Congratulations to all the teams!

To effectively tap into the existing innovations in the innovation ecosystem, Makerere University School of Public Health-ResilientAfrica Network (RAN) www.ranlab.org announced the Resilience Innovation Acceleration Program (RIAP) Grants Call 2, March 2017 http://grants.ranlab.org/.  RIAP recognizes and supports promising and creative ideas from students and faculty at the Eastern Africa Resilience Innovation Lab (EA RILab) partner universities as well as the general innovation community in East Africa. The first RIAP Grants Call was conducted in March 2014 and 5 teams were awarded seed funds to test their ideas. Of these, 3 teams have since been taken up to implement larger pilots of these ideas and eventually scale. The second RIAP call attracted 65 applicants who registered for the exhibition held at Makerere University Main Campus on April 6, 2017.  29 teams were shortlisted as eligible to participate in the actual exhibition http://www.ranlab.org/ran-innovation-exhibition-round-2-at-makerere-university.  In order to be eligible for the exhibition, an idea should have been developed to a stage of a plausible concept or simple prototype that is ready for development into a refined testable prototype or concept. Projects could also be ready for piloting and testing or even at scale.

The Innovation exhibition was graced by 7 multidisciplinary judges from the Private Sector, Non-Governmental Organizations, academia, entrepreneurial and innovation environment. These judges selflessly sieved through each of the innovator pitches critically understanding how the prototypes operate but also the value add to communities.

Following the innovation exhibition, the shortlisted 20 innovative teams were invited to make a final pitch at the RAN Office premises in Kololo, Kampala on Thursday April 20, 2017. Two panels of judges were engaged to evaluate and recommend to RAN the best ideas for SEED funding. During the pitching session, each team was given 20 minutes to present their idea/innovation and explain how it is an important tool or approach in strengthening the resilience of African communities, particularly in addressing the effects of climate change and chronic conflict. Following the final judging session, 8 promising ideas with the highest potential for social impact if scaled, sound technical plausibility and innovativeness were selected and forwarded to USAID for further review and approval. After a thorough review by the agency, the 8 projects were awarded grants ranging between 7500 USD and 15000 USD. These innovators work in multidisciplinary teams as each contributes to the pool of ideas. ‘Congratulations to all the teams who have won this and other grants to further innovate. Innovation is the way to go, let us all embrace creative thinking and the art of doing things differently so that we can register positive impact in the communities we serve and live in’ noted Prof. William Bazeyo, Dean Makerere University School of Public Health and RAN Chief of Party.

Of the 8 projects, the College of Health Sciences merited with 2 projects as highlighted (in color green) below;

S/N Lead Applicant’s name Project Location Project Name Amount of award
Dr. Thereza Piloya

WereUgandaHuman Powered Jet Nebulizer

An innovative technology to deliver nebulized medication for treating acute asthma symptoms.$15,000.00 Timothy KayondoUgandaWater Purification System

A low-cost and portable water purification system to help communities such as schools, refuge settlements and small villages/zones gain access to clean and safe water.$9,500.00 Olivia KoburongoUgandaMamaope

A biomedical kit that is made for early diagnosis of pneumonia as well as monitoring of treatment among children under the age of 5 years.$12,800.004. Dr. Elizabeth

Ekirapa KirachoUgandaThe Village Ambulance

To improve availability of transport for health in a more sustainable manner by using the village ambulances (Trailer and Sidecar).$13,300.00 Ojara Peter OttoUgandaSolar Powered Scarecrow

An automatic solar powered audio bird scarecrow to solve the challenge of the destructive birds on crop fields$10,000.006.Sarah BasemeraUgandaZeed Energy

An energy saving stove that it is very unique and rated at tier 3 in the improved cook stove ecosystem. The proposed stove will be able to cook meals, provide lighting to a home, charge up to 10 mobile phones as well as play FM radio.$7,500.007.Omare PaulUgandaSewing Machine

A single stitch sewing machine made from locally available material and 50% cheaper than those on market$7,500.008.Pidson AbahoUgandaInnovation workshop

A set up of premises to be used by innovators to develop their ideas into physical products. The facilities include a fabrication workshop fitted with basic equipment, office space and a set of skilled professionals.$13,700.00

For details, please email info@ranab.org, call +256 414 343 597 or visit the RAN Innovation Lab on Plot 28, Upper Kololo Terrace, Kampala Uganda