By: Africa Renewal The country that gave the world two groundbreaking innovations in technology: M-Pesa, a mobile banking system, and Ushahidi, a platform for crowdsourcing information during disasters, is now taking its technological talents to new heights. The East African nation of Kenya has just started construction on a 5,000-acres piece of land in Konza, about [...]
Read More Africa, companies, kenya, technologyBy Aissata Haidara Excitement greeted news that Vérone Mankou, the 26-year old entrepreneur from the Republic of Congo, has designed Africa’s first smartphone and a tablet, the hand-held computer that comes with a touch screen. Mankou’s tech company, VMK, designed the sleek smartphone and tablet, which was originally conceived in 2006 as an affordable computer [...]
Read More Africa, huge, table, VMKAfrica’s food policy needs sharper teeth Good intentions alone are not enough By Masimba Tafirenyika Amid raving economic forecasts that Africa will be the next big emerging market, chronic food shortages remain stubbornly immune to solutions. The African Union is aware of this weak link and is working to convince its members to boost investments [...]
Read More Africa's, agriculture, policyBy Jocelyne Sambira message telling you when and how to take your diabetes medication. Or a voice mail reminding you of your next mammogram. That’s what two UN agencies are hoping to do with mobile technology to save lives, reduce illness and disability and bring down healthcare costs. Increased access to communications technologies has given [...]
Read More better, countries, diseases, mobile
Author: Jocelyne Sambira Imagine being charged $100 for a medical certificate issued by a doctor proving that you have been raped before you can go after the culprit — and then during his trial having to feed the man who raped you. Recounting such stories, , the UN Secretary-General’s special representative on sexual violence, allows a [...]
Read More Africa Renewal, silence, UN, uniform