Category Foresight Africa

By Kevin Ouko, Nicholas Odongo and Esther Mugera Overview On August 8, 2024, the Research and Innovation Management (RIM)[1] Project hosted a webinar themed “Bridging Innovation and Market: Effective Technology Transfer and Commercialization”. The webinar was led by Prof. Tom…

Issue 2 May 2024 By Ann Kingiri and Yvonne Gitu Introduction The Kenya electricity generation has grown remarkably, with an estimated 88% of its grid mix in 2022 coming from renewables, mainly geothermal, wind and solar electricity. This is partly…

Issue 1 By Dorcas Kalele and Joel Onyango Real-world impact can be realized through action-oriented research approaches as well as through knowledge generated to impact societal technical action. Creation of knowledge for sustainability and achieving real-world impact can be mediated…

Authors: Monroe Dikiny and Maureen Kabasa Introduction All regions worldwide are experiencing and will continue to experience the effects of climate change with varying magnitudes and consequences. The United Nations defines climate change as the long-term shifts in temperature and…

Authors: Erica Atieno, Lindah Kakai, Joel Onyango Background Climate change, a pervasive global phenomenon, mainly driven by anthropogenic activities, manifests in far reaching consequences such as extreme weather events, rising sea levels, ecosystem disturbances, and threats to biodiversity. [1] [2]…

Monroe Dikiny, Mourine Cheruiyot, and Joel Onyango The energy sector is a critical driver of economic growth in Kenya, with the country’s development goals heavily reliant on access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy. Compared with conventional cooking technologies and…

By Gillian Faith Achieng and Joel Onyango The Sixth Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6), convened in Nairobi, Kenya, emerged as a defining moment in the evolution of global environmental policy, marking significant strides towards addressing the planet’s…

This blog was originally posted on Water Transformation Pathways Planning website. Wetlands are valuable ecosystems to humanity. They provide clean water for domestic use, construction materials, and food. Wetlands also protect us from flooding events and help us to combat climate…

We are thrilled to share reflections on the project outcomes and the valuable lessons learned during this transformative journey. Our mission was ambitious, aiming to institutionalize the matchmaking service at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) and…

y Solomon Ogara, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) Following the completion of the matchmaking activities between the students and entrepreneurs and the development of the matchmaking platform the next phase involved the institutionalization of the matchmaking…

In the heart of Nairobi, the city in the sun and where innovation interconnects with academia, a groundbreaking phenomena unfolded on January 30th, 2024. This was a momentous occasion celebrating the institutionalization of the Transforming Climate Innovation Ecosystems through Inclusive…

Authors: Gillian F. Achieng and Joel Onyango Achieving sustainable development and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is of vital importance to climate action. In a world grappling with the urgent need for transformative change, the pursuit of sustainable…

Authors: Gillian Faith Achieng and Joel Onyango Introduction Climate change presents significant and complex challenges for global economies, as it affects not only industries but also communities and ecosystems. As we confront the urgent need for adaptation, climate resilience economies have emerged…

Authors: Valarie Nyanaro and Nora Ndege Of what importance are kidneys to the human body? Vital! So are wetlands to the earth. Often wetlands have been referred to as the “kidneys of the earth” for they play an important role…

Authors: Monroe Dikiny, Maureen Kabasa, Joel Onyango In matters of climate and action, Africa is making great strides towards combating climate change. However, two years after COVID-19, Africa is still experiencing adverse effects of the pandemic characterized by economic decline..…

Authors: Dr. Dorcas Kalele, Isaiah Omolo, Dr. Catherine Kilelu Background According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, every year, about 1.3 billion tonnes of food are lost or wasted across the food supply chain. It’s estimated…

This blog is based on discussions held during the showcase event under the TransCIIT3 project which was held in September 2023 at the Kenya School of Monetary Studies (KSMS), Nairobi, Kenya. The showcase event was held to demonstrate the functionality…

By Rob Byrne, Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU), University of Sussex We are now into phase three of our project, Transforming Climate Innovation Ecosystems through Inclusive Transdisciplinarity (TransCIIT). In a series of blogs posted on the ACTS website, starting with…

It is with great pleasure and honor to introduce a dynamic trio of remarkable professionals who recently joined our organization, further enriching our capabilities and strengthening our mission. Their expertise and experience are poised to contribute significantly to the advancement…

Technically referred to as Specialized Outreach and Knowledge Establishments (SPOKEs), the centres will be deployed in strategic locations across Africa to demonstrate solutions, provide technical assistance and cascade knowledge to the local markets. Plans are underway to establish the first…

Previously, physicians had to go through verbal autopsy reports to determine the causes of death, which was tedious, time consuming and prone to bias. The new AI model enables the government to identify causes of death in real time and…

Under the umbrella of the Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Security (AFNS) Programme at ACTS, the policy dialogue provided an opportunity for an enthralling discussion on strategies for creating an enabling policy environment for up-scaling solar dryers in Kenya. A panel…

So far, 17 Science Granting Councils (SGCs) have plugged into the RIM project, 11 of which have already launched their calls for proposals while four councils have identified projects to fund. Research and Innovation project manager at IDRC, Dr Ellie…

This network will serve as a platform for Ethiopian researchers and scholars in the field of innovation and development and operates as an Ethiopian chamber of AfricaLics. Ethiopian Network for the Economics of Learning, Innovation, and Competence Building Systems (EthiopiaLics)…

The funds will cover the expenses for the students for a three-month fellowship stint at the University of Johannesburg. The Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), has granted additional grants to support the 2023 cohort of students under the Visiting Fellowship…

Inclusive business models are meant to build women’s a capacity to exploit the region’s economic potential in fishing, small-scale agriculture and tourism The Blue Empowerment (BE) project is implementing comprehensive and inclusive business models that will enable women in Kenya’s…

“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” –…

Launched in July 2023, ACTS Pathways Academy is a new and exciting professional platform specifically designed to provide access to borderless, flexible, informative training to foster skills, knowledge and collaboration on STI NETFund Resource Mobilization Manager, Chrispine Onyango, ACTS Climate…

Through ground-breaking research, transformative capacity building and visionary policy advisory in the realm of science, technology, and innovation (STI), the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) takes great pride in showcasing the continent’s potential towards a brighter and sustainable future.…

By Ann Numi, African Centre of Technology Studies (ACTS) Introduction This blog is based on the key highlights and discussions held during the focus group discussion workshop held on 18th July at the Kenya School of Monetary Studies (KSMS), Nairobi.…

A Blog by Martin Wang’endo (ACTS) and Michele Mayuba (Ryculture) Background Some of the common phrases used by those who get a chance to escape the confines of the concrete jungle are, “The air just feels different!” “I feel a…

By Dr. Lawrence Nderu Storytelling is an essential communication tool and can be used as a contextual bridge between play and written narrative. This is something that I discovered when I sat with a five-year-old for the first time and…

By Dr. Neema Mduma Crop diseases are substantially problematic for agricultural yield management and a major threat to food security. On addressing this challenge which facing agricultural sector in Tanzania, Dr. Neema Mduma, a lecturer at the Nelson Mandela African…

Authors: Erica Atieno, (ACTS) , Lindah Fatuma, (ACTS) and Deborah Murphy, (IISD) Climate change is one of the main global challenges against sustainable development with experts warning of grave consequences for vulnerable populations in developing countries who face the harshest…

By Prof. Rebecca Hanlin, African Centre of Technology Studies (ACTS)/ University of Johannesburg When we think of match-making, I expect many of us think about online dating websites or mothers’ setting up their children with ‘appropriate’ potential future spouses.  However,…

By Rob Byrne, SPRU, University of Sussex 12th September 2022 Now that our TransCIIT* project has finished, we can reflect a little on what it has achieved and what this may mean. But, before getting to those reflections, it may…

By Solomon Ogara, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) and Ernest Chitechi, Kenya Climate Innovation Center (KCIC) The showcase event was held online on 5th September, 11:00 am – 1:30 pm EAT. More than 26  Innovation ecosystem…

By Faith Wandera, African Centre for Technology Studies and Ann Numi, African Centre for Technology Studies/Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology Nine projects were implemented under the Transforming Climate Innovation Ecosystems through Inclusive Transdisciplinarity (TransCIIT) Project. The focal…

By Ernest Chitechi, Kenya Climate Innovation Center (KCIC) Transforming Climate Innovation Ecosystems through Inclusive Transdisciplinarity (TransCIIT) project Innovation is the engine for economic development, and jobs creations, and helps to combat climate change. Climate change presents immense challenges to developing…

By Faith Wandera, African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) and Ann Numi, African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS)/Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) Transforming Climate Innovation Ecosystems through Inclusive Transdisciplinarity (TransCIIT) project The TransCIIT project aims to…

By Faith Wandera, African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) and Ann Numi, African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS)/Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) Transforming Climate Innovation Ecosystems through Inclusive Transdisciplinarity (TransCIIT) project Innovation in African Universities (IAU)…

By Solomon Ogara, Dean, School of Informatics and Innovative Systems, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST), Kenya Transforming Climate Innovation Ecosystems through Inclusive Transdisciplinarity (TransCIIT) project We at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST)…

By Rob Byrne, Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU), University of Sussex Transforming Climate Innovation Ecosystems through Inclusive Transdisciplinarity (TransCIIT) project For any effort to develop transformative innovation policy, there must exist some form of innovation system that can be nurtured…

Author(s): Haron, A., Randa, T., Chengo, V., and Atela, J Publisher: Tomorrow’s Cities Type: Opinion May 2021 Theme: Risk DOI: Disasters and their associated risks have continued to evolve in complexity, forms, frequencies, and severity. The COVID-19 pandemic has…

Author(s): Haron Akala, Dr. Joanes Atela and Dr. Asenath Maobe Introduction In August 2017 Mukuru, one of Kenya’s urban slums was declared a Special Planning Area by the Nairobi City County Government. This declaration was a welcome relief to the…

Author(s): Emily Bolo, Tom Randa, Dr. Joanes Atela, Paul Osogo, & Salome Okoth. Introduction It is often said that health is wealth and it’s the desire of everyone, the society, and the community to be healthy. However, this desire is…

By Joel Onyango, Maureen Kabasa When people think about capacity building in Africa, the first thought is always inadequacy of expertise to enhance the capacity within the African context. But when you think about it, Africa has all it needs…

By Joel Onyango, Eileen Lara, Richard Randle-Boggis, Christine Lamanna, Cassilde Muhoza, and Anne Kuria The agrivoltaics concept is anchored on the co-utilisation of land for agricultural production, solar energy generation, and water harvesting. Agrivoltaics idea for ‘harvesting the sun twice,’…

By Lindah Fatuma, Maureen Kabasa and Joel Onyango Climate change is a global phenomenon, which has affected economies differently through high temperatures, droughts, floods among others. For instance, developing countries are more vulnerable to climate change compared to developed countries1.…

By Mourine Chepkemoi (ACTS), Jon Leary (Gamos Ltd.) and Shukri Abdulkadir (Loughborough University). The MECS Kenya team joined forces with Clean Cooking Association of Kenya (CCAK ) and the Ministry of Energy during their Clean Cooking Week this week, 29…

By Joanes Atela, Victoria Chengo, Joel Onyango (ACTS) Cooking with electricity presents a strategic opportunity for a large scale clean energy transformation in Kenya in line with SDG7’s goal to achieve universal access to energy. With over 73% of households…

Authors: Maureen Kabasa, Jackson Wachira and Joel Onyango In this blog, we  explore the relationship between the climate change agenda and development in Africa, problematizing the capacity development gaps associated with climate change awareness and response programs. We argue that …

Authors :  Deborah Murphy, Jo-Ellen Parry and Joanes Atela. Multilateral development banks (MDBs) have pledged to and are working to increase financing for adaptation in developing countries. For MDBs, alignment with the adaptation goals of the Paris Agreement means scaling…

By Leonard Mabele, CB4ICT Project In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) – Kenya’s National Regulatory Authority (NRA), has been deeply engaged on studies to validate the draft of the regulatory framework for Television…

By Erick O. Otieno, CB4ICTD Project Information security and cybersecurity have been used synonymously in the context of information systems security management. It is, however, very common to hear the word cybersecurity being floated in almost every discussion in the…

The exchange of climate information by speaking, writing, or using some other medium, messaged in a practical and useful context contributes to climate communication. This has become increasingly vital in translating science and research, into practice and policy.Timely delivery and…

By Leonard Mabele, iLabAfrica Research Centre, Strathmore University The unveiling of Kenya’s Digital Economy Blueprint in May 2019 promises a great economic transformation driven by a number of factors such as Digital Skills, Infrastructure, Innovation-driven Entrepreneurship, Digital Government among other…

By Morven Macewen Public participation and community empowerment are fundamental to the success of Sustainable Development Goals; particularly, Goal No.7 that seeks to increase the ‘proportion of the population with access to electricity’, SDG 13 that aims at avoiding anthropogenic…

By Victoria Chengo and Joanes Atela, ACTS On 6th May 2019 during the official launch of the ‘Nairobi Disaster Risk Hub’ under the ‘Multi Hazard Urban Disaster Risks Transitions’ project, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Nairobi Risk Hub…

Unpacking Knowledge Systems for sustainable development in East Africa: Practical perspectives from Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania by Joanes Atela, Fiona Marshall, Nora Ndege, Joanna Chataway, Andy Frost and Andy Hall, Knowledge Systems Project Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) is rising…

By Rasmus Magni, Aalborg University, Denmark. My internship and stay at ACTS is coming to an end, and will therefore l try to recap look back on my time and recap my experience. I am studying Sustainable Energy Planning and…

By Mourine Chepkemoi, ACTS The Next Generation of Low-cost Energy-efficient Products for the Bottom of the Pyramid (known as the LCT project) comes to an end in July 2018. To mark this occasion, the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS)…

By  Victoria Chengo & Fiona Imbali, ACTS A two week long research capacity building training on the preparation of proposals for the Green Climate Fund (GCF) kicked off at the Elementaita Country Lodge in Naivasha, Kenya. The event organised by…

By Victoria Chengo, ACTS On 10th – 11th April 2018, the Transforming Energy Access (TEA) stakeholder workshop was held in Kisumu. It was organized by the African centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) in collaboration with the UK-based Low Carbon for Development…

Dr. Catherine Kilelu , 3R Kenya Project Coordinator – ACTS From 15 – 17th November 2017, various stakeholders in the Dairy industry in Africa gathered in Johannesburg for the African Dairy conference and Exhibition organised by the East and Southern…

The African Centre for Technology Studies- ACTS has been ranked among the top 3 climate change think tanks globally in the 2016 think tank ranking. The ranking also shows that ACTS is the top think tank on climate change in…

Dr. Joanes Atela, ACTS Kenya has witnessed a proliferation of research interventions on both international and national fronts. The country is a host to renowned research and development agencies such as the CGIARS, UN bodies plus several regional research, advocacy…

By Dr Sandeep Napa, Project Manager, Institute for Transformative Technologies (ITT) – Low Cost Technologies Project My parents brought us up in a home of generosity. While I had always been interested in social change, I didn’t do much until…

By Ruth Njuguna, Head of Clinical Operations, Institute for Transformative Technologies – Low Cost Technologies Project “Excuse me Daktari, please tell me if my baby is OK”, The woman in the queue said desperately. This woman, 27-year-old Nancy was in…

By Dr. Joanes Atela, ACTS Acknowledgement: This blog was written with the aid of a grant from the International Development Centre (IDRC), Ottawa, Canada. The 22nd Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change which took…

Some thoughts for the Policy Landscape on IP By Prof Berhanu Abegaz, The African Academy of Sciences(AAS) and Hailemichael Teshome Demissie, PhD, ACTS. Additive manufacturing, popularly known by the colloquial ‘3D printing’, is a process of making three dimensional solid…

By Prof Henry Thairu Chair of the Commission for University Education, and Director of Consultancy Services, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya. Early this year, the BBC ran a headline story by the Director of the OECD’s Directorate of Education and Skills,…

By Joanes Atela, Claire Quinn, Albert Arhin, Lalisa Duguma and Kennedy Mbeva Africa is mentioned in almost every climate change research and policy as the most vulnerable, the most exposed and the most affected continent by climate change.  Global solutions…

By Dr. Joanes Atela, ACTS Background This week from 23rd-27th May, 2016, delegates drawn from across the world are gathered at the UNEP headquarters in Nairobi  to participate in the second session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-2) to deliberate…

By Dr. Cosmas Ochieng, former Executive Director, ACTS and Dr. Hailemichael Teshome Demissie, Senior Research Fellow, ACTS It is common tradition that every nation wants to make and preserve their leaders’ portraitures in the best way possible commissioning the best…

By Prof. Bitange Ndemo, Associate professor, University of Nairobi “3D Printing has the potential to revolutionize the way we make almost everything.”  President Barack Obama Did you know that in 1990 a novel project to manufacture motor vehicles in Kenya…

By Dr. Joanes Atela, ACTS In March, researchers, knowledge brokers and funders gathered in Pretoria, South Africa to share lessons and experiences on how a decade of ESRC-DFID research support has impacted on poverty reduction.The Conference came just a few…

If the INDCs are going to be the foundations of a global climate solution, we need to make sure they are durable and clear, argue experts By Pieter Pauw and Kennedy Liti Mbeva The Paris climate summit was a diplomatic triumph,…

By Mourine Cheruiyot, ACTS Technology is evolving rapidly and it is influencing consumers’ behaviors, their daily lifestyle, marketing, and business activities. User acceptance of  technology is a critical key factor to determine its success. I am involved in a project that…

By: Prof. Torbjörn Fagerström, Dr. Roy B. Mugiira and Prof. Lisa Sennerby Forsse a) Värtavägen 39, SE 115 29 Stockholm, Sweden, b) Directorate of Research Management and Development, State Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology,…

By Ms. Jully Senteu and Joel Onyango Heaps of garbage and polybags scattered as far as the eye can see are regrettably a common sight in most urban and peri-urban centers across the country. It is disheartening, when you drive across…

By Dr. Sajitha Bashir, World Bank The scale of China’s engagement in Sub-Saharan Africa is impressive and is expected to grow substantially if future projections of Chinese investments materialize. By 2013, China accounted for a quarter of all SSA trade.…

Think Mobility By Prof. L Alan Winters – Professor of Economics, University of Sussex, also of CEPR, IZA and GDN Mobility would seem to be the very essence of trade: if things don’t move, there is no trade. This is…

By Dr. Cosmas Ochieng, former Executive Director, ACTS Abstract A combination of robust economic performance and an uptick in scientific and technological indicators over the last two decades has given rise to exuberant assessments of Africa’s development prospects in the 21st…

By Prof. Michael Lofchie, Department of Political Science, UCLA A vehicle for progressive change or more of the same? History offers sobering lessons for those concerned with the prospects of broad based development in Africa. Entrenched political oligarchies do not willingly surrender…

By Dr. Joanes Atela, ACTS Unpacking Public Private Partnership (PPP) Public-private partnership (PPP) has become a central driver of climate change actions- both in negotiations and implementation. Whether on clean energy, sustainable forest management or even climate smart agriculture, PPP…

By Winnie Khaemba, ACTS Context ‘You have been negotiating all my life’ lamented a Youth NGO’s Constituency  (YOUNGO) representative while making an intervention at a UNFCCC COP 17 session in Durban, South Africa in 2011. Four years on, the world is…

By: Kennedy Liti Mbeva, ACTS Energy poverty is one of the major challenges holding back Africa’s transformation agenda, as clearly articulated in the African Union’s Agenda 2063[1]. About 70% of the African population is not connected to the electricity grid, yet…

By Dr. Joanes Atela, ACTS Sustainable development Sustainable development (SD) remains a landmark policy and global development agenda since the 1992 Convention on Environment and Development. Anchored on the Brutland Commission report ‘Our Common Future’, sustainable development articulates the urge to…

By Dr. Cosmas Ochieng, former Executive Director, ACTS “In our world in which the generation of new knowledge and its application to change the human condition is the engine which moves human society further away from barbarism, do we not have…

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