Innovation
Mak, UNDP, MTN Partner to Showcase Youth Innovation
On 25th April 2023, Makerere University in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and MTN Uganda officially launched the Youth and Innovation Expo 2023.
The Youth and Innovation Expo 2023 will be held under the theme, “Fostering Innovation for Uganda’s Transformational Development,” in an effort to showcase outstanding youth innovations and youth enterprises.
The Youth and Innovation Expo 2023 is aimed at:
- Showcasing innovative social interventions and development approaches to accelerate the attainment of Agenda 2030 and the SDGs in Uganda,
- Demonstrating the potential to commercialize youth innovations for job creation and livelihoods generation,
- Providing an opportunity to celebrate the contribution of Makerere University and UNDP to Uganda’s development journey,
- Equipping young people with information, knowledge, and skills in sustainable entrepreneurship, employability, and health, and
- Facilitating the creation of new partnerships and networks between like-minded individuals who are passionate about innovation for impact through mutually beneficial backward and forward linkages.
In attendance, were Mrs. Lorna Magara, the Chairperson, Makerere University Council and Prof. Henry Alinaitwe, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Finance and Administration and members of Top Management, representatives from the UNDP led by the Resident Representative, Ms. Elsie Attafuah, representatives from MTN Uganda led by the Chief Marketing Officer, Mr. Somdev Sen, representatives from House of Djs, Faculty, a number of Youth involved in research and Innovations and members of the press.
In his welcome remarks, Prof. Henry Alinaitwe, who also doubles as Principal, College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT) expressed elation at witnessing the launch of a Youth and Innovation Expo, as CEDAT is one of the centres for innovation in the University. He noted, that Uganda has a fast-growing Youth population and it is imperative that we create spaces in which the Youth can be empowered for Job creation as we strive to achieve Uganda’s development Agenda. He further shared that, this Youth and Innovation Expo, will be the beginning of a fruitful and mutually beneficial space for the Youth and all collaborating stakeholders.
Mrs. Lorna Magara, in her address, appreciated the timeliness of the Youth and Innovation Expo. She said that whereas it was tempting to sit back and glory in Makerere’s achievements over the last 100 years, there is an urgent need keep innovating, lest the myriad of challenges wipe out all the gains made to date.
She noted that Makerere’s ten-year strategic plan, currently in its third year of implementation, sets out to respond to present and emerging challenges through four overarching goals, namely: A research-led university responding to national, regional, and global development challenges; Innovations in teaching and learning that respond to the changing environment; An engaged university with enhanced partnerships with industry, the community, and international institutions; and A professionally governed, equitable, inclusive and gender mainstreamed institution.
“In this regard, we are committed to gradually increasing our engagement with industry, business, and other research users, to develop a framework for packaging and marketing, and research outputs for appropriate adoption and adaptation.
“The Youth and Innovation Expo 2023 we are launching today is a platform to cause meaningful engagement between the youth and various actors to tap into their expertise and experience” reiterated Mrs. Magara.
Ms. Elsie Attafuah noted that the Expo builds on several other initiatives in the UNDP Uganda Country Programme 2021 – 2025 to nurture innovation in Uganda such as:
- Firstly, supporting the creation of an enabling policy, legal, and regulatory environment. For instance, UNDP is partnering with the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and National Guidance to position digitalization at the heart of Uganda’s development agenda;
- Secondly, partnering with Makerere University to establish a University Innovation Pod under UNDP’s Timbuktu initiative;
- Thirdly, collaborating with the Government and private sector actors to foster e-governance and e-commerce as a mechanism to improve service delivery in both the public and private sectors;
- Fourthly, fostering innovation through its Accelerator Lab – a dedicated learning network of 91 labs supporting 115 countries to re-imagine development in the 21st century and find radically new approaches and pioneer new solutions to complex development challenges; and
- Fifthly, nurturing innovation through the UNDP Youth4Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship Facility initiative
“I am hopeful that our collective ingenuity will foster innovation and youth empowerment as well as contribute to accelerating Uganda’s progress towards the attainment of the SDGs whilst ensuring that no one is left behind. “To the media, we recognise your potential to drive change and to innovate. We are proud to call many of you here today our partners and look forward to forging stronger partnerships with you to foster innovation that is not only necessary but will result in increased decent jobs and dignified livelihood opportunities for most especially the youth” concluded Ms. Attafuah.
By Bernard Buteera & Carol Kasujja Adii
Moses Eteku, a Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Alumni at Makerere University and the co-founder of a Kampala-based youth Fintech start-up Farmpawa, has been selected among the finalists for a prestigious global award for the project.
Farmpawa is a crowd-farming platform that connects investors with tangible farming assets, empowering farmers and driving sustainable agricultural growth.
The start-up had an opportunity to showcase its strategic plan, which, once realized, could benefit many young people from the region.
The contest, which sought to identify the most viable youth project with an economic impact on the community, attracted over 300 teams from 30 countries in Africa and the rest of the world.
Moses Eteku, 27, founded Farmpawa with two partners, Medard Mutatina and Osborn Gumoshabe, in 2023. The project was selected as one of the ten semi-finalists in the Milken-Motsepe Prize in FinTech.
The Milken-Motsepe Prize in FinTech is designed to expand small businesses’ access to capital and financial services in emerging and frontier markets.
According to research, in 70% of emerging markets, SMEs are the primary source of formal employment, accounting for 70% of jobs.
Moses described the win as a miracle and an eye-opener, saying other participants presented world-class proposals.
“Most of my competitors were far advanced. I could not imagine I would be selected,” he said with a smile during the interview.
With this fund, Moses and his partners, Medard and Osborn, envision a future where agriculture bridges the gap, reduces inequality, and transforms the lives of farmers and individuals across Uganda and beyond.
Semi-finalists will participate in an Innovation Showcase at the Milken Institute’s Middle East and Africa Summit in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on December 5 to 6, 2024.
Each semi-finalist team receives $100,000 in funding. Three teams will be selected to move on to the final round, where they will compete for the $1 million Grand Prize.
Who is Moses Eteku
Eteku, a Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Alumni from Makerere University, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering.
His passion for changing the community has led him to start several projects, including giving the youth a chance to showcase their talents and connect them with relevant organizations and companies.
While at the University, he developed an interest in managing software. He repaired his classmates’ laptops and earned some money. In his third year, he decided to learn another skill. He teamed up with other members and built business solutions. He developed applications that improved the operations of organisations such as Makerere University Hospital, where he worked on the MakRTI mobile application.
One of his significant achievements was developing the MakRTI App, an Android-based mobile application designed to promote reproductive health awareness and improve access to treatment for students at Makerere University. The app provided critical information about reproductive tract infections (RTIs) and facilitated access to healthcare services through appointments and direct communication with specialists.
He also developed an app for students to access the Uganda Museum. Instead of going to the museum and waiting in line to pay, Students would book online, which eases access. At the same time, students can remotely access study materials like archives while at home.
Even when he completed University, he continued using various projects to educate youth on emerging issues.
Among his most impactful initiatives is Kauntabook, a financial record-keeping app targeting SMEs and individuals. The app simplifies financial management by offering tools to track income, expenses, and other bookkeeping functions. With over 800 users, Kauntabook continues to evolve based on user feedback, reflecting Eteku’s commitment to creating user-centric solutions.
Starting Farmpawa
Farmpawa was born from a shared vision among Moses, Medard and Osborn: to empower smallholder farmers in Uganda. Medard, then a Makerere University Business School student, Suggested to Moses and interested him in an idea he had seen in South Africa.
“I researched about it, and we decided to team up and pursue the idea,” Eteku said.
Together, they created a platform that connects farmers with investors, unlocking opportunities for sustainable growth in rural communities.
They aim to make agricultural investment accessible to all, enabling local economies to develop and foster shared prosperity.
“Since the launch of Farmpawa, we have established strong connections between investors and farmers that have directly led to job creation, community development, and wealth generation,” Eteku asserted. They started the business with friends and family who trusted and invested.
Benefits
Initially needing more solid information technology skills, Moses Eteku is now an IT expert.
His opportunities to interact with the Company’s Chief Executive Officers have helped him to improve his entrepreneurship skills.
Farmpawa offers key benefits by empowering smallholder farmers with access to capital, enabling them to expand their operations and improve their livelihoods. It provides investors with easy and transparent access to agricultural investments, promoting job creation, community development, and sustainable agriculture while contributing to economic growth and food security.
How Farmpawa works
Farmpawa enables users to invest in real farming assets while empowering smallholder farmers. Users begin by creating an account and funding their wallet through mobile money or bank transfers. With funds in their wallet, they can explore and select farming projects or assets, such as livestock, and purchase portions as shares added to their investment portfolio.
The platform has a dashboard where users can receive regular updates on project progress and asset performance, track deposit history, and receive tailored financial advice through a knowledge section. It ensures a transparent and efficient investment process while providing valuable farming insights.
Bernard Buteera and Carol Kasujja Adii form the Communications and Public Relations Team at Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, Makerere University.
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