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From solar-powered fishing lights to reusable menstrual products, discover exciting innovations from Tanzania
Reflecting our global Springwise readership, we explore the innovation landscape and freshest thinking from a new country each week. This week, we’ve headed to East Africa…
Tanzania Innovation Facts
Global Innovation Index ranking: 90th
Climate targets: 30-35 per cent reduction in economy-wide emissions by 2030, with a focus on addressing the energy, transport, forestry, and waste sectors
Sustainability issues
Land degradataion – Government officials have estimated that about 13 per cent of Tanzania’s land mass is affected by land degradation. And issues such as soil erosion are being catalysed by climate change. Poor farming practices, deforestation, loss of vegetation cover, overgrazing, soil pollution, and loss of biodiversity are key factors exacerbating the problem.
Water pollution – Tanzania’s port city of Dar es Salaam (home to 6 million inhabitants) is significantly impacted by water pollution. Only 10 per cent of the city’s residents are connected to the sewage system and the Msimbazi river is contaminated by both untreated wastewater and hazardous industrial effluents.
Illegal wildlife exploitation – Tanzania’s ports are vulnerable to exploitation by the illegal wildlife trade. Over 10,000 unique pieces of ivory were seized at Tanzanian seaports between 2009 and 2015. In response, port stakeholders have been exploring ways to crack down on wildlife trafficking.
Sector specialisms
Energy and environment
Fintech
Food tech
Source: StartupBlink
Three exciting innovations from Tanzania
SOLAR-POWERED WATER PUMPS AND FISHING LIGHTS
Agriculture accounts for around 30 per cent of Tanzania’s GDP, and the country’s government is in the process of redirecting the farming sector towards a more sustainable and productive pathway. Helping with this transition is Simusolar, a cleantech startup that is a leading provider of solar-powered water pumps and fishing lights in rural East Africa. Read more.
A SOCIAL ENTERPRISE PROMOTES AFFORDABLE MENSTRUAL HYGIENE
Studies have shown that girls in sub-Saharan Africa miss up to 20 per cent of school days each year due to period-related complications. And the current COVID-19 pandemic has hit menstruators particularly hard, exacerbating period poverty in the region. Against this backdrop, access to affordable menstrual products is more important than ever. Tanzanian social enterprise WomenChoice produces and distributes a range of menstrual products and provides information on menstrual hygiene. Read more.
A POWER SYSTEM BRINGS RELIABLE, AFFORDABLE ELECTRICITY TO OFF-GRID COMMUNITIES ACROSS AFRICA
In sub-Saharan Africa, the electrification gap is one of the primary barriers to development. As many as 600 million people in the region live without reliable power. Many basic needs, from education and healthcare to economic opportunity, remain out of reach for millions of people as a result. Zola Electric, a company originally founded in Tanzania, has developed a power system that promises to bring reliable, affordable electricity to off-grid communities across Africa. Read more.
Words: Matthew Hempstead
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