RAN Innovation Portfolio – 2016 

ResilientAfrica Network (RAN) www.ranlab.org sources and supports Resilience Innovations at each of the 4 Resilience Innovation Labs (RI Labs) using three approaches: 1) Open Resilience Innovation Challenges (ORICs) Or Design Thinking Ideation: –Guided by specific intervention pathways we issue competitive calls for ideas. This targets new emerging ideas and is RAN’s main approach to sourcing resilience innovations. 2) Resilience Innovation Acceleration Program (RIAP) Or Crowd-Sourcing: Thisis RAN’s alternative source of innovations targeting existing projects with a potential to impact on resilience. 3) Collaborative Resilience Innovation Design (CRID) – Innovation project co-creation, Experts sit with community members to co-create system-level ‘platform’ projects

First Round of Projects selected for support under the RAN Innovation Acceleration Program (RIAP) under the Eastern Africa Resilience Innovation Lab

  1. Earthworm Domestication: Unearthing the potential of Earthworms: Team Members: Dr. Fred Kabi (Team Leader), Dr. John Okiror, Mr. Abasi Kigozi, Mr Azizi Dara Charles The Need: In many low income countries, the traditional source of protein for enhancement of nutritional content of poultry feed is the small silver fish. These are processed and mixed in carefully pre-determined proportions. The same types of silver fish are a key source of protein for infants and children in many low income countries. Read more
  1. Matibabu: A non-invasive technology for malaria diagnosis: Team: Brian Gitta; Joshua Businge , Josiah KavumaThe Need: Malaria is an enormous public health challenge worldwide, hitting the lowest income countries hardest. It is endemic in 130 countries of the world, and is responsible for an estimated 300-600 million cases and 1-2 million deaths per year. Read more
  1. Root IO: A community radio technology with the potential to revolutionize last-mile communication (Team Leader: Jude Mukundane Other team members: Chris Csikzentmihalyi, Pete Tritish)

    The Need: Radio is one of the most accessible platforms for communication world-wide. In Uganda, 67% of the population use radio regularly as a means of receiving information. On the other hand, there has been a substantial increase in mobile telephone coverage worldwide over the last decade, more so in sub-Saharan Africa. Read more

  1. Low cost Solar Irrigation Pump: Transforming agriculture in semi-arid sun-rich area (Team Leader – Prof. Byaruhanga, Joseph Etunganan Jacob, Ojara Peter; The Need: To the semi-arid regions of Eastern Africa, water is one of the most powerful and yet scarce resources that is needed for agricultural activities. In areas where surface water aquifers exist, one of the biggest challenges is the access to low cost technology for transferring water from where it is located to where it is needed. Delivery of additional water for irrigation, livestock watering and domestic consumption can not only prolong the productive period but can allow diversification of crop and animal husbandry in these regions. Read more
  1. Improved Pull and Push: An innovative approach to inter-cropping that dually suppresses nuisance weeds and pests. Wanyama Oduori Kennethand other members on the team: Mugondi Kapel Jerome
    The Need: The yield from maize, a staple food for many communities in Eastern is affected by two main nuisances: a weed commonly known as ‘Striga’ and a weevil known as Maize stock-borer. Both the weed and the weevil are highly prevalent in low lying maize producing areas of Eastern Africa, especially where the soils are fertile. Mechanical methods of fighting the weed are labour intensive while chemical methods of fighting the stock-borer are expensive and are not echo-friendly.  Read more