Africa\u2019s female startup founders are among the most underfunded and over-mentored groups of entrepreneurs. Yet they\u2019re driving some of the most exciting and important changes on the continent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re proud to introduce this year\u2019s Africa Innovators List: a dynamic group of over two dozen women from 12 countries and 15 sectors whose work dispels the myth that women are primarily focused on social sectors as opposed to areas that drive economies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This year\u2019s list features innovators who are building robots in Cameroon for waste collection, tackling freight logistical challenges in Ghana, addressing low insurance penetration in Kenya, bringing indigenous pastoralist knowledge from the Sahel into global climate change discussions, training other women in tech, blending creative math design with fashion in Nigeria, addressing energy nancing in Tunisia, and investing in pre-seed funding across the continent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once the coronavirus pandemic hit, innovation went from being a buzzword to becoming paramount to the survival of businesses and the safeguarding of jobs. The most resilient entrepreneurs proved to be those that could harness technological innovations to pivot operations. As economic growth stalled and unemployment soared, the continent\u2019s institutions and funders began looking to digital entrepreneurs to drive its recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yet for the continent\u2019s female business leaders, challenging conditions and near-insurmountable funding obstacles have always been a part of their startup journey. That\u2019s part of the reason they are uniquely positioned to lead the continent on the path to recovery. And why Quartz Africa chose to focus on some of the most exciting female-led initiatives happening in Africa today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This doesn\u2019t just matter to young girls trying to envision the full scope of their future. It\u2019s a great loss for Africa\u2019s economies when we fail to honor women\u2019s contributions to society, or restrict their access to opportunities. As an example, by one measure, African e- commerce is losing over $14.5 billion by not having the same number of women as men selling online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These women are not only from the continent\u2019s tech and innovation hubs of Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria, and Egypt, but also from Somalia, Cameroon, Senegal, DRC, Chad, Tunisia, Uganda among other countries. Their innovations show the potential that can be unleashed when women with bold ideas and decisive actions take the lead.\u2014Ciku Kimeria, Quartz Africa editor, and Jackie Bischof, Talent Lab editor<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n QUARTZ AFRICA INNOVATORS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Jihan Abass \u2022 Miishe Addy \u2022 Diarra Boussou \u2022 H\u00e9la Cheikhrouhou \u2022 Amira Cheniour \u2022 Farah Emara \u2022 Maya Horgan Famodu \u2022 Regina Honu \u2022 Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim \u2022 Neema Iyer \u2022 Fara Ashiru Jituboh \u2022 Xaviera Kowo \u2022 Berita Khumalo \u2022 Tomilola Majekodunmi \u2022 Moky Makura \u2022 Cathye Moukoko \u2022 Catherine Nakalembe \u2022 Nanjala Nyabola \u2022 Marie-Alix De Putter \u2022 Mmamontsheng Dulcy Rakumakoe \u2022 Jasmine Samantar \u2022 Kalista Sy \u2022 Mariam Bintou Traor\u00e9 \u2022 Seynabou Dieng Traore \u2022 Indira Tsengiwe \u2022 Wanjiru Koinange and Angela Wachuka<\/p>\n\n\n\n Catherine Nakalembe<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Catherine Nakalembe is the program director for NASA Harvest Africa, the space agency\u2019s food security and agriculture program for Africa. She uses satellite remote sensing and machine learning to collect data to guide agricultural decision-making and improve the lives of smallholder farmers in Africa. She also provides support and coordination for NASA Harvest Africa\u2019s activities in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nakalembe\u2019s work has led to the development of policies and programs to shield farmers against the impacts of food failure. It has led to the creation of food security and crop monitoring bulletins that incorporate satellite data in Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda. In addition, Nakalembe designed a mechanism for a disaster risk nancing program in Uganda that has supported more than 300,000 households in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nakalembe is also an associate research professor at the University of Maryland and a member of the NASA SERVIR Applied Sciences Team, which promotes applications of earth observations to help developing countries assess the environment for better planning and action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n