Implemented across Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa, Innovate UK Global Alliance Africa’s Place-Based Innovation initiative has catalysed widespread transformation and fostered inclusive, sustainable growth. The Kenya team have been hard at work, championing programmes to support women on their innovation journeys, agricultural innovation, and increasing efficiency across the country.
Background
Innovate UK Global Alliance Africa’s Place-Based Innovation (PBI) offers a transformative, long-term approach to development by unlocking the untapped innovation potential in local communities. Focused primarily on three key regions; Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa, this pioneering programme follows a strategic process that begins by addressing three fundamental questions:
- What is already in place?
- Where are the gaps?
- Who can we connect to turn innovative solutions into reality?
By first identifying existing solutions, then pinpointing the gaps in the market, Place-Based Innovation identifies space for innovative solutions that can address critical issues faced by local stakeholders.
Kenya
More Than A Woman
In 2024, Innovate UK’s Global Alliance Africa team embarked on an ambitious and transformative journey to elevate the More Than A Woman initiative beyond South Africa, extending its reach to Nigeria and Kenya. Building on the incredible success of the program in 2023, this expansion sought to further empower women innovators across Africa by providing them with vital support, visibility, and mentorship opportunities that can accelerate their groundbreaking solutions.
In Kenya, the program aimed to spotlight the untold stories of women innovators operating in informal settlements and underserved communities. Through this targeted approach, the initiative aimed to give a platform to those with extraordinary potential but little access to resources. By carefully filtering out serial grant-seekers, the program opened up space for truly pioneering, disruptive solutions.
The open call for applications was met with an overwhelming response, drawing in 73 dynamic submissions from women across Kenya, each presenting unique, game-changing innovations. After a rigorous selection process, five women were chosen to take part in the program. The top two finalists were not only awarded prestigious prizes but also had their journeys immortalised through a professionally produced video campaign, amplifying their stories and expanding their reach.
Spotlight on Winning Solutions:
- Zaoshinani – A cutting-edge fintech solution that is revolutionising agriculture by driving digital innovations and improving financial inclusion for smallholder farmers.
- GynoCare Hub – A transformative pocket clinic that connects women with gynecologists while delivering essential sexual and reproductive health education.
Mentorship: Bridging Local and Global Expertise
In an effort to elevate these innovators, the top 5 finalists from each country were paired with experienced UK-based mentors who brought invaluable insights from their extensive work with startups in emerging markets. The mentorship provided:
- Contextual Insights – Deep understanding of the unique innovation landscape in each country.
- Early-Stage Support – Guidance on refining business models and scaling transformative ideas.
- Group & One-on-One Mentorship – Group sessions for tackling shared challenges, followed by personalised coaching using the Innovation Canvas.
- Business Modelling Coaching – In-person mentorship sessions aimed at strengthening business strategies and fostering sustainable growth.
The More Than A Woman initiative in Kenya has laid a solid foundation for empowering women innovators, connecting them to critical resources, networks, and opportunities that will support their growth for years to come. As 2024 draws to a close, we eagerly anticipate expanding this impact further, ensuring that even more women across Africa gain the visibility, support, and resources necessary to drive transformative change in their communities.
Value Addition: A Landmark Achievement in Agricultural Innovation
2024 was a year of groundbreaking progress, highlighted by the successful launch of a solar dryer in collaboration with Enso Impact (UK) and the Maendeleo Upesi Cooperative, now known as the Kaprochunga Farmers’ Cooperative, in Uasin Gishu County. This innovation arrived at a pivotal moment for the farming community, complementing the existing dam infrastructure that supports agricultural activities in the region.
The official launch in August 2024 was a momentous occasion, attended by key stakeholders, including Innovate UK, the British High Commission, and the County Government of Uasin Gishu. Representatives from Macefoods, the primary off-taker for dried chillies, along with the county governor and other public and private sector players, gathered to witness the solar dryer’s first test.
By February 2025, the cooperative secured its first major client, processing over 2 tonnes of chillies. This milestone marked a significant step in testing the dryer’s full capacity and allowed innovators to gather critical data for future improvements. Notably, the first test run created over 100 casual jobs, predominantly for women involved in chilli preparation, demonstrating the dryer’s potential for driving economic empowerment in the community.
The solar dryer’s exceptional performance has already captured the attention of various stakeholders, including academic institutions, off-takers, and the county government, all of whom have committed funding to support the cooperative. This strong support network ensures the sustainability of the dryer beyond the lifecycle of Place-Based Innovation.
Exciting collaborations are also in the works, including one with iDE, a leading organisation focused on enhancing post-harvest mechanisation for smallholder farmers, particularly women and youth. iDE has expressed interest in helping design a robust route-to-market strategy, ensuring the long-term success of the solar dryer.
These developments reflect 2024 as a year of exceptional achievements, laying the groundwork for sustained impact and growth within the agricultural value chain.
Market Access: Innovating for Greater Efficiency
Introducing blockchain technology in an environment where transparency is still developing is no small feat. Yet, the Agritrack platform, developed by Assentian (UK) and supported by Innovate UK’s Global Alliance Africa, was successfully piloted in Eldoret, Kenya. This cutting-edge platform, implemented in partnership with Plusfarm, a Kenyan leader in farm management solutions, aims to enhance agricultural supply chains, increase value creation, and drive market access from farm to fork.
Focusing on the avocado value chain, the pilot was designed to improve market access for small-scale farmers by reducing inefficiencies, increasing transparency, and fostering better decision-making. The feedback from farmers, gathered through frequent farm visits and direct interactions with the platform, has been invaluable in refining the technology.
The initial testing phase was a resounding success, with sufficient data collected to assess the key features of the platform. Following this, the platform is undergoing refinements based on user input, and a second round of testing is scheduled to ensure all improvements are made before full-scale market deployment.
Although adoption remains a challenge due to digital illiteracy and competing priorities among small-scale farmers, the strategy moving forward focuses on targeting major avocado exporters in Kenya as the platform’s primary adopters and financial backers. Their involvement is crucial to ensuring the platform’s long-term success and sustainability
The progress made in 2024 is a testament to the potential of Agritrack to transform agricultural supply chains, and the focus will now shift toward refining the platform and engaging key stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition toward commercialisation.
Testimonials
The Agritrack platform has the potential to revolutionise agricultural supply chains by enhancing transparency and efficiency. Through this pilot, we have seen firsthand how digital solutions can empower farmers with better market access and data-driven decision-making. Our goal is to ensure that smallholder farmers can fully leverage this technology to maximise their productivity and profitability.
— Stephen Mwongela, Team Lead, Plusfarm
The solar dryer is more than just a technological innovation; it’s a game-changer for smallholder farmers. By reducing post-harvest losses and improving product quality, we are not only enhancing incomes but also building a more resilient agricultural value chain.
— Collins Mwenda, Country Representative, Enso Impact
The success of both the solar dryer and Agritrack solutions underscores the power of innovation in transforming agricultural value chains. Integrating smart post-harvest technologies and data-driven decision-making has the potential to not only improve efficiency but also unlock new economic opportunities for farmers. These milestones are a testament to what strategic collaboration can achieve in driving sustainable agricultural development.
— Basil Malaki, Knowledge Transfer Manager, Innovate UK
About Global Alliance Africa
The Global Alliance Africa project is a six-year project funded by UK International Development through Innovate UK (GCRF) and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
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