[This blog was first published on Tuesday 26 November 2024, but was updated on 2 December 2024 to include E-Ride, Zambia in the list of our full cohort of organisations selected under the GSMA Innovation Fund for Humanitarian Challenges.]
The GSMA is excited to announce the selected grantees of the GSMA Innovation Fund for Humanitarian Challenges, which is supporting innovative solutions that leverage mobile and digital technology to tackle pressing humanitarian issues in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This funding round was launched against a backdrop of growing global humanitarian challenges, including increased displacement and natural hazards, and the need for effective and sustainable innovations.
The objective of the fund is to identify and test innovative use cases, partnerships, and business models that will enhance both access to and the sustainability of digital-enabled solutions for those affected by, or vulnerable to, humanitarian crises. This marks a shift in our humanitarian funding approach to previous rounds, as we focus on for-profit small and growing enterprises, including startups, with a focus on local innovators.
The fund is focused on supporting solutions that utilise mobile and digital technology, to:
- Prevent and minimise the impact of humanitarian crises through enhanced preparedness and early warning systems (EWS).
- Improve response efforts to humanitarian challenges using frontier technology, including AI.
- Provide crisis-affected populations, such as internally displaced persons and refugees, with access to essential services and life-saving information.
- Adapt or replicate existing innovations in new contexts to effectively respond to humanitarian challenges.
The result of an early analysis of 288 applications provided interesting insights into emerging trends. In terms of thematic areas, 55% of applicants focused on disaster preparedness and response, 45% focused on food insecurity and 40% tackling challenges for forcibly displaced populations. On top of this over 50% of applicants reported using AI or other Frontier Tech in their proposed solutions.
You can find more key trends from the application process here.
Out of a final total of 413 applications, we are pleased to announce the 10 successful candidates for this cohort.
Company of Innovative Solutions and Networks Research Pvt Ltd (CIS), Pakistan
The project aims to install IoT-based water quality chemical and bacterial testing units in vulnerable, flood-prone regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab. The technology used will reduce the water quality testing time from 17-24 hours down to 6-8 hours. This will minimise the exposure time to contaminated water for a community of 2.85 million people, thereby reducing the risk of waterborne disease outbreaks.
ConnectHear, Pakistan
The project introduces AI technology tailored for at-risk individuals with hearing impairments, addressing a critical gap in humanitarian aid. This innovative solution enables online sign language interpretation and AI-generated sign language alerts, ensuring vital communication during crises to the estimated 1.35 million at-risk individuals. The project will target disaster-prone areas and leverage mobile technology to empower marginalised communities, shifting from reactive to proactive crisis preparedness.
Drop Access Limited, Kenya
The project will scale the VacciBox solution in humanitarian settlements in Turkana County, on a Cooling as a Service (CaaS) model to private and public health facilities. Health facilities will affordably access reliable cold chain equipment (hardware) and the VacciBox IoT platform (software), enabling them to store and transport vaccines and medications to remote and off-grid locations, increasing adherence to vaccination schedules and digitising their immunisation records.
Populations in humanitarian settlements will receive automated alerts via SMS reminding them of immunisation appointments and where those services can be accessed.
E-Ride, Zambia
The project, in partnership with UNHCR – the UN Refugee Agency, will train a local team of refugees to assemble, operate and maintain a fleet of IoT connected electric motorcycles.
The electric motorcycles will be sold to refugees on a rent-to-own basis to enable the drivers to generate a better income and offer affordable transport services to the inhabitants. The usage of the motorcycles and battery health are monitored in real time through a GSM based data transmission system operating on Airtel Zambia network.
The battery packs can be repurposed to power the e-bike operators’ homes and businesses to generate additional income
Exuus, Rwanda
The SAVE Score project will use alternative data driven credit scores powered by machine learning to increase access to micro-loans to unbanked refugees in informal saving groups by fintech’s informal financial service providers.
The micro-loan product aims to improve credit access for refugees, enhancing their livelihood opportunities and economic empowerment. They plan to digitise financial activities for 1,760 refugees in five Rwandan refugee camps, using digital financial services within informal groups to overcome credit barriers and promote long-term resilience.
One Global Medical Technology Ltd, Nigeria
One Global Medical Technology Ltd (Helium Health) works in Nigeria’s flood-prone regions with a digital platform that provides remote consultations and secure access to health records. They will enhance their HeliumDoc platform by integrating it with geospatial mapping, USSD functionality, and robocall alerts.
Patapia, Uganda
Patapia aims to expand its operations to provide micro-loans to refugees living in Rwamwanja and Kyaka II refugee settlements in Uganda. This will also include providing capacity building to refugees on business planning and financial literacy. In addition, they will redesign the USSD interphase of their digital banking solution to ensure availability in Swahili language, for ease of use by the refugees.
SmartWTI, Jordan
SmartWTI’s “BlueFuture for Schools” project focusses on water management in Jordan’s refugee-hosting communities, utilising AI/IoT technology to monitor and control water usage in real-time. SMART WTI aims to install this water management solution in up to 40 schools based in the refugee-hosting communities of Jordan. This will enable these schools to monitor their water consumption and take real time action if any potential leak is detected, avoiding the misuse and loss of water.
Chatterbox Solutions, Laos
The project aims to further develop the SOMLENG platform which will be a customisable, open-source EWS with multi-use warning, broadcast, and commercial capabilities. The project will expand its EWS use case in southern Laos which is prone to sudden onset disasters, most notably floods. The SOMLENG platform will be a Digital Public Good and will also have a payment module directly tied to economic incentives for EWS maintenance and communication by the communities and caretakers.
Viamo Pakistan, Pakistan
A voice-first Generative AI Voice Companion (VC), hosted on the existing Viamo Platform (toll-free nationwide SBC hotline) with Ufone (MNO) where callers can ask any open-ended question related to disaster preparedness and response and receive personalised advisory in Urdu language – all without the need for the internet or a smartphone. Viamo’s Voice Companion will use AI to gather disaster management content in the most widely spoken local language (Urdu) to reach maximum impact among the users. The content will be in line with national curriculum of disaster management publicly available via Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
During the grant, the GSMA Innovation Fund will not only provide financial support but also a range of non-financial technical assistance to help the innovators succeed. This will include networking opportunities and investor readiness support, a platform to profile the solutions at GSMA global events, partnership facilitation with mobile operators and humanitarian organisations, and monitoring, evaluation and learning support to demonstrate the impact of their solutions.
By harnessing the power of mobile technology and fostering collaboration between for-profit enterprises and humanitarian organisations, the GSMA will generate valuable insights that can enhance the overall effectiveness of humanitarian interventions in the regions we serve.
We are looking forward to seeing how these innovative solutions will unfold and contribute to improving the lives of those affected by humanitarian challenges.
