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Cocoa Blockchain in Ghana: Technology Tracks Supply Chains

Cocoa Blockchain in GhanaEvery cocoa bean leaving a farm in Ghana can now be tracked through a digital ledger that all authorized supply chain participants can view. This cocoa blockchain in Ghana allows farmers, cooperatives, exporters and retailers to verify cocoa products’ origin, ethical sourcing and fair compensation. This creates a level of transparency and trust that has never existed before.

Cocoa Blockchain in Ghana

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), through the Global Quality and Standards Project (GQSP), is leading a project for cocoa blockchain in Ghana. They aim to explore how blockchain technology can improve transparency, traceability and sustainability in the cocoa supply chain.

Through funding from the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and implementation with Supply Chain Information Management B.V. (SIM), the project assesses the readiness of Ghana’s cocoa value chain to adopt blockchain. It maps key transactions and identifies potential challenges and benefits.

By securely recording and sharing data across the network, blockchain enables real-time monitoring of provenance, quality, environmental compliance and social standards from Ghanaian farmers to European chocolate producers.

In the long run, this digital infrastructure has the potential to attract investment, expand access to global markets and equip Ghana’s cocoa sector to compete more effectively in an increasingly sustainability-driven economy.

Ghana Coca Sector

Ghana’s cocoa and agriculture sectors are a big deal, employing some 800,000 farm families in Ghana and generating some $2 billion in foreign exchange annually. The sector makes up much of Ghana’s gross domestic product (GDP). Issues like fraud, unethical sourcing and a lack of supply chain transparency still plague this thriving industry, jeopardizing fair farmer compensation and hurting Ghana’s reputation abroad.

By establishing an unchangeable, transparent ledger that records every step of production, guarantees that farmers receive payments, confirms moral labor practices and lowers fraud through real-time traceability, blockchain technology solves these problems.

Blockchain for Fair Cocoa Trade

European retailers and chocolate manufacturers are investing in blockchain to verify sustainable sourcing. This ensures that premiums for certified, high-quality cocoa reach the right farmers. Indeed, the goal is to improve incomes and support living wages.

The pilot represents a first milestone in applying blockchain to Ghana’s cocoa sector. It builds on more than a decade of UNIDO-supported quality infrastructure and trade capacity projects. Additionally, it is laying the foundation for scaling digital traceability, empowering smallholder farmers and promoting ethical sourcing.

Conclusion

As a cocoa blockchain in Ghana becomes embraced, the benefits extend far beyond technology. Smallholder farmers can receive fairer compensation and increased sales by creating stronger transparency and reliability of ethically sourced cocoa from Ghana. Chocolate companies (especially European ones with stronger ties to Ghana’s cocoa products) can buy more reliably from Ghanaian farmers. Furthermore, consumers will be happy to have that stronger trust and transparency in sourcing the chocolate they enjoy.

– Isaac Nelson

Isaac is based in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Early Warnings for All (EW4All): Global Alert Systems

ew4allIn February 2025, a grandmother in Bua, Fiji, received a single text message: “Evacuate to higher ground.” She gathered her grandchildren and left just hours before a flash flood consumed the riverbanks. That text saved five lives. Fiji secured a grant of FJ$29 million ($12.9 million) from the Green Climate Fund in support of the Early Warnings for All initiative (EW4All), bringing life-saving alerts within reach of the most vulnerable

What is Early Warnings for All

Launched by U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres in 2022, the EW4All seeks to ensure that every person on Earth is safe thanks to a life-saving multi-hazard early warning system by the end of 2027.

The effort is a direct response to the growing frequency and severity of climate-related disasters. Indeed, from cyclones in the Pacific to droughts in East Africa, communities on the frontlines of natural disasters often have little or no time to prepare. By combining meteorological science, technology, and local preparedness, EW4All aims to close this protection gap worldwide.

A Comprehensive, Multi-Pillar Approach

The initiative is co-led by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), with support from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)

Together, these organizations oversee four essential, end-to-end pillars:

  • Disaster risk knowledge (UNDRR) — mapping hazards and vulnerabilities so communities understand their risk.
  • Detection, observation, monitoring, analysis, and forecasting (WMO) — ensuring accurate, timely climate and weather predictions.
  • Warning dissemination and communication (ITU) — ensuring alerts reach people through mobile networks, radio, and other channels.
  • Preparedness and response capabilities (IFRC) — enabling communities to take action before a hazard strikes.

These pillars work together. Without accurate data, forecasts lose precision. Without effective communication, warnings go unheard. And without preparedness, even the best warnings cannot save lives.

Tangible Progress: Funding and Country-Level Action

In February 2025, the Green Climate Fund (GCF) approved a groundbreaking $103.2 million in grant financing to bolster EW4All systems in seven climate-vulnerable countries—Antigua and Barbuda, Cambodia, Chad, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Fiji, and Somalia—benefiting more than 26 million people.

This project, led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), carries a total investment of $114.6 million, including $11.3 million in co-financing from IFRC, ITU, WMO, and national governments

In Fiji, the FJ$29 million ($12.9 million) grant focuses on expanding early warning coverage in remote areas, integrating hazard monitoring with local communication systems and providing training for

Why Early Warnings Matter and Deliver Impact

Early warning systems are among the most cost-effective tools in disaster risk reduction. The Global Status Report (2022) shows that countries with substantive-to-comprehensive early warning coverage experience eight times lower disaster mortality than countries with limited coverage.

Providing just 24 hours’ notice before a hazardous event can reduce damage by about 30% and investing $800 million in early warning systems in developing countries could avoid losses of $3–16 billion annually

Scaling Impact Through Partnerships

The EW4All initiative not only coordinates funding but also drives technical assistance and national policy support. The EW4All Advisory Panel, co-chaired by the heads of WMO and UNDRR, meets twice a year to assess progress, address gaps, and align resources.

On the technology front, ITU has mobilized partnerships with mobile operators such as GSMA, Safaricom and Telefónica to deploy cell-broadcast and location-based SMS in at-risk countries, ensuring alerts are not dependent on internet access.

In parallel, the IFRC works directly with communities to run evacuation drills, distribute preparedness kits, and ensure that warnings lead to action.

A Positive Forward Outlook

As natural disaster risks intensify, EW4All out as a global solution that saves lives while protecting livelihoods. By preventing deaths, reducing asset loss and maintaining community stability, EW4All indirectly supports poverty reduction. Disasters often push vulnerable households deeper into poverty; effective early warning systems break that cycle by enabling people to protect their homes, crops and sources of income.

With two years remaining until the 2027 deadline, progress is accelerating. From the Pacific Islands to the Horn of Africa, EW4All is laying the groundwork for a safer, more resilient future—where no one faces disaster without warning.

– Prayosha Patel

Prayosha is based in Gujarat, India and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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SuaCode and NaijaCoder: Tech Education Breaking Barriers

SuaCode All around the world, poverty limits access to quality education and job opportunities. However, technology in the Global South is creating new paths. More than 80% of Africans access the internet via mobile phones instead of desktops. In Ghana and Nigeria, two innovative programs, SuaCode and NaijaCoder, are showing how leveraging technology can bridge the poverty gap.

By providing tech education through smartphones, these initiatives help young people, specifically those in low-income and rural areas, gain the skills they require to escape poverty and build a better future. Coding on your phone can reduce barriers such as cost, electricity and location.

Accessibility Through Mobile-First Learning

Learning coding has proved to be challenging as it often requires laptops, stable internet and electricity, all of which are expensive. Students in impoverished communities do not have access to these costly resources. SuaCode and NaijaCoder have successfully changed by offering programming lessons through smartphones, which are devices that are far more accessible across the Global South.

SuaCode in Ghana teaches Python programming through an Android app that is accessible on smartphones. The lessons can also be accessed offline. Similarly, NaijaCoder in Nigeria offers hands-on training through phones and remote workshops. These models make coding more inclusive and realistic for students who might otherwise be left behind.

Tech Skills Reduce Poverty and Boost Job Access

Learning to code opens up a range of economic opportunities for students all over the world. Students gain skills that make them eligible for various employment opportunities such as freelancing, remote work and launching a startup. As of 2023, Ghana’s youth unemployment rate among those aged 15 to 24 stood at 23.7%. This demonstrated roughly 754,00 youths actively seeking work but unable to find it. While in Nigeria, the youth unemployment rate for the age bracket reached 8.6% in 2023. Therefore, for many in Ghana and Nigeria, gaining digital literacy can mean the difference between being stuck in a cycle of poverty or breaking free from it.

Initiatives like SuaCode and NaijaCode help bridge the digital divide by providing accessible programs for individuals regardless of their financial situation. The skills gained from these training directly boost employability in the expanding global tech market, enabling more young people to earn higher incomes, support their families, and reinvest in their communities.

Empowering Girls and Rural Youth

Poverty disproportionately affects girls and rural communities. In low-income countries, around 90% of teenage girls and young women are offline. Moreover, girls are 35% less likely than boys to possess basic digital skills such as emailing or file management. These statistics highlight how limited school resources, long travel distances, and social barriers keep many girls out of classrooms or tech spaces.

SuaCode and NaijaCoder change this by offering flexible, remote learning opportunities that break geographical barriers. Thus, by equipping girls and rural students with digital skills through coding on their phones, these programs help improve gender equity and help families build financial resilience. When one child gains the ability to work in tech, it can uplift an entire household out of poverty.

Conclusion

Coding via phone with SuaCode and NaijaCoder proves that with innovation and commitment, poverty can be tackled through tech education. As the world becomes increasingly reliant on technology, expanding access to tech education in underserved communities is both innovative and essential for building a more equal and empowered future.

– Anagha Rajithkumar

Anagha is based in Charlottetown, Canada and focuses on Business and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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STEMINC Transforming STEM Education in Ghana

STEM Education in GhanaScience and technology shape everything from communication to combating disease and building resilient economies. Yet, in many parts of Ghana, access to quality Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education remains deeply unequal. Despite the government’s push to prioritize STEM through policies like the Education Strategic Plan (2018–2030) and the rollout of STEM-designated senior high schools, interest remains low. In 2023, only 9.4% of candidates from public basic schools in the Prestea Huni‑Valley Municipality opted for STEM-related programs in the BECE exam. These figures reveal a gap between policy and participation. 

The Significance of STEM

Around the globe, STEM fields are engines of innovation, economic growth and job creation. For developing countries like Ghana, investing in STEM is not just about keeping up with the digital age, it’s about tackling youth unemployment, improving health care, strengthening infrastructure and reducing poverty. According to the World Bank, enhancing STEM skills across Africa can power economic growth and innovation in sectors like green energy, climate resilience, cybersecurity and health systems.

The Ghanaian government has recognized this through recent policy reforms, including the construction of STEM-focused senior high schools and curriculum upgrades that integrate coding and robotics. However, access to quality STEM education is still a privilege, not a guarantee, especially for students in underserved and rural areas. According to Africa Education Watch, only 2% of deprived basic schools in Ghana have functioning ICT labs, compared to just 8% in better-endowed schools, severely limiting students’ ability to engage with STEM subjects.

According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) 2023 Global Education Monitoring Report, only about 47% of primary schools, 50% of lower-secondary schools and 65% of upper-secondary schools in Sub‑Saharan Africa have internet access. This highlights significant gaps in basic Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure in the region. Even in urban areas, disparities persist along gender and socio-economic lines, with girls and low-income students often left behind.

The Role of STEMINC: Equity Through Innovation

Founded to address ongoing challenges, STEM Inclusion Ghana (STEMINC) is a nonprofit on a mission: to democratize STEM education for all Ghanaian students regardless of background, gender, or location. Through a growing number of projects, STEMINC offers hands-on training in coding, robotics and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies. It provides teacher support and digital resources to build classroom capacity, hosts community workshops to demystify STEM and inspire student curiosity and runs gender-inclusive programs to ensure girls have equal opportunities to explore and succeed in STEM fields.

The organization’s model brings STEM to the student, rather than the student to STEM. Whether it’s hosting robotics competitions in underserved districts or providing offline coding kits for schools with no internet, STEMINC meets learners where they are. STEMINC staff emphasize that STEM initiatives can be life-changing for students who previously had no exposure to computing, many go on to build websites or code robots, illustrating real transformation

The Challenge Beneath the Progress

Despite the momentum so far, systemic barriers remain. According to the 2024 Africa Education Watch Policy Brief, just 13% of public junior high schools in Ghana have functional ICT facilities and many teachers still lack formal training in digital tools. Electricity access in schools remains below 50% in a deprived district. For students, a lack of role models, peer encouragement or even access to basic tools like calculators or computer labs can discourage continued STEM participation, especially for girls. Cultural expectations and economic pressures add another layer, making early dropout rates and career redirection common among even promising young learners.

Looking Ahead

“The African continent holds a huge potential to transform its education sector and labour market through science, technology and innovation. We need to unlock the potential of STEM education across Africa. And African girls represent the greatest untapped population to become the next generation of innovators,” said Stefania Giannini, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education.

According to UNESCO’s 2023 Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report on Technology in Education, equitable access to technology in schools is essential to progress toward SDG 4 and broader educational outcomes. Speaking at the Ghana Philanthropy Conference in 2023, the Country Director of the Global Volunteers Corps (GVC), Ms. Ackah, emphasized the need for grassroots efforts. “We believe that every action, no matter how small, can have a ripple effect, touching the lives of individuals and communities far beyond our immediate reach. When we volunteer, we become agents of change,” Ackah said.

– Dela Michel

Dela is based in Rockville, MD USA and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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UNHCR and TECNO: Empowering Young Refugees

UNHCR and TECNOUNHCR has recently announced a three-year expanded partnership with Tecno, a leading technology brand, to address pressing gaps in education for refugee children and youth across Africa. Adding on to five years of successful partnership, the parties launched their new project “Together We Can Bring Education to African Children and Youth”, which supports two UNHCR initiatives: the DAFI (Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative) Tertiary Scholarship Program and the Primary Impact Program.

UNHCR Initiatives

The UNHCR aims to inspire disadvantaged students to achieve their true potential through its two successful initiatives. The Primary Impact Initiative focuses on increasing access to primary education, ensuring a safe and supportive learning environment, improving education quality and promoting inclusive education policies. Indeed, since 2023, the program has supplied primary education access to 431,000 displaced children, of whom nearly half were female. In both camps and urban areas, the initiative reached 1,029 primary schools.

The DAFI program offers qualified refugee students an opportunity to earn an undergraduate degree in their country of asylum or home country. The program, which has been ongoing for three decades, remains the foundation of the UNHCR’s strategy to achieve more enrolment of refugees in higher education.

In 2023, 7,890 refugees from 54 countries of origin were enrolled in higher education. Since 1992, the program has supported more than 27,200 young refugees.

Impact of the Partnership

The partnership between TECNO and UNHCR first began in 2020, focusing on providing quality education to refugee children and young people in Africa. However, over the past years, the partnership has reached 40 DAFI scholars and 17,370 refugee children. With this collaboration, the UNHCR focuses on enrolling more than 55,000 children in primary schools in camps located in Dadaab and Kakuma over the next four years.

Kenya is the fifth-largest refugee-hosting country in Africa, with 774,370 refugees and asylum seekers as of May 2024, according to African Business. Kenya’s refugee camps, Dadaab and Kakuma, house more than 217,000 school-aged refugee children. TECNO’s support will benefit over 7,000 children in Kenya, helping them achieve their potential. It is already helping the UNHCR’s efforts to improve educational outcomes for children in Kenya with the financial support from TECNO, which goes into hygiene kits, infrastructure construction, scholastic materials and resources for teachers.

Conclusion

“TECNO is dedicated to giving back to local communities in Africa …. We believe that education is the key to changing the destiny for refugee children,” said Jack Guo, general manager of TECNO, showing that the initiatives have a true impact with the aid of a leading technology brand like TECNO.

This extended partnership between UNHCR and TECNO showcases the power of investing in education for refugees, offering them a chance to achieve their potential like any other young person in the world. Additionally, it shows a commitment to shaping the world into a more accessible place for people of all ages, backgrounds, and nationalities, which is encouraging for other organisations that take inspiration from the works of UNHCR and use it to motivate more positive change in the world.

– Amaira Katyal

Amaira is based in London, UK and focuses on Technology and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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How Enhanced Rock Weathering in Africa Is Turning Heads

Enhanced Rock Weathering in AfricaIn Africa and the global south, a new process is gaining the attention of agriculture and environmental initiatives. Smallholder farmers are witnessing their maize harvests flourish while simultaneously removing carbon from the atmosphere. This is not the result of a new fertilizer or a genetically modified seed. It comes from a novel climate technology that turns ordinary volcanic rock into a powerful tool for poverty reduction and environmental renewal.

The new technology, Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW), offers a dual solution to two of Africa’s most pressing challenges: unstable climatic conditions and food insecurity. ERW captures carbon dioxide (CO2) directly from the atmosphere by accelerating a natural geological process. At the same time, minerals from the rock revitalize depleted, acidic soils, leading to dramatic increases in crop yields and farmer incomes.

How It Works

The science behind ERW is surprisingly simple. The natural weathering of rocks regulates Earth’s climate by pulling CO2 from the air. ERW turbocharges this process by increasing the surface area of available rock. Finely crushed silicate rock, typically basalt, is spread across agricultural fields.

When rainwater mixes with CO2 in the atmosphere, it forms a weak acid that inevitably falls to the ground and reacts with the rock dust. This reaction converts the CO2 into stable bicarbonate ions that are eventually washed into rivers and oceans, where the carbon is locked away for a projected 10,000 years.

Initial Outcomes of Enhanced Rock Weathering in Africa

While the climate benefits are global, the local impact is life-changing. Many African farmers have struggled with degraded, acidic soils that reduce crop growth for years. With ERW, the basalt dust acts as a slow-release natural fertilizer, replenishing the soil with essential nutrients like calcium, magnesium and phosphorus. It also raises the soil’s pH, making it less acidic and more fertile.

The results are starting to turn heads. In collaboration with ERW company Mati Carbon, farmers in India are reporting increased rice yields “in excess of 20%” with Mati Carbon’s CEO, Shantanu Agarwal, stating that results will be even more pronounced on the most degraded soils.

A recent pilot study in Kenya conducted by the climate-tech startup Flux in collaboration with the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification proves Mati Carbon right. The study found that applying basalt dust to maize fields increased grain yields by an average of 47.5%, with some farms noting a yield increase of more than 200%. For the participating farmers, this translated into an economic gain of more than $326 per hectare, per harvest, a transformative sum for families living in subsistence conditions.

The Carbon Credit Connection

Another beautiful aspect of these new programs is their business model. All the profits from increased crop yield go straight to the farmers. Companies like Flux and Mati Carbon sell the carbon credits to climate-conscious corporations, then provide the rock dust to farmers free of charge.

The farmers benefit immediately from healthier soils and bigger harvests and credit purchasers solidify their commitment to the environment. Enhanced rock weathering is gaining traction with a sustainable business model, concrete outcomes and increasing interest from the corporate sector.

Into the Future

Mati Carbon, the company that recently won the $50 million XPRIZE for Carbon Removal, aims to support 30,000 smallholder farmers by the end of 2025. Nairobi-based Flux has also set an ambitious goal of generating $300 million in additional income for African farmers by 2030. Early indicators of enhanced rock weathering in Africa point to a win-win situation. However, there are still concerns about the cost of crushing and spreading.

As the technology scales from pilot projects in Kenya, Zambia and Tanzania to larger initiatives across the continent, it promises to turn millions of hectares of African farmland into catalysts for both environmental restoration and human prosperity.

– Levi Ravnsborg

Levi is based in Summerland, BC, Canada and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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How Zzapp Malaria Uses AI Technology To Fight Malaria in Africa

Zzapp MalariaEvery year, malaria sickens millions and kills hundreds of thousands worldwide, with most cases concentrated in Africa. In 2023 alone, there were an estimated 263 million malaria cases and nearly 600,000 deaths, with children aged 5 and less accounting for about 76% of those deaths.

Despite decades of progress, including a 38% reduction in malaria incidence and a 60% drop in mortality from 2000 to 2022, gains have stalled. Challenges such as drug and insecticide resistance, underfunding and changing climatic conditions continue to hamper efforts. As traditional tools fall short, technology to fight malaria is becoming increasingly vital.

AI as a Solution

Malaria has been eliminated in several countries that are able to carry out comprehensive control operations, particularly by targeting mosquito breeding grounds in stagnant water bodies. However, such interventions require significant investment.

To overcome these barriers, innovative initiatives like Zzapp Malaria are using technology to fight malaria. They are transforming control operations with AI and mobile tools to offer scalable, cost-effective solutions to one of Africa’s most persistent public health threats.

How Zzapp Malaria Works

Zzapp Malaria is an Israeli nonprofit startup. It uses AI-driven software to plan and execute malaria control operations, particularly larviciding and house spraying, in low-resource and urban settings across Africa.

Its approach combines several key steps:

  • Planning and mapping. Neural networks analyze satellite images to detect homes, stagnant water areas and breeding hotspots, incorporating climate and topographic data to determine optimal intervention timing.
  • Task allocation. The platform segments areas into grids and assigns them to field workers through its mobile app.
  • Field operations. App-guided teams map, sample and treat water bodies with larvicides or sprays, with real-time data optimizing interventions.
  • Monitoring. The system flags areas with insufficient treatment or high mosquito levels for rapid response.

The app works offline, supports low-end smartphones and uses icons for low-literacy users. It recognizes traditional huts and modern homes and training is simple. For many field workers, using the app is their first digital experience, empowering them with new skills.

Proven Impact and Cost-Effectiveness

  • Obuasi, Ghana. In partnership with the AngloGold Malaria Control Program (AG­AMaL), Zzapp Malaria piloted its system in 2017. A 2018 randomized controlled trial showed app-guided teams detected 28% more breeding sites with more than 90% coverage than standard methods. By 2020, a full-scale operation reduced mosquito populations by 60% in less than four months at $0.20 per person protected, compared to about $5 for traditional spraying.
  • São Tomé and Príncipe. In collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Zzapp Malaria conducted an eight month-long larviciding operation covering 166,000 people across 240 square kilometers. Results included a 75% reduction in mosquitoes, malaria cases cut by more than half and an average cost of $0.86 per person protected, dropping to $0.44 in urban areas — about twice as cost-effective as bed nets.

Zzapp Malaria remains active in Ghana, São Tomé and Príncipe and has expanded to Mozambique, Zanzibar in Tanzania, Ethiopia and Kenya. Its pilots have reached 500,000 people, with expansion agreements aiming for at least five million.

Recent Developments

  • Ghana. In April 2025, The Ghanaian Times reported that AGAMal and Zzapp Malaria’s tools reduced malaria prevalence to about 1% in Obuasi East.
  • Mozambique. Following a successful pilot in Maputo with Mozambique’s National Malaria Control Program (NMCP) and Goodbye Malaria, Zzapp Malaria is preparing a nationwide urban rollout.
  • Zanzibar. Drone integration trials are underway, using drone maps and LiDAR to identify breeding sites. Zanzibar’s Ministry of Health has implemented this project as part of the spatial intelligence system funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation through the Innovative Vector Control Consortium (IVCC).

Why Zzapp Malaria’s Solutions Matter

Despite large global investments, conventional tools often fall short and progress has stalled. Technology to fight malaria, like Zzapp Malaria, enables task-shifting to community health workers while enhancing surveillance, diagnosis and treatment. Its AI-powered mapping, targeted larviciding and drone-assisted detection fill key gaps:

  • Cost-effective interventions. Optimize resources where funding is limited.
  • Complementary strategies. Strengthen existing interventions facing resistance.
  • Enhanced operations. Improve data-driven decision-making in challenging contexts.

Zzapp Malaria exemplifies the transformative potential of technology to fight malaria through digital health solutions:

  • Technology as a solution. AI and drones directly reduce mosquito populations and malaria cases.
  • Scalability and cost-effectiveness. Proven impact at minimal cost.
  • Empowerment. Tools designed for low-literacy, low-infrastructure settings democratize access.
  • Evidence-based results. Peer-reviewed studies and credible media confirm its effectiveness.

In a world where malaria continues to claim hundreds of thousands of lives each year, Zzapp Malaria shows how technology to fight malaria can provide scalable, cost-effective solutions to one of the world’s most persistent health challenges.

– Jacobo L. Esteban

Jacobo is based in Cali, Colombia and focuses on Technology and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Combating Dengue Fever in Indonesia

Dengue Fever in IndonesiaDengue fever, a mosquito-borne illness, causes severe muscle and joint pain, nausea, vomiting and in extreme cases, death. This disease, often simply called dengue, is endemic in Indonesia, where it kills hundreds of people annually. Dengue cases spiked in 2024, forcing Indonesia to address the growing public health issue.

According to the Indonesian Health Ministry, nearly 250,000 Indonesians contracted dengue in 2024. The virus claimed 1,418 lives that year. Despite a swift government response that continues through today, dengue remains a serious public health threat. By examining how Indonesia is combating dengue fever in impoverished communities, we can also learn how to fight it in other countries.

How Dengue Fever Impacts Impoverished Communities in Indonesia

Mosquitoes easily infiltrate the porous, open housing common in Indonesia’s low-income communities, making it easier for dengue to spread. Families in these areas are also more likely to work outdoors, increasing their exposure to mosquitoes, unlike higher-income earners who often work in air-conditioned offices. Although Indonesian law mandates paid sick leave for all workers, including those with dengue, deaths still occur.

For struggling families, the loss of income from illness can be financially devastating and the death of a loved one brings intense emotional pain. Severe dengue cases often come with high out-of-pocket medical costs. When hospitalizations surge, public hospitals, relied on by low-income communities, can become overcrowded. This strains medical staff and reduces their ability to treat other life-threatening conditions, leading to increased deaths even when dengue itself is under control.

What Indonesia Did To Combat Dengue Fever in 2024

  1. Multisource Collaborative Surveillance. This sophisticated system enables public health professionals to collect and analyze diverse data sources. It allows for a more accurate prediction of where disease outbreaks, like dengue fever, may occur. This approach plays a critical role in Indonesia’s efforts to fight dengue, especially in low-income communities.
  2. Wolbachia Mosquito Technology. The government of Indonesia has begun using Wolbachia-infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that carry a bacterium that reduces the virus’s ability to replicate. This initiative is part of a broader government plan to achieve zero dengue deaths by 2030.
  3. The 3 Ms Program. The Indonesian government continues to promote this strategy as a practical way for communities to help control the spread of dengue. Citizens are encouraged to drain water containers regularly, cover water storage and recycle items that can collect standing water, which serves as a mosquito breeding ground.
  4. Vaccination. Indonesia has rolled out dengue vaccinations in local schools, targeting children as a key prevention group. Vaccination remains one of the safest and most effective ways to prevent severe dengue infections. The QDENGA vaccine, used in the country’s efforts, is developed by Takeda, a Japanese biopharmaceutical company with more than 70 years of industry experience.

Summary

Indonesia is tackling dengue fever in low-income communities through advanced technology and community-based solutions. From Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes and data-driven surveillance to school vaccinations and the 3 Ms Program, the country targets the virus and the conditions that allow it to spread. Though challenges persist, these efforts offer a practical model for other countries battling dengue.

– Jeff Mathwig

Jeff is based in Philadelphia, PA, USA and focuses on Global Health, Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Agricultural Technology: Food Systems in Vietnam

Food Systems in VietnamFood systems in Vietnam have seen massive change in recent history. The country has witnessed significant agricultural growth over the last 30 years, which has undoubtedly alleviated the nation’s socioeconomic status. It has massively reduced food insecurity, contributed to a decline in poverty and also fostered an increasingly export-oriented economy – a major source of labor opportunities for the wider population. That said, food systems in Vietnam are not immune to the general plights of global agriculture in today’s world.

About Food Insecurity in Vietnam

Although Vietnam is a major food exporter, around 10–11% of its population still faces moderate or severe food insecurity, mainly in rural and ethnic minority communities. The impact of changing weather patterns – causing fluctuating weather, saltwater intrusion and exposure to floods or droughts – is a culprit guilty of destabilizing Vietnamese agricultural production.

An aging workforce and declining productivity among its labor pool. In Vietnam, the average age of farmers has risen significantly in recent years, and its general agricultural labor force has been shrinking.

Challenges in supply chain issues, which the agricultural industry is particularly susceptible to due to fragmented production, frequent changes in season or weather, issues with storage and food maintenance, etc. This is especially true in Vietnam where, in 2017, the World Bank put out a report detailing the weaknesses of Vietnam’s agricultural supply chains and the costly consequences for the nation’s GDP. The report stated that, “the main constraint on Vietnam’s agriculture supply chains is the lack of an integrated, end-to-end supply chain model, according to Mr. Julien Brun, Managing Partner at CEL Consulting.” These all disrupt production and access to nutritious food, leaving vulnerable groups at risk despite the nation’s agricultural growth.

The Rise of AgTech

What the World Bank recommends – and what is generally becoming not simply a need, but a requirement for a competitive agricultural market – is a rise in agricultural technology: to increase productivity, to keep track of and forewarn of market or natural fluctuations and to facilitate logistical efficiency.

Fortunately for Vietnam, while it is not immune to global agricultural issues, it is also not immune to global agricultural solutions. Agrifoodtech investment in developing markets reached $3.7 billion in 2024, surging a remarkable 63% year-over-year (YoY) and bucking the 4% decline observed in the agrifoodtech sector at the global level.

Techcoop

One of the leading firms in this Agtech revolution is a small startup by the name of Techcoop, which sees 2025 as its year of stardom—both in terms of funding and public recognition. According to the website TechInAsia, “This Series A round is one of the largest in Vietnam’s agritech sector, reflecting the growing demand for tech-driven agriculture solutions.”

What Techcoop does is address one of the main hindrances to supply chain issues in Vietnam’s agricultural industry, which, as aforementioned, the World Bank reported to be one of the sector’s major issues: namely supply chain and logistics inefficiency. Techcoop enables an integration of data into the agrarian world of farming through, among other things:

  • Codifying purchase agreements between the agribusiness, farmer-owned cooperatives, and the farmers, including key clauses such as advance payment, payment terms, committed volumes, price, quality standards, etc.
  • Facilitating fund distribution from partner financial institutions to agribusinesses, cooperatives and farmers for specific purposes.
  • Monitoring and enforcing contractual commitments through field and transactional data collection.

Techcoop is on the forefront not simply of Agtech, but also operates at its intersection with financial and legal technology facilitating the movement of financial funds and the drafting of contracts. 

Supply Chain Efficiency

This work of easing and improving supply chain efficiency has allowed Techcoop to address Vietnam’s logistical shortcomings. With how small-scale farming can be, agribusiness and local farmers have often been fragmented or lacking in their communication. Techcoop offers data analytics and tracking to mediate between them – allowing for a quantification of production to track the progress of contractual obligations, with data offered as an efficient and understandable language between various actors in the supply chain. This is increasingly important to consumers who more and more want greater farm-to-shelf traceability. Techcoop enables this through allowing for easier tracking of actors and processes within the complex agricultural supply chain. 

AgTech’s Role in Vietnam’s Trading Shifts

Startups like Techcoop that are participating in and forming this agritech revolution are going to be increasingly vital given the global shock to trade that Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs represented. Vietnam, having recently made a deal with Trump, opted to reduce U.S. tariffs on most goods to 20%, down from the previous 46% – but only in exchange for a 0% tariff on U.S. exports to Vietnam. This represents a major shift in Vietnam’s agricultural sector, which now has to compete with U.S. agricultural goods on home turf. Now, more than ever, Agtech matters in ensuring Vietnam’s agricultural productivity remains at a competitive level – particularly when facing U.S. goods paired with their own surge in agricultural technological innovation. Techcoop and companies like it will increasingly become the go-to solution for sustaining food systems in Vietnam – one of the nation’s most vital sectors.

– Inaam Munsoor

Inaam is based in Edinburgh, Scotland and focuses on Business and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Tackling Food Waste In Indonesia

Food Waste In IndonesiaAccording to the 2025 International Database Census, Indonesia has the fourth-largest population globally, with more than 283 million people living in the lush “Emerald of the Equator.” Compared to other populated nations in Asia, like India or Bangladesh, Indonesia has a relatively low population density—aside from the island of Java—with civilians spread across the different provinces of the archipelago. That said, Indonesia still has the highest population among the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), creating both challenges and opportunities for sustainable living.

Historically, Indonesia has had difficulty maintaining a sustainable relationship with food consumption, as well as with lumber, fossil fuels, land use and water. Even though Indonesia may appear to have enough resources to provide for everyone, more than 8% of its population—about 24 million people—lives in poverty. While facing numerous ecological issues and overconsumption, Indonesian federal policymakers have attempted to address these problems while managing other environmental challenges that have arisen in recent years.

Causes of Food Waste in Indonesia

On the surface, food waste may seem like an issue that can be tackled easily. However, many developed nations, especially the most populated ones, have had continuous trouble adapting to cultural factors, logistical issues and faulty manufacturing. For Indonesia specifically, these issues, along with harvest losses and the country’s climate, speed up the process of food waste compared to other nations.

Harvest loss is a detrimental issue for Indonesian produce farmers because significant amounts of their crops are lost before reaching the market due to a lack of access to modern technologies for harvesting, processing and storing crops. When these crops face exposure to Indonesia’s constant humid climate, the conditions quickly cause spoilage, either before or after they reach a retailer.

When citizens of Indonesia search for produce at vendors or markets, perceptions of food quality often influence high food waste. Much of consumer behavior has progressively been influenced by Western consumption patterns that suggest a lack of interest in food that may not appear aesthetically pleasing, leading to the discarding of large amounts of food. Unfortunately, this cultural phenomenon of waste does not only reside on the individual level.

According to information reported by news portal Tempo, the biggest contribution to wasted food comes from hotels, restaurants, catering, supermarkets and the behavior of people who like to leave their food. Aksamala Foundation research results in 2016 showed that 35% of restaurants in Jakarta throw away excess unsold food per day, with an average of 2-3 kilograms per restaurant. 

Consequences of Food Waste

Plenty of consequences have emerged from overconsumption, most notably food insecurity. When retailers have limited access to fresh produce or when produce spoils quickly, prices can rise due to supply issues. Although Indonesia may remain one of the world’s largest food producers, the amount of waste, if managed properly, can meet the food needs of more than 3 billion people; it still faces challenges within its supply chain when delivering food to those in impoverished areas who require immediate access to quality nourishment. Environmental and economic impacts are the two other major consequences of food waste.

The World Bank assessed in 2019 that Indonesia lost $29 billion in one year due to food waste. Furthermore, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has conducted a study that food waste accounts for 8% of greenhouse gas emissions, not to mention the amount of natural resources that go to waste when growing produce that immediately gets thrown out.

Spearheading a Sustainable Change

As of 2024, Indonesia has lowered its food waste per capita to 51.95 kg, compared to 2021 when the waste per capita was 75.66 kg. When tackling these issues, Indonesia relied on technological and digitalization methods, including artificial intelligence (AI) networks that can identify patterns, predict the molecular structure of bioactive compounds and predict the expiration of a commodity.

Other methods, such as data systems, have proven useful when tracking produce in transport from rural to urban areas, ensuring appropriate preservation. If an issue arises in the supply chain, it becomes easier to isolate and resolve. Many other traditional strategies carried out among the public consist of encouraging community efforts toward upcycling organic and non-organic waste through individual efforts or organizations like Waste4Change, supporting the country’s goals for a more sustainable future.

– Sam Barbagallo

Sam is based in Tewksbury, MA, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr