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Challenges

Origin Challenges

We solve problems. We help to create strategies, design & development.

Origin Challenges are a collaborative problem-solving platform where innovators, creators, and change-makers come together to address Africa’s most pressing needs with African-driven solutions. Anyone can become a Challengerβ€”by submitting a problem, proposing a project, or providing seed funding to spark innovative approaches. These challenges are tackled by a dedicated community of Origin problem-solvers, who work together to design, test, and implement solutions.

Challenges are hosted within Origin’s Domain-Driven Platforms:

  • Industrial Design and Manufacturing

  • Energy, Environment, and Climate Change

  • Digital and Frontier Technologies

  • Materials and Semiconductor Technologies

From pilot projects to fully implemented solutions, Origin Challenges capture the full lifecycle of innovationβ€”identifying real problems, experimenting with prototypes, and scaling up ideas that work. At the core of Origin’s mission is a belief in African solutions for African challenges. Our growing list of successfully solved and implemented challenges is a testament to the creativity, resilience, and technical expertise of the Origin community.

Pilot test of a Univus software: student learningΒ  platform that is based on disciplines instead of individual university cohorts universities

Design and development of advanced pulse oximeter sensor for melanated skin

πŸ‡ΏπŸ‡Ό Detecting and mapping groundwater hydrology for borehole drilling

Establishment of aquaponics (integrated multitrophic aquaculture) as a sustainable food production system in desert/drought-prone environmentsΒ πŸ‡³πŸ‡¦ πŸ‡ΏπŸ‡ΌΒ 

Design + build modernised Indigenous buildings using wooden poles, grass, and selected soils

Equitable Water Sharing in a Community

Objective: Develop a solution that ensures fair and sustainable water distribution among all community members, particularly addressing the needs of downstream users affected by…

Develop + deploy IoT device to measure and subsequently enable control or intervention of pond water parameters

Community Information and Action Application

Objective: Develop a and web application that enables community members to easily ask for information, report issues, and request services from local authorities or…

Cooperative Irrigation Water Schemes: Smart systems for Enhancing Transparency, Reliability, and Accountability

Water scarcity is a pressing global challenge, exacerbated by factors such as population growth, urbanization, and climate change. At a global level, regions across…

Β AI-Enhanced Coffee Cherry Sorting for Premium Quality

Objective: Develop an AI-powered application that automatically sorts coffee cherries based on color, size,Β and density. This would improve the consistency of premium quality and…

Design a business model for and launch a venture that makes low-cost machine-tools for dredging silt and sand to rehabilitate rivers

Design + Fabricate Molds for Making Concrete Fencing Posts as an Antidote Against Fencing Induced Deforestation

Design a business model for and launch a carpentry + welding venture that designs and makes beehives, box-bailers, chick- and fish-cages, and other farm essentials

Academic Certificates Verification Systems

In Kenya, as in many other parts of the world, the proliferation of fake academic certificates poses a significant challenge to the integrity of…

Coffee Traceability for Small-Holder Coffee Produce

In Kenya, the coffee industry plays a significant role in the economy, contributing to both rural livelihoods and foreign exchange earnings. However, the industry…

Design and deploy devices to deter monkeys from invading farms bordering conservancies πŸ‡°πŸ‡ͺ

Research, develop, and implement solution to the Golden Apple Snail which decimate rice seedlings, forming farmers to replant πŸ‡°πŸ‡ͺ

Venture to train, supply, + manage staff to run projects and maintain homes of diaspora-based citizens

Opuntia – cactus plant products: Standardisation of manufacturing processes and products – startup support

Design a business model for and launch the animal feeds and organic fertilizer pelletizing venture, targeting local crops and farm waste

Design a business model for and launch a venture that makes food processing and musical equipment from gourds

Design + implement grass and tree seedling projects for zero-grazing/thatching and reforstration and decarbonization

Hospital at Home for Diabetes and Hypertension Management

Objective: Develop an integrated system that allows for the remote monitoring, treatment scheduling, and management of diabetes and hypertension patients, ensuring they receive timely…

πŸ‡°πŸ‡ͺ Design + build fish rearing pond with a greenhouse cover

Quelea Quelea Bird Menace

What is the eligibility criteria for submitting a solution? All legal entities individual entrepreneurs and innovators, firms, institutions and public entities in Africa. Which…

Establishment of a hatchery for the African lungfish and other indigenous fish to enable its introduction in commercial aquaculture and repopulation

Design a business model for and launch cooking oil venture, targeting locally produced ground nuts and sunflower

Become a Member

Join Origin Labs

Be part of aΒ vibrant communityΒ shaping the future of innovation! Collaborate onΒ exciting challengesΒ that push boundaries and unlock your creative potential. Take part inΒ impactful initiativesΒ designed toΒ solve real-world problemsΒ and showcase your unique skills. Together, let’s inspire change andΒ create groundbreaking solutions!

Β 

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Pilot test of a Univus software: student learningΒ  platform that is based on disciplines instead of individual university cohorts universities

View Project

πŸ‡ΏπŸ‡Ό Detecting and mapping groundwater hydrology for borehole drilling

View Project

Establishment of aquaponics (integrated multitrophic aquaculture) as a sustainable food production system in desert/drought-prone environmentsΒ πŸ‡³πŸ‡¦ πŸ‡ΏπŸ‡ΌΒ 

View Project

Design + build modernised Indigenous buildings using wooden poles, grass, and selected soils

View Project

East Africa Biosciences Studio Call for Innovators

View Project

Equitable Water Sharing in a Community

Objective: Develop a solution that ensures fair and sustainable water distribution among all community members, particularly addressing the needs of downstream users affected by…

View Project

Prosopis Juliaflora in Garissa and Tana River Counties

View Project

Develop + deploy IoT device to measure and subsequently enable control or intervention of pond water parameters

View Project

Making + installing an automated fish feeding mechanism to control fish overfeeding and underfeeding

View Project

Community Information and Action Application

Objective: Develop a and web application that enables community members to easily ask for information, report issues, and request services from local authorities or…

View Project

Cooperative Irrigation Water Schemes: Smart systems for Enhancing Transparency, Reliability, and Accountability

Water scarcity is a pressing global challenge, exacerbated by factors such as population growth, urbanization, and climate change. At a global level, regions across…

View Project

Β AI-Enhanced Coffee Cherry Sorting for Premium Quality

Objective: Develop an AI-powered application that automatically sorts coffee cherries based on color, size,Β and density. This would improve the consistency of premium quality and…

View Project

Design a business model for and launch a venture that makes low-cost machine-tools for dredging silt and sand to rehabilitate rivers

View Project

Design + develop shoe sole molding machine

View Project

Design + Fabricate Molds for Making Concrete Fencing Posts as an Antidote Against Fencing Induced Deforestation

View Project

Design a business model for and launch a carpentry + welding venture that designs and makes beehives, box-bailers, chick- and fish-cages, and other farm essentials

View Project

Design and make a simple and low-cost furnace for recycled metal casting

View Project

Academic Certificates Verification Systems

In Kenya, as in many other parts of the world, the proliferation of fake academic certificates poses a significant challenge to the integrity of…

  • Project Owner

    Commission for University Education

  • Status

    Ongoing

  • Country

    Kenya

  • Category

  • Tags

    CHA-32-2025-KEN, Ongoing

View Project

Coffee Traceability for Small-Holder Coffee Produce

In Kenya, the coffee industry plays a significant role in the economy, contributing to both rural livelihoods and foreign exchange earnings. However, the industry…

View Project

Meta verse for teaching STEM subjects at basic education level

  • Status

    Solved; prototyped, in the pilot phase

  • Country

    πŸ‡°πŸ‡ͺ Kenya

  • Owners

    Origin Lab, National Research Fund Kenya

  • Dates

    Dec 2022

  • Tags

    CHA-11-2023-KEN

View Project

Design and deploy devices to deter monkeys from invading farms bordering conservancies πŸ‡°πŸ‡ͺ

  • Country

    πŸ‡°πŸ‡ͺ Kenya

  • Status

    Solved; solution in the prototyping stage

  • Dates

    January 2024

  • Category

    Practical Field Lab

  • Owner

    Tetu-Constituency Development Fund (Tetu-CDF)

  • Code:

    CHA-1-2024-KEN, PFL-1-2024-KEN

  • Tags

    CHA-1-2024-KEN, Climate Adaption + Mitigation, PFL-1-2024-KEN

View Project

Design + build fish rearing pond with a greenhouse cover

  • Status

    Solved and implemented

  • Dates

    January 2024

  • Country

    πŸ‡°πŸ‡ͺ Kenya

  • Opportunities

    Field Class

  • Owner

    Practical Field lab

  • Category

    Practical Field lab

  • Tags

    Fish Value Chains, Solved and Implemented

View Project

Research, develop, and implement solution to the Golden Apple Snail which decimate rice seedlings, forming farmers to replant πŸ‡°πŸ‡ͺ

View Project

Venture to train, supply, + manage staff to run projects and maintain homes of diaspora-based citizens

View Project

Opuntia – cactus plant products: Standardisation of manufacturing processes and products – startup support

View Project

Design a business model for and launch the animal feeds and organic fertilizer pelletizing venture, targeting local crops and farm waste

View Project

Design a business model for and launch a venture that makes food processing and musical equipment from gourds

View Project

Design + implement grass and tree seedling projects for zero-grazing/thatching and reforstration and decarbonization

View Project

Hospital at Home for Diabetes and Hypertension Management

Objective: Develop an integrated system that allows for the remote monitoring, treatment scheduling, and management of diabetes and hypertension patients, ensuring they receive timely…

View Project

Design + develop auxiliary systems for large-scale water recirculation and cleaning in fish rearing ponds

View Project

πŸ‡°πŸ‡ͺ Design + build fish rearing pond with a greenhouse cover

  • Country

    πŸ‡°πŸ‡ͺ Kenya

  • Dates Available

    January

  • Opportunities

    Practical Field Lab

  • Tags

    Fish Value Chains, January

View Project

Quelea Quelea Bird Menace

What is the eligibility criteria for submitting a solution? All legal entities individual entrepreneurs and innovators, firms, institutions and public entities in Africa. Which…

  • Award in Dollars

    $1200

View Project

Establishment of a hatchery for the African lungfish and other indigenous fish to enable its introduction in commercial aquaculture and repopulation

View Project

Design a business model for and launch cooking oil venture, targeting locally produced ground nuts and sunflower

View Project