Esther Kimani, 2022 Youth Adapt Winner Awarded 2024 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation

Esther Kimani, a 2022 YouthADAPT winner, received the prestigious 2024 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation from the Royal Academy of Engineering on June 13 in Nairobi, Kenya. YouthADAPT is sponsored by the African Development Bank and the Global Center on Adaptation under the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP). Kimani was awarded £50 K to further develop her innovation, marking the largest prize amount in the history of the Africa Prize in honor of its 10th anniversary.

Kimani’s winning invention is an advanced early detection system, designed to detect crop pests and diseases swiftly, that seeks to reduce crop losses by up to 30% and increase yields by as much as 40%. Solar-powered, the device employs cutting-edge computer vision algorithms and machine learning to identify crop pests and diseases. It provides real-time alerts within seconds of detection and offers customized intervention advice using SMS. It also notifies government agricultural officers to engage in broader pest and disease management strategies. 

Established in 2014 by the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation supports scalable and sustainable engineering solutions to African challenges. After a decade, the Prize alumni now comprise nearly 150 entrepreneurs from 23 countries.

Three runners-up received £15 K each:

• Eco Tiles by Kevin Maina (Kenya): A roofing material made from recycled plastic, addressing both plastic pollution and high construction costs.
• La Ruche Health by Rory Assandey (Côte d’Ivoire): An AI chatbot, “Kiko,” provides essential health information and services alongside a digital backend solution for healthcare providers.
• Yo-Waste by Martin Tumusiime (Uganda): A mobile app connecting households and businesses to independent waste collection agents for efficient waste management.