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Mobile for Development The GSMA Innovation Fund for Climate Resilience and Adaptation
Climate Impact: Africa
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Climate Impact: Africa

Driving climate innovations in low- and middle-income countries through GSMA grant funding

The GSMA Innovation Fund for Climate Resilience and Adaptation, launched in 2022, was designed to help accelerate the testing, adoption and scalability of digital innovations that enable the world’s most vulnerable populations to adapt, anticipate and absorb the negative impacts of climate change. Read climate tech startup chase studies from 6 countries in Africa with deep insights and learnings – from project implementation to outcomes:

1. BENAA in Egypt

Egypt is affected by water scarcity due to adverse climate change. Using IoT-powered technology, BENAA is supporting water resource management. . They are transforming wastewater into safe and clean water, providing farmers with irrigation supplies and improved sanitation solutions in rural Egypt, which is impacted by adverse drought and rain conditions.

A young woman wearing a light pink and purple patterned hijab and a matching top with lace detail stands outside, speaking. She has light skin and dark eyes. Behind her is a beige wall, a window with wooden shutters, and a white column.

The BENAA story

Customers of BENAA highlight how clean water has impacted their lives and helped farmers adapt to climate change.

Watch the video
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Unlocking impact with IoT

BENAA’s DWSS system uses IoT to transform waste water into safe water in rural Egypt.

Download the study
An image of the founder of BENAA startup in Egypt: She is wearing a white hijab and teal blazer looks slightly past the camera. She has medium skin, black hair mostly covered, and wears a white shirt with a red lanyard and a round pin with a green logo that reads "GENA" on her lapel. The background is blurred brown.

Founder’s vision

Aya Tarek talks about the BENAA solution and how they are optimising digital tech to unlock impact at scale.

Watch the interview

2. CoAmana in Nigeria

CoAmana is improving agricultural productivity and helping farmers manage financial risks related to drought in Nigeria. This is done through an innovative digital platform which allows farmers to digitally access markets and financial services, purchase drought-resistant seeds and receive best practice information to improve their crops.

Two women stand outdoors on grassy land. One, wearing a black "AMANA MARKET" shirt, headscarf, and patterned skirt, faces away. The other, in a pink hijab and cream skirt, gestures with her hand, looking intently at the first woman. Trees and fields appear in the background.

The CoAmana story

Hear from customers and agents on how CoAmana’s solution has improved farmer livelihoods and resilience to climate change.

Watch the video
A man in a green shirt and yellow pants pours a bowl of maize kernels into a large sack at an outdoor market. The maize cascades in midair. Other people and market activity are visible in the blurred background.

Building digital hubs

CoAmana’s digital platform is helping farmers to source essential farming inputs and connects them to buyers, to improve crop productivity.

Download the study
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Founder’s commitment

“CoAmana is and will continue to employ inclusive digital technology to accelerate the evolution of agriculture markets in Africa”

– Hafsah Jumare

3. Crop2Cash in Nigeria

Crop2Cash, through their digital marketplace solution is supporting farmers facing drought conditions to adapt to better farming practices. They are doing this through the delivery of climate-smart farming content, managing financial risks and connecting farmers to access high-yield, drought-resistant maize seeds via USSD.

A middle-aged man stands outdoors in a lush, green field. He wears a colorful, patterned long-sleeve shirt with blue and orange designs. He gestures with one hand while speaking, and trees and plants are visible in the background under a bright sky.

The Crop2Cash story

Hear from Nigerian farmers (Including women) and mobile operator MTN, talking about the positive impacts from the Crop2Cash solution.

Watch the video
A close-up of a basic mobile phone screen displaying a notification menu with options, including: "Welcome to Crop2Cash, Sales 00. Set Crop, 1. A/C Balance, 2. Transfer & Top-up." The phone’s exterior is blue with visible brand “itel” below the screen.

Climate-smart farming

Using just a mobile phone, Crop2Cash helps farmers access loans, insurance, and become resilient to climate change impacts.

Download the study
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Founder’s vision

Micheal Ogundare, introduces the Crop2Cash solution and their high-quality smallholder farmer solution that is advancing the agri sector.

Watch the interview

4. Dayaxa Frankincense in Somaliland

Dayaxa works with harvesters in rural Somaliland to sustainably harvest frankincense, achieve fair pricing for resin harvests, and improve living standards for vulnerable harvesting communities..

A man in light pants, blue shoes, and a gray jacket climbs a leafless tree against a bright, partly cloudy sky. He stands on a branch, holding onto the trunk, with hilly terrain visible in the background.

The Dayaxa story

Hear about the challenges faced by Somaliland’s resin farmers and how Dayaxa is helping to improve farmer livelihoods while protecting frankincense trees.

Watch the video
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Blockchain for supply chains

Dayaxa uses blockchain technology to increase traceability of trees; improving resin supply chain visibility and quality.

Download the study
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Founder’s mission

“Our mission is to transform the fragile frankincense supply chain, and support marginalised resin harvesting communities”

– Abdirizak Salah Mohamed

5. Hello Tractor in Nigeria

Hello Tractor is improving planning and preparedness for Nigerian farming communities facing unpredictable rainfall patterns. They are using using digtial technology including weather and historic tractor service demand data to model and optimise tractor service provision for farming activities in Nigeria.

A young woman with braided red hair pulled up, wearing small earrings and a mustard yellow top, stands outdoors. She looks slightly to the side, with a neutral expression. The background is blurred, showing hints of trees and open land.

The Hello Tractor story

Nigerian farmers talk about how Hello Tractor is solving labour and equipment challenges to improve livelihoods.

Watch the video
Three men wearing dark coveralls with “hello tractor” written on the back inspect and repair a green and yellow John Deere tractor. The engine cover is open. One man stands on the tractor, while two others examine its side under leafy trees outdoors.

Data modeling & fleet management

Hello tractor connects tractor owners and farmers through an equipment-sharing app and GPS fleet management system.

Download the study
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Founder’s view

“Farmers across Africa face
real challenges cultivate land. You can supplement labour loss with machinery, but there’s a dearth of farm equipment in Africa.”

– Jehiel Oliver

6. J-Palm in Liberia

J-Palm is transforming the sustainability of wild palm oil in Liberia through access to ecological information for local harvesters, as well as mobile blockchain technology for improved traceability.

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The J-Palm story

Hear from wild palm harvesters in Liberia on how J-Palm is helping them to elevate from poverty and improve livelihoods.

Watch the video
A person holds a smartphone displaying a "Workflows" app screen. The finger points at the screen, which shows options such as “ONLINE RUN SHEET,” “PRODUCTION,” and “PM & OR COLLECTION,” each with icons and labels.

Blockchain-powered supply chains

J-Palm is using blockchain for traceability of wild palm to provide a 360 view of the wild-palm oil supply chain.

Download the study
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Founder’s vision

Mahmud Johnson talks about how Liberia’s wild palm is harvested in harmony with nature to protect the wild palm ecosystem.

Watch the interview

7. Lersha in Ethiopia

Lersha is a one-stop digital service for smallholder farmers in Ethiopia that provides advisory content on climate-smart agriculture solutions, weather information and facilitates access to agri-credit and agri-insurance.

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The Lersha story

Hear from farmers impacted by Lersha’s solution, and from mobile operator Safaricom and Hibret bank on their partnerships with Lersha.

Watch the video
A person in a blue suit holds a smartphone and uses their index finger to interact with an app displaying agricultural options like “Crop Improvement” and “Animal Inputs” on the screen, with a blurred green background behind them.

Unlocking finance for farmers

Lersha’s digital solution is advancing agriculture and helping farmers become resilient to climate change.

Download the study
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An interview with Lersha

Lersha’s data scientist, Amanuel Zegeye talks about their solution that helps farmers with quality input and mechanisation.

Watch the interview

8. Simusolar in Tanzania

Simusolar supports fishers in securing livelihoods, helping them adapt to weather changes and on sustaining fisheries management in Lake Victoria, Tanzania. Their solution includes an IoT-enabled productivity and activity tracking equipment.

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About Simusolar

Find out how Simusolar is addressing volatile weather conditions, lack of real-time information that affects  local fishers in Tanzania.

Find out more
A purple security camera with a dome-shaped lens is positioned above a foldable black solar panel with a metal frame and handle, set against a solid blue background. The solar panel stands upright on a small support leg.

IoT-powered solar lights

Simusolar’s innovative IoT fishing lights are locatable, trackable, energy efficient with dimming capability and can be controlled remotely via a smartphone.

Case study – coming soon
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Founder’s mission

“We will serve a key role in sustaining the fishery of Lake Victoria while also helping fishers to adapt to climate change, reduce carbon emissions, and sustain livelihoods.”

– Michael Kuntz and Marianne Walpert

Interested in reading our climate tech case studies from Asia?

See case studies here

GSMA Climate Fund reports and information

Tech Trends in Climate Innovations

Read our research report on emerging trends in the climate tech innovation.

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The Climate Chort 2023 – Portfolio

View the full portfolio of climate innovators in our 2023 cohort.

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This initiative is funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and is supported by the GSMA and its members.

UKaid Sida