INCLUSIVE INNOVATION: Where true hope lies for a better Africa.

The power of Innovation is undeniable because through practical implementation of ideas, innovators offer potential to cure diseases, to better connect people, and to make the way we live and work more efficient and enjoyable. ?Innovations are predominantly characterized as technological solutions in the form of products, services or automated processes. Despite its benefits, innovation remains a double-edged sword as it can fuel inequality, decimate livelihoods, and harm mental health if its application remains imbalanced.

Hence the appeal for inclusive Innovation especially for Africa where the ability to adopt technological innovations is still challenged by major systemic issues such as access to the internet, rural electrification, cost of digital tools, and limited technical knowledge required to navigate the tech especially for the marginalized members of our communities.

?Inclusive Innovation, described as “the pursuit of innovation that has social and environmental aims, and local context, at its heart” is the beacon of hope for solving pressing needs of African communities. Some of the barriers to inclusive innovation are the fact that the innovation ecosystem is not as collaborative, or inclusive, as it has the potential to be. Those who are innovating for the marginalized e.g., People with Disabilities, refugees, rural women, are not adequately acknowledged and find it difficult to attract support or raise funding needed to test, develop or scale their innovations. Preference is for the more sophisticated innovators whose inventions most likely have the effect of widening the gap between the haves and have-nots.

Furthermore, policy is not designed as effectively as it could be, to encourage innovation that leaves no one behind. Imagine a girl born to a rural based family in Africa, with a disability. Given the statistics as we know them, the odds couldn’t be any worse for her, right? But Innovation backed inclusive technology and innovation policies should be a beacon of hope for her, the family, and others like them. So, the question is: How do we ensure that innovation creates meaningful change for all members of our community?

Inclusion does not happen automatically; it requires deliberate efforts which entail addressing trade-offs, dealing with opposing priorities, and making decisions about different alternatives. A Human Centered Approach to design of innovative solutions is a good start. It entails a collaborative process in which problem owners are crucial in the design of the solution to the problem. It promotes local solutions for local problems as opposed to adoption of off the shelf solutions. Building the capacity of the marginalized to innovate for self is critical in ensuring the success of such an approach. There must be deliberate transfer of knowledge, access to digital tools and equipment.

Mindset change is also necessary whereby innovation should be understood more broadly than technological, so that low-tech and social organization innovations are equally counted. Policy makers and development partners must ensure that policies formulated on innovation promote inclusion by involving a broad range of stakeholders in the policymaking process to enhance understanding and generate greater support for inclusive outcomes which should also be monitored and evaluated. There should be deliberate efforts to expand financing options for inclusive innovation to both the innovators and policy makers which allow for mechanisms of sharing the benefits and risks of innovation in that regard.

I shine a light on the inclusive innovations in Uganda such as the transcription and publication of a braille constitution which will enable the visually impaired to appreciate the law governing our country, their rights and obligations as enshrined in the constitution. In the end, it's our ethical duty as innovators working jointly with policy makers to use our knowledge and skills to create balance within the African communities. It’s a proven fact that extremes in life are simply unsustainable, therefore, we must innovate for all to create a better Africa. The future of our continent is for us to shape.