, United States; Human Sciences Research Council and Institute for Humanities in Africa based in South Africa; and the University of Eduardo Mondlane, Mozambique.

The initiative is built on the premise that whereas majority of doctoral graduates expect to secure jobs in academic and research, a postdoctoral period is desirable to develop fully-fledged, independent, and competent researchers. Also, there are very few universities in Africa that currently offers MSc and PhD programs in AI and ML. The bulk of the departments, however, do offer MSc and PhD in ICT related courses with some potential to supervise PhD in AI and ML.

Apart from supporting research capacities of selected scholars, the programme will enhance the capacities of the existing ICT departments to offer MSc and PhD in AI and ML by supporting them with research tools and related infrastructure for AI and ML. This will not only facilitate the research activities of the ECA but will also be made available to other postgraduate and final year undergraduate students within the departments.

A series of complementary activities have also been lined up to enhance research capacities of the scholars which include short-courses, PhD Academy, quarterly seminars, annual workshops, mentorship, regional conferences and online training.

It is expected that there will be a critical mass of scholars to enhance research and development in AI and ML related fields while public universities in sub-Saharan Africa will have developed their capacities to provide postgraduate training in AI and Machine Learning. In addition, there will be adequate access to knowledge by researchers and practitioners and enhanced networking opportunities of the AI and ML scholars

The programme is also expected to generate substantial evidence for policy making on AI and ML related issues enhanced in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Downloads

Flier

• AI4D Africa flier – English Version
• Lancement officiel du programme de bourses IA4D Afrique

Programme

• AI4D Africa launch programme – English Version
• Lancement officiel du programme de bourses IA4D Afrique

Science, Technology and innovation (STI) are considered the key cogs in the engine of sustainable socio-economic development. And for developing counties – especially in Africa – to fast-track and sustain industrialization – and accelerate socio-economic progress – more attention and resources must be devoted to these key areas.

With the rising need for economic and social transformation, countries world over seek to increase investments in and expansion of their respective STI sectors, which is a vital cog in driving national competitiveness and improving social welfare through innovations. Stretching from product, process and social innovations to transformation of the national infrastructure, developing countries are increasingly building their capacities in the sector with a view to transform their economies and enhance social wellbeing for their citizens.In respect of the above, the late Prof. Calestous Juma, a world renowned scientist and advocate of STI, strongly believed in the power of leveraging STI to transform national economies and accelerate social progress. His work focused on analysing how knowledge and innovation could be harnessed for development in the context of institutional change in socio-economic systems. His initiatives promoted this agenda through advanced STI policy research, especially biotechnology; provision of high-level science and technology advice; and promotion of the conservation of biological diversity.

For this reason, and to keep alight his dream, an online seminar series in honour of his stellar achievements in this sector is set to be launched on 12^th August 2021. The inaugural seminar, under the banner ‘Re-igniting Africa industrialization through inclusive knowledge and innovation’ will bring together global STI experts, academicians and practitioners (see profile of speakers through this link).

The lectures are intended to open to a wide range of stakeholders including (i) policy makers from the countries in the region and the experts from the Continent’s regional economic communities in Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the African Union Development Agency (AUDA) with the responsibility of formulating and implementing relevant innovation and other industrial policies for sustainable and inclusive industrialization; key stakeholders with the responsibility of STI; and  representatives from the universities, the industry, Non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) and other sectors of the civil society (CBOs) involved in innovation and development matters.

The seminar series will be coordinated by the Calestous Juma Legacy Foundation (CJLF) and the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS). CJLF was founded in 2019 to foster policies, programs and projects to develop and utilize technological innovation in education, public health, and in advancing the application of science and technology in economic transformation and sustainable development, particularly in Kenya, Africa, and developing countries. The initial focus of the Foundation’s work will be on Calestous Juma’s hometown of Port Victoria, Bunyala District, Kenya, on the shores of Lake Victoria.

Prof Juma (1953-2017) was an internationally recognised authority in the application of science and technology for sustainable development. At the time of his demise, he was serving as a Professor of the Practice of International Development and Director of the Science, Technology and Globalization Project, at the Harvard Kennedy School, USA. He was also the Director of the School’s Agricultural Innovation in Africa and a member of many global and African initiatives. He was the co-chair of the High-Level Panel of Prominent African and Diaspora Scientists that developed the Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA-2024).

Prof Juma was the pioneer head of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity and an advisor to many governments, the AU, COMESA and SADC. His publications and technical advice resulted in elaboration of policies on biodiversity; climate change; science, technology and innovation (STI); as well as the establishment of a number of relevant national institutions in Africa. Upon his death, all his tributes, which came from all over the world, (including global leaders, UN bodies, development practitioners, regional blocs, heads of institutions, scholars, researchers, colleagues and students), emphasized the need to honour his legacy.

He founded ACTS in 1988 where his initial developmental ideas were nurtured. The organization has become a leading Intergovernmental STI policy Think Tank whose mission is to strengthen the capacity of African countries and institutions to harness STI for sustainable development. The lecture series are intended to keep his dream alive by creating a platform that elicits discussion around knowledge and innovation for development. These lecture series will be held once every three months and will culminate to ACTS-CJLF conference in early 2022.

These lecture series will be held once every three months and will culminate to ACTS-CJLF conference in early 2022. The lectures will be held on 12^th and 13^th August 2021. To register for the lecture series follow this link: https://www.acts-net.org/cj-lecture-series

We are pleased to announce the upcoming publication of Building Science Systems by Dr. Rebecca Hanlin and Dr. Aschalew Tigabu with colleagues as part of  SGCI Africa. The book argues that African governments are at a turning point with science systems and continue work to move beyond only science as research and innovation to encapsulate all forms of knowledge, technology and innovation.

It specifically focuses on the role of science councils in African governments as ‘boundary managers’ able to mediate the actors and flows to ensure more broadly defined and effective science systems.

Book will be available for download shortly.  For more information to receive a copy contact: info(at)acts-net.org

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Office for Eastern Africa, the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI) and the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) recognise that the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (the “SDGs”) requires a concerted alliance between inter-governmental organisations, governments, non-governmental organisations and private sector entities.

UNESCO, NACOSTI and ACTS wish to combine forces and actively collaborate, so that each party brings its particular competencies and skills to contribute, in an effective manner, to the achievement of the SDGs.

Over the years, UNESCO has provided Eastern African countries (EAC) with guidance in developing or revising their national STI policies; promoting the development of science governance structures and mechanisms; and fostering closer linkages between Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET),  universities and industry within its longstanding University−Industry Partnerships programme and through the African Network of Scientific and Technological Institutions (ANSTI) which was established in 1980 to facilitate the active collaboration among African Scientific Institutions for the purpose of training and research in science, engineering and technology. UNESCO has also supported Ministries of Education, Science and Technology in developing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programs to empower and enhance girls’ participation in STEM education programs. Via the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, the organization also accompanies developing countries desirous to measure their level of investment in STI in terms of both human and financial resources. Every five years, the UNESCO Science Report monitors the status of the support system for STI around the world and analyses emerging trends.  Moreover UNESCO’s Global Observatory of Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Instruments (GO→SPIN) published a series of country profiles as a precursor to the establishment of an international, open access database that will enable countries to monitor and evaluate their innovation ‘ecosystems’ and compare best practices.

The Government of Kenya established NACOSTI to assure quality in the research, science, technology and innovation sector through regulation, coordination, promotion and provision of advisory services. This is in line with efforts to contribute to realization of the Kenya Vision 2030, the Big Four Agenda and other national development goals, which aspires to transform Kenya into a globally competitive, newly industrialized, middle income country founded on a strong foundation on Science and Technology and Innovation with Research playing a key role in generating critical mass of technical and skilled human resource.

As a successor to the National Council for Science and Technology, NACOSTI has provided leadership in the STI sector through development of the National Research Priorities (2018-2022) to guide local and international researchers, universities and research institutions on the research areas which are aligned to the national development agenda. The Commission has also been working jointly with the Ministry of Education, UNESCO and other public and private agencies to enhance provision of STEM education with the aim of addressing gender disparities and inequalities which are skewed against girls. NACOSTI serves as a focal point for numerous international conventions and protocols related to STI such as the Africa Regional Cooperative Agreement for Research, Development and Training related to Nuclear Science and Technology (AFRA), Comprehensive Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty Organization (CBTO) and International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) among others. Further, the Commission registers and accredits research institutions and Institutional Ethics Review Committees (IRECs) across the country to uphold ethical standards in research and innovations.

ACTS is an intergovernmental organization founded in 1988 to pursue policy oriented research towards strengthening the capacity of African countries and institutions to harness science and technology for sustainable development. It is a pioneering development research think tank on harnessing applications of science, technology and innovation policies for sustainable development in Africa. Since its founding, ACTS has been instrumental in enlarging the range of policy choices for sustainable development in Africa. For example, ACTS’ work influenced patent industrial property legislation and policy (Kenya); environmental impact assessment standards (Eastern and Southern Africa); bio-energy and biofuels policy (Eastern and West Africa); agricultural policy, bio-diplomacy, biotechnology and biosafety (Africa-wide); and climate change adaptation and mitigation (Africa-wide). ACTS was the first to organize an international conference to discuss options that African countries could adopt to mitigate the impact of climate change and also played a major role in the negotiation for the Convention on Biological Diversity. For these and other achievements, ACTS has earned top ratings among the Environment Think Tanks in Africa and the world. In 2016, ACTS was rated (by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) among the top three most influential think tanks in Climate Change globally, and number one in Africa

Following discussions held between the Natural Science Sector Team of the UNESCO Field Office in Nairobi and the senior leadership of NACOSTI and ACTS around a possible collaboration on advancing the use and application of science, technology and innovation in Kenya’s sustainable development agenda, this Letter of Intent highlights the opportunities to be explored by the Parties. The letter of intent came into effect on 20 November 2020.

The Parties have identified the following areas as initial priorities to build a strong partnership:

• Collaborate in establishing national STI baselines and database platform;
• Promote capacity building on STI indicators and development of STI policy instruments;
• Collaborate in the development of national STI policies, STI Priority activities, and investment plans;
• Coordinate the establishment and sustenance of a National Policy Platform on STI (NAPSTI);
• Collaborate in research on STI;
• Promote the adoption of STI in driving key sectors of Kenyan’s economy;
• Coordinate efforts to promote STI catalytic programmes on gender and youth empowerment;
• Coordinate efforts to promote STEM education;
• Coordinate STI policy development and implementation efforts;
• Collaborate in STI awareness creation;
• Collaborate in resource mobilization;
• Coordinate monitoring and evaluation exercises; and
• Expert collaboration and exchange.

Learn more: https://en.unesco.org/news/unesco-signs-letter-intent-nacosti-and-acts-collaboration-science-technology-and-innovation

African scholars have been urged to embrace innovation and transformative thinking in pursuing research to provide answers to critical issues affecting the continent to unlock Africa’s potential on its Sustainable Development prospects.

Africa’s challenges from poverty, climate change, lack of sufficient technologies and capabilities continue to hinder the continent’s growth. Africa’s economy is shrinking at a rate of 75% and research should be incorporated into solutions to ensure that policies are aligned properly with the realities on the ground.

While Kenya’s vision 2030 seeks to ensure the country is transformed into an industrialised and middle income economy and provide high quality life by 2030, the country continues to grapple with challenges such as providing public goods to its citizens yet transformative research offers solutions.

In view of these research challenges facing the continent, the Africa Sustainability Hub at the African Centre for Technology studies in collaboration with the University of Sussex convened a meeting of top scholars on international development from around the world in Nairobi to discuss innovative ways to ensure that research uptake and collaborations are well incorporated into the development agenda of countries’ policies.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of agriculture, Professor Hamadi Bogo acknowledges that despite funding for research being minimal, the government was making efforts to ensure that research systems are strengthened and incorporated appropriately within the big four agenda.

“African researchers need to ensure that its researchers take a key role in ensuring top quality research is produced as owners of research often control the knowledge systems. It’s critical to map out research and institute mapping on the research agenda critical for national discourses” he noted.

Professor Mbogo urged young people to engage in the country’s research agenda while noting the importance of researcher’s collaboration with political systems to ensure that their efforts towards research and policy update don’t disintegrate. “We need to critically re-package and sustain conversations on innovative research methodologies for Kenya,” he added.

Dr. Joanes Atela, the Head of Climate Change programme at ACTS noted that it was critical to engage effectively on sustainable development which remains a key landmark policy and a critical development agenda. “In Kenya, young scholars continue to develop innovative platforms that offer significant opportunities for the research agenda that seeks to enhance the development trajectory of the country,” he stated.

Dr. Atela further noted that evidence-based research is the key to unlocking solutions to the country’s challenges.

Dr. Richard Munang, the United Nations Environment Africa Regional Climate Change Programme coordinator noted that the findings on climate change should be critically addressed as global warming was worsening indicating the need to take the Paris agreement on climate change seriously.

“Research should not be isolated from mainstream development as has been currently observed as is the case of Kenya’s big four agenda which has a defeaning silence on rule of research and optimization and realization of the big four agenda,’ noted Dr. Munang. He reiterated that these challenges may be resolved through ideas; innovations, incentives, institutions and inclusive partnerships to enhance development.

Professor David Ockwell from the University of Sussex noted the importance of research collaborations across the continents as it offered great cross-learning opportunities for researchers to learn and engage in meaningful development processes.

“These joint learnings offer novel ideas for innovative platforms that are effective for collaborations which also enhance policy uptake informed across the world. Evidence-based research is key to unlocking solutions that the various continents continue to face,” added Dr. Adrian Ely from the University of Sussex.

This meeting was convened after a 3-year project called the Pathways Network, funded by the International Science Council, which used ‘Transformation Lab’ (T-Lab) processes to explore transformations in society and ecology in six countries around the world. They looked at how different people understand problems and imagine new solutions. In Kenya, the project looked at how mobile-enabled payments for solar power could work for poor people, exploring the barriers and opportunities for change in policy and practice.

The project also worked in China, India, the UK, Mexico and Argentina on transformations in agriculture and food, low carbon development, urbanisation and water. Now, the Africa Sustainability Hub is drawing lessons from this project for Kenya and the wider sustainable development agenda in Africa.

Notes to the Editor:

1. Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 in Africa and beyond will require major transformations in economies, societies and politics.
2. Collaborative research and partnerships that the Africa Sustainability Hub is pioneering, along with its partners in the global PATHWAYS network through embracing South-South and North-South research partnership seeks to help unlock some of the research needs of Africa’s Agenda 2063.

Kenya’s top climate think tank has partnered with a British university to drive policies to tackle climate change. The Africa Centre for Technology Studies and the University of Sussex have developed a mechanism to enable African countries to tap into the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the global fund for innovators tackling climate change.

The mechanism allows professionals and policymakers within the climate change sphere to develop viable funding proposals. The model, known as Climate Relevant Innovation-systems Builders (CRIBs) is a product of the Africa Sustainability Hub which is domiciled at ACTS offices in Nairobi.

Dr. Rob Byrne from the University of Sussex, who was one of the lead researchers noted that the goal of the mechanism was to ensure that more African countries are able to leverage on the systems-approach template provided in the model to access the funding.

“Previously, the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) investments favoured the developed countries than the developing nations where climate change has had a huge impact on populations. Africa only got 2% of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) investments while countries like China took up over 50% of these investments,” Dr. Byrne.

The CRIBs approach is recognized by the Green Climate Fund board as a mechanism that would enable effective engagements with different stakeholders for climate funding.

Dr. Joanes Atela, the Head of Climate Resilient Economies at ACTS, who spearheaded the partnership in Kenya, welcomed the set of processes and templates and the potential for successful funding of important projects in Kenya to mitigate the effects of climate change, both at the national level and in the counties.
“The CRIBs approach for climate financing is a novel systems-approach mechanism that seeks to build capacity of governments, institutions and policy in Sub-Sahara Africa on climate financing,” said Dr Atela.

The CRIBs model has attracted the attention of the African Union and now ACTS and its experts have been invited to help spread the adoption of the model to different regional blocs within the continent.

“In August a high-level meeting of the AU has invited ACTs to further engage on these discussions,” said Dr. Atela.
Dr. Atela and Dr. Byrne spoke at the end of two-week regional meeting to train leading climate change experts and innovators from Kenya, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. The training sought to enable the policy makers to leverage on international climate funding for climate change-compatible economic development and poverty reduction. CRIBs augments previous projects which have sought to address how to leverage policy mechanisms to fund collaborative Research and Development whilst enhancing the delivery of climate technology transfer under the Paris Climate Agreement.

Peter Odhengo, an advisor to the government of Kenya on climate related policies said most of the funding proposals for climate change projects are rejected because they lack critical elements stipulated by the GCF board.

“There are six investment criteria that most proposals lack which means they are dead on arrival and thus cannot be funded. Our doors are open for the various stakeholders seeking clarifications on these issues. Treasury and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) are the NDA’s responsible for engaging stakeholders on Climate Change on the GCF in Kenya,” said Odhengo.

ACTs and the University of Sussex have just conducted a two weeks training for policymakers from Kenya, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda to enable them formulate project proposals for clean energy access, environment and climate change mitigation and adaptation on the preparation of GCF proposals using the CRIBs approach.

“The CRIBs approach has enabled me to understand the current international climate policy on climate change and clean energy, funding options for clean energy access as well as promoting energy efficiency and understand the eco-system of the GCF funding mechanism which had not been clear before. I’m now able to advice various stakeholders on the GCF processes using the CRIBs approach in Uganda and enable them strategise on accessing the global fund for the diverse projects on climate change,” notes Ms. Mildred Namiira, an economist from Uganda’s Ministry of Water.

Notes to the editor

The GCF was established to mobilize climate finance to support scaled up mitigation and adaptation action during the COP 16 (United Nations Climate Change Conference) in Cancun in 2010 as an operating entity of the financial mechanism of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC).

The Climate Relevant Innovation-systems Builders (CRIBs) mechanism incorporates a systems-approach mode of operation for engagements and strategies for policy makers when developing proposals for the Green Climate Fund (GCF)The CRIBs approach seeks to build networks of diverse stakeholders where it can foster and share learnings that seeks to promote innovative ideas as it engages policy makers on interlinked systems and processes to enable them formulate effective fundable proposals to the GCF.

This mechanism also seeks to further engage and build the capacity of national bodies in the countries responsible for the GCF known as the National Designated Authorities (NDA’S) and to effectively support stakeholders in the various countries for GCF purposes.