The Accelerator Lab (AccLab) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ghana has announced winners and runners-up of its COVID-19 Innovation Challenge dubbed “Creating the ‘New Normal’ and Building the Recovery.”
The COVID-19 Innovation Challenge is one of AccLab’s efforts to tap into grassroots innovations and showcase the ingenuity of Ghanaians during the pandemic.
A nationwide platform was created for innovators, entrepreneurs, local authorities and communities to submit innovative solutions that help people to adjust to the “new normal” under COVID-19, and support Ghana’s recovery from the pandemic.
A total of 198 applications were received from all the 16 regions of Ghana, out of which 44 innovations were shortlisted, and 9 winners and 12 runners-up were selected.
The winners will receive mentorships and a cash prize of $2,000 each, while the runners-up will also receive mentorships and a cash prize of $1,000, to scale up their innovations.
The selected innovations are in the areas of health-tech and Al, sanitation and waste management, education and social welfare, medical and sanitary devices, and support for vulnerable groups.
These are the winning innovations:
- Efuom Ghana: a digital platform that enables smallholder farmers to reach bulk buyers easily without physical interaction.
- Computer-Aided Detection “4” COVID-19 (CAD4COVID): an artificial intelligence (AI) software tool deployed in health facilities across Ghana to increase COVID-19 testing capacity and patients’ throughput.
- IXAM: ensuring inclusive learning for people with disabilities during the pandemic.
- Suma Deliveries App: facilitating delivery services by connecting senders to dispatch riders via a mobile app and text messages.
- Auto Tap: a low cost all-inclusive automatic handwashing tap.
- Extending Social Insurance to Informal Sector Workers through Circular Economy: this is adopting a digital system of waste collection from subscribed individuals, households, facility owners and waste pickers through text messages/USSD for recycling and composting.
- Tendo: an online selling platform, which reduces physical contact.
- Banson’s Booth: a handwashing hygiene booth suitable for small, medium and heavy usage.
- Deafcantalk: facilitating access to information on COVID-19 for the deaf.
source: UNDP Ghana
Click on the comment box below and leave us your thoughts. Thank you
