The COVID-19 pandemic demands a significant shift in how we live, work, and socialize. It has therefore made it necessary for society to prioritize innovation to meet immediate challenges caused by the pandemic. The ensuing response is also producing inspiring innovative solutions, catalysing the use of digital technologies, proving that necessity is indeed the mother of invention. 

Between June and August 2020, we conducted a deep dive into sectors on the African continent that have been significantly affected by the impact COVID-19 using a 5-step sectoral approach analysis. This approach provided a mechanism to identify the challenges associated with the pandemic, review interventions and innovations in the select countries, and measure how these interventions were supported, compared to the strength of the sectoral innovation systems in each of the countries. The 5-step sectoral approach analysis compiled insights from key stakeholder interviews, desk research, Twitter sentiment analysis, and a qualitative survey. The analysis covered Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, and South Africa. More about our methodology and approach can be found here.

With most of the African countries and major cities under lockdown, there is increased demand for affordable and faster internet. In addition to that, as many employees and students are now having to work from home or placed on enforced leave, high-speed, reliable, and affordable internet access becomes critical. Here are some of the innovations in the internet connectivity sector that private, public and international institutions resorted to as a result of the pandemic:

Kenya:

1. The Government of Kenya, in partnership with Google, has innovated to provide wider internet coverage to all students and families. This has been made possible by Google’s Loon Balloons floating over Kenyan airspace. The first two Loon balloons arrived in Kenya’s airspace, a week after the operators were cleared by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority. The innovation is aimed at enabling Kenya to retain her competitive advantage in ICT and innovation amid the Covid-19 crisis while laying the foundation for further expansion once the outbreak is contained.

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