2024 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation Final and 10th Anniversary Event

This year's four finalists will pitch their innovations to a panel of judges at the Africa Prize Final event in Nairobi, Kenya, on 13 June 2024. This year marks the Africa Prize's 10th anniversary, celebrating a decade of driving African innovation.

For this special year, the winner will receive £50,000 and three finalists will win £15,000 each. The event will also name one entrepreneur as the ‘One to Watch’ and include an exhibition featuring the 2024 Africa Prize shortlist’s innovations. Those unable to attend in person can join an online livestream and participate in the 'One to Watch' vote. There is also an online exhibition of the shortlisted entrepreneurs.

The 2024 Africa Prize finalists are:

Rory Assandey, Côte d'Ivoire. Rory and his team developed La Ruche Health, which connects communities to vital health information, advice, and services through “Kiko”, an AI chatbot tool available on WhatsApp and mobile apps, and a digital backend solution to streamline documentation, billing, and data sharing for practitioners.

Esther Kimani, Kenya. Esther and her team developed Early Crop Pest and Disease Detection Device, a solar-powered tool utilising AI and machine learning-enabled cameras to swiftly detect and identify agricultural pests and diseases, reducing crop losses for smallholder farmers by up to 30% while increasing yields by as much as 40%.

Kevin Maina, Kenya. Kevin and this team developed Eco Tiles, an environmentally friendly roofing material made from recycled plastic. Stronger and lighter than clay or concrete tiles, the innovation is a dual solution to plastic pollution and high building costs. They work with 500 informal waste collectors and have a production rate of 1,500 tiles daily, meaning each tile is pressed in a minute.

Martin Tumusiime, Uganda. Martin and his team developed Yo-Waste to address Uganda's mounting waste crisis. Yo-Waste is a location-based mobile application that uses GPS location technology to connect homes and businesses to independent agents for efficient on-demand rubbish collection and disposal.

Our host for 2024 will be Maina Chege and our guest speakers will include, Ory Okolloh, partner at Verod-Kepple Africa Ventures, a pan-African focused venture capital firm and Neil Wigan, British High Commissioner for Kenya.

The judging panel consists of: Chair Malcolm Brinded CBS FREng, Rebecca Enonchong FREng, Dr John Lazar CBE FREng, Dr Ibilola Amao and guest judges, Sewu-Steve Tawia and Sheena Raikundalia. Find out more: raeng.org.uk/africaprize

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