Floods, droughts, melting glaciers – the consequences of climate change are extreme. Digital transformation can help to mitigate the effects of the climate crisis and support adaptation with innovative solutions.
The “Digital & Green Innovation Accelerator” (DGIx) offers a suitable platform for this, paving the way for the digital transformation of a sustainable future, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
The DGIx is a program under the #SmartDevelopmentFund (#SDF) and is jointly managed by the Innovation Accelerator of the UN World Food Programme, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Union (EU).
In September 2023, a DGIx call for innovations was launched: from over 440 applications, ten teams with participants from 51 countries were selected to present their innovative solutions for a sustainable future:
- M-taka, Ghana: A waste management platform that promotes efficient waste management through behavior change.
- Hesotech, Rwanda: A monitoring system for the early detection of landslides and flooding in large areas of Rwanda.
- VIDA, Tanzania: A cloud-based platform offers innovative solutions for smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa.
- Still I Rise, Mozambique and Kenya: A program that gives smallholder farmers better access to markets.
- Keva, Ghana: A platform for monitoring, reporting and verifying land rights using blockchain
- The Source Plus, Kenya und Rwanda: Using blockchain to improve the transparency and credibility of the honey value chain
- Waternaa, Rwanda: A system for monitoring water quality, analyzing water samples and detecting pollution at an early stage.
- Residat, Cameroon: Using drone technology and big data to make climate risks in communities accessible.
- AgroSfer, Benin, Togo, and Ivory Coast: A platform for digitizing the agricultural value chain
- Nysa Aerial Data Solutions (NADS), Malawi: Promotes urban green spaces by combining nature-based solutions and technology.
During the UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai 2023 (COP 28), a bootcamp took place in the form of a four-day virtual training program where the teams were able to further develop their innovations. The next crucial step will be the pitch event in Kigali, Rwanda, on January 31, 2024 – we wish the teams every success!
“The bootcamp was exceptionally well-organized and proved to be incredibly fruitful. It provided me with valuable insights into various digital solutions and strategies to enhance a product’s impact on both society and the environment. I particularly appreciated the effective meeting organization and the opportunity to connect with accelerators in the breakrooms. The chance to receive advice from experts in those intimate settings was invaluable”
Ineza Willy Blaise of Hesotech, Bootcamp participant
More information about the pitch event in Kigali and the teams can be found here.
