African startups compete for £4.1 million funding to tackle pollution

Kenyan and Nigerian startups have dominated the cohort of finalists for the Afri-Plastics Challenge that is seeking solutions to  plastic waste and reducing pollution that makes its way into the marine environment.

40 finalists startups made it to the final phase of the Prize. Kenya and Nigeria have9 finalists each, South Africa has 6, Ghana (4) Uganda and Rwanda (2), while Cameroon, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Togo, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo and Cote d'Ivoire secured one slot each.

The challenge is run by innovation prize experts Challenge Works and funded by the Government of Canada.

Jonathan Slater, Director of International Development, Challenge Works: "It is difficult to provide an exact figure for the current marine plastic waste in Africa as data on this is often incomplete or outdated. However, it is known that Africa is a major contributor to global marine plastic pollution, with an estimated 17 million tons of plastic waste generated annually in the continent, much of which ends up in the oceans."

Launched in July 2021, the Afri-Plastics Challenge received 1,141 entries from innovators across sub-Saharan Africa. The winners will be announced at the Afri-Plastics Summit & Awards in Nairobi, Kenya on March 16, 2023.

The Summit will include  in-depth conversations with a range of local and international experts and speakers on the marine plastic ecosystem in the region as well as showcase solutions on how Sub-Saharan Africa can sustainably reduce marine plastics.

Slater: "Poor waste management practices, inadequate infrastructure for waste collection and disposal, a lack of public awareness about the impact of plastic pollution, and the increasing use of single-use plastic products are key factors that have contributed to the plastic waste problem."

While many Sub-Saharan African governments including Kenya, have recognized the need to tackle plastic pollution and have started to implement policies and initiatives to address it through plastic bag bans, taxes on single-use plastic products, and investment in waste management infrastructure, more should be done. This includes investing more in research and development, educating the public about the importance of recycling, and improving waste management systems.

Slater: “The successful innovations developed through the Afri-Plastics Challenge have paved the way to revolutionise Africa’s approach to reducing the reliance on plastic. They are also supporting the empowerment of women and girls by creating economic opportunities for women. 60% of entries that made it to the final 40 were women-led."

www.challengeworks.org