From 24 to 28 November, they participated in practical workshops on creating and developing innovations to help boost development efforts and well-being in Africa. Fatima, 24, is one of the founders
of Open Street Map (OSM) in Niger, a crowd-sourced application to create a map of the world that is increasingly used by humanitarian organizations in crisis management to obtain accurate data on the
most remote areas.
The small but energetic woman has been leading a group of young people who are mapping the streets of Bè Kpota, a neighborhood in the east of the capital
Niamey. As part of the Forum, Fatima volunteered to train other young people who want to learn this technique. OSM is a map of the world created by the citizens and is free to use.
Tidiane, a young doctor who is also the founder of the Mali Health website, a web portal dedicated to information and awareness, just created and launch a mobile application "Ebola info Mali" in the local language to prevent the spread of the epidemic.
"After creating tools for education on health, I plan to develop a mapping tool fpr medical teams and NGOs to guide the intervention against Ebola.
“Taking part
in Forum Innov Africa is giving me the opportunity to better prepare for this project, "he said.
The innovations presented at the forum are not limited to mapping. Richard, the head of the renewable energy department at the Ministry of Energy and Mines of Burundi, has just introduced a competition sponsored by UNDP to support the
development of innovations for replacing firewood.
Diarra, a young engineering graduate from Burundi, is looking at the contest’s rules.
"I intend to create and develop a solar oven model that could be adapted in Burundi. I am seriously considering
applying to the competition, I have already started to build prototypes at home."
In the area of innovation, women are no exception.
Aminata Dakar in Senegal notes that increasingly, women traders are using the Internet and social networking to improve sales.
"in my district, shops present their products on Instagram where they get
more visibility. My hairdresser has a Flickr account to advertise their hairstyles! This works very well. "
The role of innovation in the transformation of the African economy is crucial.
"Innovation is the fuel that allows us to go further, to go beyond conventional solutions. We look to you, young people, who bear the best of this innovative
capacity of Africa," said Khardiata Lo N'Diaye, UNDP Resident Representative in Togo.
The Forum allows African minds to meet, to give life to their project and create a South-South collaboration network.
Florent, a young man from Abidjan, adds that "Innovation is a chance for African youth who are wondering how to reinvent the African economy!
Creating their own work through ICT is a boon for young people. They must understand that going digital can allow them to work from home and to become autonomous. For each issue in Africa, there is a solution."
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