Africa

Techstars Impact, a new accelerator, has accepted three MIT-incubated ventures and their founders: (l-r) Nick Gomez and Cory Siskind (Base Operations); Genevieve Barnard Oni and Soga Oni (MDaaS Global); and Nisheeth Singh, Anirudh Sharma, and Nitesh Kadyan (Graviky Labs).

Three MIT-incubated ventures chosen for first Techstars Impact class

Base Operations, MDaaS Global, and Graviky Labs will head to Texas to be part of the first class at the new elite accelerator.

July 12, 2018

"Evaporative Cooling Technologies for Improved Vegetable Storage in Mali" is a new report from MIT D-Lab and CITE. At left, University of Bamako graduate student Aliou Coulibaly adds water to an evaporative cooling chamber in Bamako. At right, World Vegetable Center technician Fatogoma Tanou assembles a clay pot cooler in Mopti.

MIT researchers release evaluation of low-cost cooling devices in Mali

CITE and D-Lab study finds evaporative cooling devices show promise for helping small-scale farmers, market vendors, and families store and preserve vegetables.

June 20, 2018

“The best thing about being at MIT is that people are working on all these cool, different things that they’re passionate about,” says graduate student Prosper Nyovanie. “I think there’s a lot of clarity that you can get just by going outside of your circle and talking to people.”

Reliable energy for all

Graduate student Prosper Nyovanie wants to power off-grid communities worldwide with scalable solar electric systems.

June 12, 2018

3Q: Hazel Sive on MIT-Africa

Faculty director discusses the future of the initiative and Africa’s position as a global priority for the Institute.

May 7, 2018

The non-profit Young 1ove designed a course for Botswana schools called “No Sugar” that teaches young girls the high likelihood of contracting HIV from older men called "sugar daddies." Classes begin with ice breakers, such as singing and dancing exercises (shown here). The remainder of the class teaches students risk factors of sugar daddies and how to seek help. The course has reached more t...

Course helps girls in Botswana avoid HIV and “sugar daddies”

Youth-to-youth program teaches girls about the increased odds of contracting HIV from older men.

October 25, 2017

Amy Smith is the founding director of the MIT D-Lab.

Designing for a more equitable world

D-Lab founder Amy Smith teaches MIT students to tap into the heart of international development.

October 6, 2017

Erica James, associate professor of medical anthropology and urban studies in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning, co-presents with Dennis McLaughlin, H.M. King Bhumibol Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (not pictured) on the results of their research project, Leverage Points: Opportunities for Increasing Food Production in Developing Countries, funded by ...

Projects make inroads on global food and water challenges

MIT researchers supported by J-WAFS present results of their work on food and water security.

September 21, 2017

“We are trying to solve the issue of youth unemployment through entrepreneurship and through making small businesses more efficient — starting more businesses, starting them well, having them grow up to the point where they can be employers,” says graduate student Meghan McCormick about her company, Osez Innover, which operates in three countries in West Africa.

Empowering young entrepreneurs in West Africa

MBA student Meghan McCormick leads a venture that helps African youth develop small businesses.

September 17, 2017

MIT Professor Evan Lieberman, the Total Chair on Contemporary Africa, has created the Department of Political Science's first online course through MITx.

Political science debuts on MITx

New online course takes a deep dive into democracy in Africa.

August 25, 2017

D-Lab Scale-Ups Fellow Chebet Lesan holds a bag of her company's innovative charcoal briquettes, which are made from recycled waste. Lesan is the founder and CEO of BrightGreen Renewable Energy, which provides affordable, clean, safe, and eco-friendly charcoal briquettes for low-income households in Kenya.

Bringing poverty-alleviating solutions to market in India, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda

2017 D-Lab Scale-Ups are tackling energy access, small farm irrigation, portable medical diagnostics, online education, and support for local artisans.

August 16, 2017