News – News
Scaling up innovations in LMICs: Our learnings
2 October 2023
- Jonty Slater
On the 19th September, I had the pleasure of hosting an engaging online session that delved deep into the challenges and learnings of scaling up innovation in Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). Drawing from the recent experiences of the Afri-Plastics Challenge, the event was a melting pot of ideas, strategies, and real-world insights.
The webinar also previewed some of the findings from a brand new report, which used the Afri-Plastics Challenge as a clear and powerful example of how challenge prizes can be used to scale truly transformative innovations.
While there is plenty that could be said that was gleaned during the enlightening online event, below I have summarised my key takeaways from the panel discussion portion of the event, which included:
- Teodora Diana Chis – Challenge Works Researcher
- Eszter Czibor – StateUp
- Oliver Nudds – Ocean Plastic Technologies, South Africa
- Isaac Sesi – Scaling Food Innovator, Ghana
- Ijudai Jasada, Scaling Livestock Innovations, Kenya
- Gidibo Tindwa, Impact Investment Specialist
Key takeaways
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The Importance of Community Awareness
One of the standout discussions revolved around the significance of community awareness in bringing about change. The panelists emphasised that raising awareness alone doesn’t guarantee implementation. It’s crucial to build programs that lead to actionable social change.
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Challenges in Scaling
The panelists shared their experiences and barriers they’ve encountered in scaling innovations. They touched upon organisational challenges, infrastructural barriers, and the complexities of navigating regulatory environments.
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The Power of Visibility and Credibility
The event highlighted how visibility and endorsement can boost an innovator’s credibility, leading to new partnerships and opportunities. Being recognized or participating in challenges can open doors that were previously closed.
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Collaboration and Partnerships
The importance of building networks, forging partnerships, and collaborating with stakeholders at various levels, including local municipalities and government bodies, was a recurring theme.
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Measuring Impact
A significant portion of the discussion was dedicated to the challenge of measuring the long-term impact of innovations. While economic outcomes are straightforward to measure, capturing the broader social and environmental impacts can be more challenging.
