Ugandan Based Innovations Win Grants For Environmental Research

BY ENU

Ketty Adoch a Ugandan innovator in the Agriculture sector has been named among eleven innovators who have been nominated for the Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Earth Innovation Awards.

Adoch, ageographical information systems specialist agriculture works towards monitoring change detection for Land Cover Mapping around the areas surrounding the Murchison Falls National Park.

Also on the list of grants is Torsten Bondo, a business development manager and senior remote sensing engineer from Denmark who applies AI to improve crop water efficiency in Uganda using machine learning.

The Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Earth Innovation Awards are organized by Microsoft and the National Geographic Society (NGS), to provide funds to innovators for research on global environmental challenges in the key focus areas of climate, agriculture, water and biodiversity conservation.

The grants will be awarded to research teams and organizations who are working across five continents to advance scientific exploration and research on critical environmental challenges with the power of Artificial Intelligence. Each recipient will be given access to Microsoft Azure and AI tools and will be included in the National Geographic Explorer community.

Microsoft Corp Chief Environmental Officer Lucas Joppa said, “We believe AI can be a game-changer in our ability to address pressing societal challenges and create a better future.

Perhaps now here is that potential greater than the continent of Africa, where early adoption of AI tools in areas like agriculture or conservation can yield environmental benefits as well as economic benefits from better management of natural resources and upskilling of the workforce.

In the year since AI for Earth launched, we’ve supported several individuals and organizations in Africa, as well as nearly a dozen organizations that are leading field research across the continent.

The interest is there, the technical skills are growing and we are looking forward to many more exceptional ideas from the next generation of African innovators in the coming years.”

This partnership with NGS builds on Microsoft’s own US$ 50 million over 5 year AI for Earth program, which has awarded more than 180 grants and supports 8 organizations in larger projects since its inception a year ago.

This year, both organizations are awarding US$1.2 million in grants with each recipient having earned funds that range between US$ 45,000 and US$ 200,000.

onathan Baillie, the Executive Vice President and Chief Scientist National Geographic Society said, “We’re incredibly excited about the number and quality of projects from Africa using AI to solve environmental challenges as part of our AI for Earth program.

“From my early days in the Peace Corps in Malawi to today, I’ve had the opportunity to see and experience the abundance and diversity of biodiversity and natural resources across the continent.

“So many of the world’s greatest environmental challenge and largest datasets are available here – from sustainable agriculture to improving species conservation, and from mitigating the impacts of climate change in cities and rural areas to conserving and protecting water.

“Early adoption and use of AI to solve these problems, here, with young innovators and entrepreneurs, will help every African country grow, adapt and thrive in the future.”

The two organizations believe that the combination of human ingenuity and AI can change the way that society monitors, models and manages Earth’s natural systems.

The eleven 11 AI for Earth Innovation grant recipients are:

Ketty Adoch, Uganda, agriculture: Change Detection for Land Cover mapping Around the Areas Surrounding the Murchison Falls National Park

Torsten Bondo, Denmark/Uganda, agriculture: AI4Water: Improving Crop Water Efficiency in Uganda Using Machine Learning.Kelly Caylor, US, water: Global Maps of Center Pivot Agriculture to Improve Estimates of Land Use Change and Water Use

Joseph Cook, UK, climate change: AI at the Ends of the Earth.Stephanie Dolrenry, US/Kenya, biodiversity: LINC- an AI-assisted Collaborative Database for Lion Identification and Inter-Organizational Research.Gretchen Daily,

 US, water: Mapping of Small Dams and Reservoirs with Earth Observation and AIAfrica Flores, Guatemala, water: Harmful Algal Bloom Early Warning System.Solomon Hsiang, US/ Sweden, climate change: Understanding the Effect of Climate Change on Human Migration in Africa Using 1.6 million Historical Aerial Photographs

Holger Klinck, Germany/Panama, biodiversity: The New Buzz: AI-Powered Acoustic Monitoring of Insect Communities to Advance Conservation of Tropical Rainforests.Justin Kitzes, US, biodiversity: Developing the First Open Source, Scalable Bird Song Classification Software.Heather J. Lynch, US, biodiversity: Coupling AI with Predictive Modeling for Real-Time Tracking of Antarctic Penguin Populations.

Coca-Cola Beverages pens down deal with Danish Embassy on Plastic management

BY SAMUEL NABWIISO

Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) Uganda has signed Memorandum of Understanding with the Royal Danish Embassy in Uganda to ensure that the country is free of plastic waste.

The Memorandum will support the beverages company vision of seeing that all plastics are collected and recycled by the year 2030. According to the beverage company they plan to work with all stakeholders to help the company in collecting and recycling of all plastic wastes generated in the country.

Speaking at the signing ceremony at the Danish Embassy in Kampala on Thursday, the head of Mission at the Embassy  Majbrit Holm  Jakobsen  applauded the  Coca Cola for coming up with the initiative of keeping Uganda  free from plastic waste  that are  an environmental threat.

The Head of Mission at the  Danish Embassy Majbrit posing in picture after the signing of the deal with the Coca-coal boss in Uganda Niekerk

“Sustainable development and green growth are focus areas of Denmark and the Danish Embassy in Kampala and its companies are leading when it comes to developing of sustainable products and services.  When plastics waste are recycled, more products can be produced and sold on the market; this creates jobs for younger people at the same time cleaning up the environment,” she said.

CCBA Managing Director Conrad Van Niekerk said by recycling plastics will help the beverages company to lower the cost of production since some of the packaging materials are being imported from abroad.

“Food  and beverage packaging  is  an important  part  of our  modern  lives, yet  the world  has a packaging problem  which  CCBA together  with  The Coca-Cola Company have  responsibility  to collect plastics that are significantly global challenge.  That is why as a company, we have are commited to invest in initiatives that save our planet and make the packaging problem a thing of the past through recycling the waste,” he explained.

Van Niekerk added that the partnership will support the government in solving environmental challenges associated with the accumulated plastic waste.

“We want to support the government’s environmental   management objectives by making recycling more accessible for everybody,” he added.

Under the deal, the Embassy of Denmark will ensure that all their employees participate in collecting plastics accumulated in their offices to make the deal successful.

Kenya and Uganda to Intensifies the fight against Wildlife trafficking through new strategy

BY SAMUEL NABWIISO

  In abid to avert the increasing incidences of Wildlife trafficking between Uganda and Kenya, the two countries are developing new strategy to help conservations agencies to protect wildlife’s.

The new strategy in the offing will look at three most sensitive areas that fueling in wildlife trafficking between Kenya and Uganda and they are Stopping Killings, Blocking the transits of Illegal wildlife and finally blocking market accessibility by the traffickers especially on International markets.

Speaking at the closing of Four days Training for Uganda cross border Law enforcement training which aimed at  building capacity for detecting illegal species so as to combat wildlife trafficking in Kenya and Uganda at Hotel Africana . UWA Executive Director Sam Mwandha said the increasing Trafficking of illegal Wildlife products is due to the high demands for the products in the Asian Countries thus the need to come up with strategy to cut off such markets.

Mwandha handing over certificate to one of the participants as Njimbi  smiles on left 

“The new Strategy which the two Conservations agencies are about to adopt   will be game changer in combating Illegal Wildlife trafficking between Uganda and Kenya when we stop the killings of Wildlife and Intensifies enforcement at the borders entries both in Uganda and Kenya boarder points then we shall eliminate Ivory on Transit from the two states to the International markets.” He said.

The proposed strategy will be implemented by Uganda Wildlife Authority and Kenya’s Wildlife Services.

   

Mwandha noted that Wildlife’s killings in both countries has reduced due to the strengthening in the  enforcements  especially in the National parks and game reserves but , the challenges is now with other neighboring countries  in central Africa  where large consignment of Illegal Wildlife products are   entering the two countries on transits to Asian Countries  where the market is high.

 “Our routes are being used by the dealers as transits routes to Asia because of the lope holes on the boarder entries especially on the side of Democratic Republic of Congo, Malaba and Busia but we are ready to ensure that security at those points are beefed up to ensure that Illegal wildlife products are Intercepted before getting its way to International markets especially in China and Thailand” He explained.

Explaining more on blocking market accessibility, Mwandha explained that they will be carrying out more sensitization about the danger of Wildlife trafficking in most Asian Countries to ensure that the market provider Understand the economic value attached to wildlife conservation and also the dangers associated with Wildlife trafficking one of them being the funding of negative forces in most countries. 

   

Training for Uganda cross border Law enforcement was organized by UWA with financial support   from the International Fund for the Anial Welfare (IFAW) and its was attended by participant’s from Law enforcement agencies  from  UWA ,Civil Aviation Authority,  Uganda Revenue Authority, Uganda Police Kenya Wildlife Service , ISO and Migration  both from Uganda and Kenya .

Commenting on the outcome of the training IFAW Head of programs Steve Njimbi , said the training  has equipped the participants with adequate skills if used professionally it can yields into positive results in the struggle to eliminate Wildlife trafficking in the two countries

“The enforcement officer have equipped with skills related to carrying out crime Investigations related to Wildlife trade, how to detect Wildlife products being concealed in luggage’s on transits  both at the boarder  entry pointers  even at Airports  we hope that if they  follow the guidelines  the two countries then will registers big progress in combating Wildlife trafficking”  Njimbi said

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 Comments from participants, some participants who attended the training and share their views with the media on condition of anonymity said they have learnt a lot but for the training to be productive, the two countries should allocate more resources in the Implementation of the strategy.

“The strategy is good but more resources should allocated to the various e enforcement agencies to enable them carry out their enforcement duties without being compromised by the Wildlife traffickers especially when it comes to carrying out Investigations both by police Customs officer among other agencies responsible for fighting Wildlife trafficking related cases” Said one of the participant from the Uganda Police forces.

At the end of the Training participants were awarded certificates of participation   in the training

       

     

  

Kenya and Uganda told to share Intelligence Information on Wildlife trafficking

BY SAMUEL NABWIISO 

The Director Conservation at the Uganda Wildlife Authority John Masambo has asked Law Enforcement Officer from Uganda and Kenya to build strong Working relationship this will help the two Countries to mitigate Illegal Wildlife Trade across the border.

 The Director noted that fighting Illegal Wildlife trade between Uganda and Kenya is still big challenge because the enforcement officers are not sharing Intelligence Information which has enabled the business to progress.

Masambo made the appeals at Hotel Africana where he was opening a one week Training workshop for Security personnel’s from Uganda and Kenya, Migration officers, customs, Civil Aviation personnel among other stakeholder s in the fight against Illegal Wild Life trade.

Masambo (M) haring light of moment with IFAW head of programs Steve Njumbi

“We need to combat Illegal Wildlife trade between the two countries; the only way to achieve it is through creating good working relationship among the security, migrations and customs officer at the border points between Uganda and Kenya because that is where most of the transaction are being carried out  by the dealers “He said.

The objective of the training is to equip the Security personnel with Skills on how to detect Illegal Wildlife products which on many occasion they are concealed in lag ages by the dealers who are on transit from Uganda to Kenya and vice versa .The training is being conducted by UWA in collaboration with the International Fund for Animal welfare (IFAW).

Masambo  observed that the two Countries are losing Billions of revenue from Tourism sector due to the rampant poaching of Wildlife yet if the Animals are protected the Countries can earn  more foreign exchange  from the tourism sector.

participants in Group photo

According to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora report released in 2013 , Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania were ranked as  the sources for  Illegal wildlife Trade in Africa with China and Thailand being the leading destination for  Ivory from East Africa and Africa in large.

According to Information available Malaba and Busia are the leading border points where Ivory smuggling is at high rate other entries are the International Airports   such as Entebbe in Uganda.  Uganda earns about USD1.4 billion dollars from the tourism sector but the sector is challenged with the high Incidences of wildlife poaching if it’s not contained, it will lead to Uganda losing the Economic benefits associated with tourism such as the 1.17 million jobs that the sector is offering to Ugandans.

 Steve Njumbi, the Head of programs at IFAW cautioned the two countries to invest more resources in combating illegal wildlife trade, he said that  IFAW is committed to work with the two countries to ensure that wildlife is protected  from traffickers.

Africa’s Ministers for Environment committed to Protect Biodiversity

BY SAMUEL NABWIISO

African Ministers of Environment together with partner organizations committed to an ambitious action agenda taking a coherent approach to addressing the interlinked challenges of biodiversity loss, land degradation and climate change.

 

Under the theme “Land and ecosystem degradation and restoration: priorities for increased resilience in Africa,” the African Ministerial Summit on Biodiversity was held on 13 November 2018 at Sharm El-Sheikh International Congress Center, bringing together more than 100 delegates including over 30 ministers responsible for the environment and other sectors, six ambassadors plus other heads of delegation along with key partners.

The delegates discussed Africa’s biodiversity priorities and identified strategic actions and opportunities to upscale commitments for combating land degradation and enhancing ecosystem restoration.  Their deliberations represented the opening sessions of the 2018 UN Biodiversity Conference.

Add captionDr. Yasmine Fouad, Minister of Environment of Egypt.

“I am honoured to have hosted this first African Ministerial Summit on Biodiversity which I am convinced will lead the way to promoting natured-based solutions for increased resilience and wellbeing of people in Africa” said Her Excellency Dr. Yasmine Fouad, Minister of Environment of Egypt.

Dr. Cristiana Pașca Palmer, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, said, “The adoption of the African Ministerial Declaration on Biodiversity and the Pan-African Action Agenda on Ecosystem Restoration for Increased Resilience by the Summit provides an impetus for the achievement of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and will contribute to shaping a New Deal for Nature and People in 2020.

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“Your political leadership, paired with the support of the African Union Commission, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development Agency, and the United Nations system, has elevated the importance of restoration in achieving our 2050 Vision of “living in harmony with nature”. The Secretariat of the Convention stands ready to further support this work.”

In a series of interactive dialogues, the summit participants reviewed the status and trends in land and ecosystem degradation in Africa and their impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services and people’s wellbeing.  They shared experiences, successes and lessons learned on ecosystem restoration in the region.

The Pan-African Action Agenda, endorsed by the Summit, will be submitted for adoption by the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government at its 32nd Ordinary Session in January 2019

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It is expected that the Pan-African Action Agenda will provide a strategic direction for ecosystem restoration in the region, promote continent-wide awareness and political support for restoration efforts, help to accelerate and upscale ecosystem restoration commitments and targets; and galvanize synergetic and integrated action towards the achievement of those commitments and targets.

The UN Biodiversity Conference continues, with the High-Level Segment being held from 14 to 15 November, and the opening of the negotiations by the Parties to the Convention on 17 November 2018.

Johnson & Johnson Launches Africa Innovation Challenge awards, Winner to take home USD$50,000

BY SAMUEL NABWIISO

Johnson & Johnson has launched the Champions of Science Africa Innovation Challenge 2.0, the second continent-wide competition challenge will see the best Innovator in science and Environment receiving about USD$ 50,000 in funding and mentorship

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The 2.0 challenge is   designed to address the critical unmet needs of the continent and local communities in Africa while providing support to Africa-based entrepreneurs in creating innovative health care products and services. . The challenge focuses on identifying scalable and sustainable solutions to six major health and environmental problems for Africa’s population.

 Among the selection criteria, entries must demonstrate the potential for scale from proof of concept stage to long-term sustainability. Commenting on the development Josh Ghaim, Ph.D., Chief Technology Officer, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. and member of the Johnson & Johnson Research & Development Management Committee said Africa’s Environmental and Health challenges can be mitigated through supporting innovators to come up with solutions.

 “The growing number of innovation hubs throughout Africa is sparking a new generation of entrepreneurs who are innovating and finding new solutions for issues facing their communities, our goal with the second Africa Innovation Challenge is to expand our support for the region’s entrepreneurs by pushing the boundaries of creative solutions to meet several areas of urgent need. With six new solution categories,” He explained.

He added by explaining that at Johnson & Johnson, they  believe in principle that  a great idea can come from anyone, anywhere, and we work with entrepreneurs around the world to relentlessly pursue innovations that advance and enhance the health of everyone, everywhere.

. The Africa Innovation Challenge provides an important platform to support emerging entrepreneurs and help accelerate the development of unique, sustainable health care and environmental solutions

 Speaking at the same occasion during the Launch of 2,0 Africa challenge in  South Africa  Alma Scott, Vice President, Operations and Partnerships, Global Public Health, Johnson & Johnson. Said   that solving last-mile challenges through local empowerment offers the greatest potential impact in the fight against public health challenges, and that it can also help fuel the local economy and catalyze infrastructure investments

The challenge’s six new solution categories aim to address significant threats to Africa’s health care systems and environment and they include Botanical Solutions: Sixty to eighty percent of households in Africa still rely on traditional medicine to care for themselves  and loved ones. Johnson & Johnson are seeking naturally-derived, plant-based solutions that tap into traditional knowledge and deliver consumer health and wellness benefits through topical application.

Packaging Innovations: Managing packaging waste from the increasing consumption in Africa is a challenge for many communities. We The organization  are seeking sustainable innovations for packaging of single-dose units and other affordable product sizes that will reduce or eliminate waste, while protecting the product.

Thirdly the challenge also focus on Mental Health: Caring for someone with mental illness, especially the youth, can be very challenging for rural communities. As a result, 75-85% of persons living with mental illness in Africa may not have access to mental health care.  We are seeking innovations that create awareness for mental illness as a public health problem and offer solutions for patients, caregivers, and their communities to address these issues.

Other areas where the innovators can submitter their entries include Health Worker Support, Digital Health Tools, and Essential Surgical Care. According to the organization Challenge submissions may originate from anywhere in Africa, and from one or more individuals, teams or companies; subject to certain eligibility requirements set out in the terms and conditions for the challenge.

To apply to the Challenge and review the applicable terms and conditions, please visit the Africa Innovation Challenge website. The deadline to submit applications is January 16, 2019. Neither Johnson & Johnson nor any of its companies is granted any rights to applicant ideas as a result of their participation in the Challenge. Applicants and winners remain free to continue the further development of their ideas on their own. Award recipients will be announced in spring 2019.

Protect Environment to save people’s Lives on African continent, WHO advises

BY SAMUEL NABWIISO

African Ministers Responsible for Health and Environment are meeting in Libreville Gabon in West to attend the Third Interministerial Conference on Health and Environment. The objective of the policy makers meeting is to identify emerging environmental threats to people’s health and agree on a strategic action plan for the region.

According to the press statement from the UN Environment the conference   is running from the 6^th-9^thNovember 291 and is jointly organized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UN Environment and among others the participants will discuss how to turn health and environmental policies into action.

In the statements, it’s believed that in Africa as region death is occurring due to Environmental related issues such as poor access to safe drinking water, inadequate sanitation which has given birth to the outbreak of diseases like cholera Dysentery among other disease.

The continent is also experiencing the outbreak of disease related to global warming which has offered conducive environment for vectors breeding such as Mosquitos which transmit malaria in most African countries.

     

 Addressing participants at the official opening of the meeting , Dr Matshidiso Moeti the World Health Organization Regional Director for Africa said African Governments need to protect the Environment from all forms of contamination that is when the region will eliminates all death forms related to Environmental diseases.

Dr. Moeti the WHO head for Africa 

    

“From the air we breathe to the water we drink, to the places we live and work the environment is intimately linked to our health unfortunately for millions of Africans, the environment can make them sick and even kill them. With climate change this is likely to only get worse. We must urgently turn this situation around,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti,

Nearly 300 delegates including Health, Environment and Finance Ministers, as well as representatives from regional political and economic organizations, big cities, multilateral agencies and experts from 54 countries are participating in the Conference.

The conference comes a decade after the historic endorsement of the Libreville Declaration by the African Ministers of Health and Environment which committed governments to take the required measures to stimulate synergies between health, environment and other relevant sectors. It also comes ahead of the 2018 UN Biodiversity Conference to be held on African soil in Egypt this month and will discuss how to mainstream biodiversity into health sector, among other sectors.

One of the participant from Somalia attending the conference.

The UN Environment officer for Africa Dr. Juliette Koudenoukpo Bio explained that for the African Continent to progress there’s the need to interlink environment and Human health 

 “Tackling the interlinkages between environment and human health can provide a common platform and multiplier effect to sustain progress across many of the Sustainable Development Goals and Africa’s Agenda 2063 in a more cost-effective and beneficial manner. By working together, the health and environment sectors have the potential to design mutually reinforcing policies and strategies and turning them into concrete actions” said Juliette Biao Koudenoukpo,.

The Conference consists of an expert meeting from 6 to 7 November 2018 and a ministerial segment to be held from 8 to 9 November.