Innovators bag Sh2m after their Apps win international contest
Three Kenyan Apps are among top 20 winners of the African Development Bank’s (AfDB) AfricavsVirus Challenge that sought to provide solutions in the fight against Covid-19 pandemic.
Kenyan developers of Enarmour3D, LéarnerApp and Uzima Health apps will each receive a grant of up to $ 20,000 (Sh2.18 million) and access to business development and other incentives.
The 20 top winners will receive the same prize in a competition where more than 25,000 ideas were pitched.
Winners, announced during a virtual event last week, were selected from a shortlist of 100 applicants who pitched ideas for innovative solutions to the health and economic challenges presented by Covid-19.
“The challenge highlighted a diverse capacity for creativity and innovation. It is a direct reflection of how young people are creating tangible opportunities despite facing the adversity of quickly changing and unprecedented times,” said Martha T.M. Phiri, AfDB Director of Human Capital, Youth and Skills Development during the event.
“Joining the challenge was an opportunity to work with a global team to find solutions that were unique to the African perspective,” observed Tizzita Tefera, a Top 20 Winner who participated in the virtual event.
Tefera’s team, Maisha Technology, has developed a solution that uses affordable drones to deliver Covid-19 test kits to rural health centers in Ethiopia.
The challenge is part of AfDB’s continent-wide response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
