Emeka (I think that's you) you can change to your name by clicking "settings" in the green bar above.

I think that kind of event/fair which could highlight Hippo Rollers, Bogo Lights, LifeStraws, Kickstart Pumps, and other such great Afrigadget type innovations and technologies would be just fantastic.

Would be great to get VC's, media, philanthropists and NPO/NGO's to attend in great numbers as well.

I think this is a great idea. I might step a little outside the models we've developed here - designed to produce content for magazines etc and produce ad revenues? also outside of strictly "development" oriented goals of the appropriate technology players etc - and wonder, what would be the goals, as defined by African inventors? It might vary by country and region, which would be really interesting...

I think that the "maker" philosophy is very alive and well in many of the places I've spent time in, but it tends to be in the secondary markets - where enterprising men (for the most part it seems) are "hacking" used materials to produce goods for the urban poor.

That said, this is a great place to start: resource networks are in place, from the sourcing of primary goods from the waste stream to the distribution to fabricators and then to market.

Combine this with some fresh ideas from business school types and the skeptical eye of the continental engineers, and some development workers thrown in and anyone interested/invested in innovation on the continent and you could really have something?

Here at MIT we have the International Development Design Summit each year, which a number of African professionals in various capacities attend. We've been talking a bit about how to "push" this model out to regions to sustain the dialogue and discovery process between years. You can learn more about this summer's Summit here: http://www.iddsummit.org/

Here is a brief introduction to my experience at the dump in Mbeubeuss where I got really close to the whole secondary fabricator market: http://craftcycle.mixedmedia.us/ ?p=5 The gentleman below worked there, and both fixed and created new locks and handles. I consider this kind of practice a rich entrepreneurial topsoil, from which, with formalization, support, and extended innovation and businesses could be derived. I think with the support of groups like ENDA Tiers Monde, much could be accomplished...

One could start off by approaching Maker Faire from a partnership standpoint and by engaging on-the-ground breakthrough organizations like Ashesi University. I also think the emphasis should be less on the externally developed "lifestraw"/"hippo roller" type innovations and more on the locally generated "bottom-up" prototypes etc like the "evapo-cooler"...The aim here is to spur and support local innovation.

Emeka wrote:

..The aim here is to spur and support local innovation.

I'm with you. Might add, "Identify" local innovation/innovators too. There's a network in India, the Honey Bee Network, that aims to spotlight Indian grassroots innovators and is transition from that phase to one in which they are trying to bring promising "bottom of the pyramid" technologies to market and encourage transfer.

It would be could to see what can be learned of the limits of "innovation" for innovations sake, and foster/cultivate/ensure? links that help these entrepreneurs get to "trial runs"/feedback cycles and eventually to market...?

Maybe check out Honey Bee Network founder Anil Gupta's post here: http://www.ned.com/user/u8215233 95/news/0/

Short of, "Identify, spur, and support" (and bring to market?) local innovation on/across the continent, what more specific goals might you see for a "maker faire africa"? Also, where are you based Emeka? If you're ever in Boston it would be great to meet up; I could tell you more about the IDDS experience and blue sky where we'd like to see it go, and your Maker Faire ideas.

Lars Hasselblad Torres said:

Emeka wrote:

..The aim here is to spur and support local innovation.

I'm with you. Might add, "Identify" local innovation/innovators too. There's a network in India, the Honey Bee Network, that aims to spotlight Indian grassroots innovators and is transition from that phase to one in which they are trying to bring promising "bottom of the pyramid" technologies to market and encourage transfer.

It would be could to see what can be learned of the limits of "innovation" for innovations sake, and foster/cultivate/ensure? links that help these entrepreneurs get to "trial runs"/feedback cycles and eventually to market...?

Maybe check out Honey Bee Network founder Anil Gupta's post here: http://www.ned.com/user/u8215233 95/news/0/

Short of, "Identify, spur, and support" (and bring to market?) local innovation on/across the continent, what more specific goals might you see for a "maker faire africa"? Also, where are you based Emeka? If you're ever in Boston it would be great to meet up; I could tell you more about the IDDS experience and blue sky where we'd like to see it go, and your Maker Faire ideas.

The specific goals for a "Maker Faire" would include imbuing the creative types in science and technology with an appreciation of fabrication and by default manufacturing.When discussions of wealth creation and poverty reduction are made in reference to the continent,for a variety of reasons manufacturing is left of the the table. This is partly the fault of education and or orientation, making fabrication "the thing" in sense could go some way in changing those attitudes.Its imperative that the educated do not perceive technology as what appears before them on a computer screen.

Emeka Okafor said:

Lars Hasselblad Torres said:

Emeka wrote:

..The aim here is to spur and support local innovation.

I'm with you. Might add, "Identify" local innovation/innovators too. There's a network in India, the Honey Bee Network, that aims to spotlight Indian grassroots innovators and is transition from that phase to one in which they are trying to bring promising "bottom of the pyramid" technologies to market and encourage transfer.

It would be could to see what can be learned of the limits of "innovation" for innovations sake, and foster/cultivate/ensure? links that help these entrepreneurs get to "trial runs"/feedback cycles and eventually to market...?

Maybe check out Honey Bee Network founder Anil Gupta's post here: http://www.ned.com/user/u8215233 95/news/0/

Short of, "Identify, spur, and support" (and bring to market?) local innovation on/across the continent, what more specific goals might you see for a "maker faire africa"? Also, where are you based Emeka? If you're ever in Boston it would be great to meet up; I could tell you more about the IDDS experience and blue sky where we'd like to see it go, and your Maker Faire ideas.

The specific goals for a "Maker Faire" would include imbuing the creative types in science and technology with an appreciation of fabrication and by default manufacturing.When discussions of wealth creation and poverty reduction are made in reference to the continent,for a variety of reasons manufacturing is left of the the table. This is partly the fault of education and or orientation, making fabrication "the thing" in sense could go some way in changing those attitudes.Its imperative that the educated do not perceive technology as what appears before them only on a computer screen. I live in NYC.

Emeka wrote:

Its imperative that the educated do not perceive technology as what appears before them on a computer screen.

Indeed. And by extension, perhaps the not so well (or "self"?) educated as well?

Can you play this out a little, how you're seeing "the vision" right now ie how many people are there, from where, for how long, and what are they doing...?

Part of my question comes from wondering this would be a series of faires that moves across the continent, several local/regional faires that feed into a single large continental "faire" (ie "the best of"), a single large continental affair, or something else?

Also, I could imagine a substantial role for the arts to generate some good creative 'down time' and networking etc...

Lars Hasselblad Torres said:

Emeka wrote:

Its imperative that the educated do not perceive technology as what appears before them on a computer screen.

Indeed. And by extension, perhaps the not so well (or "self"?) educated as well?

Can you play this out a little, how you're seeing "the vision" right now ie how many people are there, from where, for how long, and what are they doing...?

Part of my question comes from wondering this would be a series of faires that moves across the continent, several local/regional faires that feed into a single large continental "faire" (ie "the best of"), a single large continental affair, or something else?

Also, I could imagine a substantial role for the arts to generate some good creative 'down time' and networking etc...

I don't have hard numbers but one could extrapolate from the various informal industrial clusters in west and east Africa that they are substantial.Its strangely ironic that the universities and or research institutes never thought it worthwhile to pair off with or try to mutually reinforce the existing fabricators in their own backyards...this is partly the result of deficient educational systems that emphasised extraction and administration at the expense of creative production. A maker faire with the associated novelty and appeal could accelerate the centrality of the fabricative process in the minds of the curious and young...Twinning with the Arts would be sensible because fabbing is central to their existence. The evolution or sequencing of the Faire's should be organic and adaptive in terms of the content,themes and timing...

Emeka Okafor said:

One could start off by approaching Maker Faire from a partnership standpoint and by engaging on-the-ground breakthrough organizations like Ashesi University. I also think the emphasis should be less on the externally developed "lifestraw"/"hippo roller" type innovations and more on the locally generated "bottom-up" prototypes etc like the "evapo-cooler"...The aim here is to spur and support local innovation.

Emeka, wonderful idea here! Count AfriGadget in.

What I would add to this conversation so far is that allowing the "Lifestraw/Hippo Roller" groups in is that they might be able to pay a little, which could in turn be used for travel expenses for specific innovators from other parts of Africa.

I think that's one of the really compelling thoughts of this whole concept. What happens when you put the drivers of ingenious concepts from Mali with those from Ghana and Kenya?

As I said, this is a terrific idea, and I'm in.

Dropping this here for now, even though it is very tech/software related.

support grassroot tech innovation in Uganda

Erik, sometime I'd love to chat with you about Afrigadget. I'm curious about it at multiple levels. In Senegal a decade ago, I remember fabricators making small-scale versions of the "jiko" ("fourneau") from diesel fuel filters...

Field notes aside, I'd like to nurse out the difference - and the place - of adapted-survival (almost "vernacular"?) technology and innovation (ie solve some problem in a new, better way). Is there a difference? Is it important? Etc etc.

Part of where I'm going has to do with refining the unit of analysis for a Maker Faire - if necessary at all. Perhaps this is how local partners define "innovation" in their region and the continent.

Perhaps one simple organizing framework might be list of "problems" that continue to elude development planners, communities etc and "solutions."

Given potential for media attention, it will be a tension, to keep a Maker Faire "participatory" (if that's a "value") and also "innovative." I could see it as an important dynamic to manage: the "vernacular" problem-solving and the "innovations" with the potential to grow businesses, jobs, incomes, etc.

Great opportunity to engage students also - perhaps a youth "challenge" in the run up? At the MIT IDEAS Competition I run, we've been in a pattern of fielding proposals across the board, sort them, and then have them judged by a panel of experts in the fields that have emerged. This might be a useful model for a "Maker Foire" en l'Afrique...

Anyway, Emeka, how can we help? I'll look forward to learning what ways might emerge to accomplish the goal of, "imbuing the creative types in science and technology with an appreciation of fabrication and by default manufacturing."

Wondering out loud whether Acumen Fund might be a good partner for this, given their commitment to supporting the next generation of businesses bringing products and services to market that serve people earning less than $4 a day...

What are some of the best possible ways that Acumen Fund might be a good partner in this? I've got a connection in, so what could be best to go in with?

Ditto. I'm making this up, but here are some 'for examples' - we'd want to see what, if anything, they'd want to contribute:

• Workshop on funding innovation (ie how to get funding in context)
• Workshop on developing a technology/innovation-based business plan
• Sponsor a prize in the run-up - best product/innovation design that meets some challenge
• Recruit/sponsor start-ups from their investment portfolio to present

...?

>>best product/innovation design that meets some challenge<<

in context of making strides (in some way) towards the millenium development goals perhaps?

don't know - whatever emerges in dialogue as planning happens...? i suspect this is something leaders on the continent would be much better at sorting out.

Lars Hasselblad Torres said:

don't know - whatever emerges in dialogue as planning happens...? i suspect this is something leaders on the continent would be much better at sorting out.

Good point Lars about "leaders on the continent" In a sense the drivers of such an effort would be largely self-selected individuals and or institutions that already express the attributes necessary for such an effort. In other words the broad outlines and possible levels of support/shepherding i.e. endorsements and seed funding would be provided by those with the wherewithal(those outside)...the granular conceptualizing and execution would be preferably be more bottom-up

Emeka wrote:

...the broad outlines and possible levels of support/shepherding i.e. endorsements and seed funding would be provided by those with the wherewithal(those outside)...the granular conceptualizing and execution would be preferably be more bottom-up.

I tend to agree with you. Any ideas on how to operationalize this model? A key tension to be managed could be around ensuring a sense of shared ownership (across the continent, as well as inward/outward), without enabling any single concentration of ideas/resources/etc "taking over" - especially during the early stages of scoping/planning... Effective communication and a shared, transparent "work desk" might be two pieces of the puzzle...

Lars Hasselblad Torres said:

Field notes aside, I'd like to nurse out the difference - and the place - of adapted-survival (almost "vernacular"?) technology and innovation (ie solve some problem in a new, better way). Is there a difference? Is it important? Etc etc.

Part of where I'm going has to do with refining the unit of analysis for a Maker Faire - if necessary at all. Perhaps this is how local partners define "innovation" in their region and the continent.

I struggle with finding a difference on this too. I tend to talk about it as, "innovation (or ingenuity) born of necessity - where Africans are bending the little they have to their will, using creativity to overcome life's challenges."

That at least helps me frame what types of stories we tend to talk about on AfriGadget. However, I think there's another realm that we only touch on and that needs a lot more exposure. Those are the stories of inventors of real game-changing devices and processes. An example that comes to mind is the Malawian professor who designed a very simple power supply system that runs off of low-grade sugar and yeast.

The extension to this is how there is very little in the way of a framework that can be used by micro-entrepreneurs or inventors in Africa to scale past their initial prototypes. Financing, manufacturing, etc.

I'm thinking that O'Reilly might be interested in helping with this as well, as they're the ones behind MAKE Magazine and Maker Faire. I know a couple people there, so if we can put even a small plan together I'm happy to contact them.

Here is a workspace page to develop a one-page concept note on the Maker Faire Africa idea: http://www.ned.com/group/coop/ws /Maker_Faire_Africa_Concept/

Philips: Philanthropy by Design

How Philips, working with nonprofits, is tackling the low-tech needs of the world's poor

Outside looking in, then solving problems...so not home grown solutions. But, in the ballpark nonetheless.

We had a good talk today introducing Amy (Smith, IDDS) and Emeka (Okafor, Timbukta Chronicles +).

A great call, lots of synergies and openness. Among the actions that emerged are:

• Emeka will follow up with Ashesi U re: MFA
• Draft two of concept note needed (Lars)
• Need to wrap some dates around this (IDDS is mid-July/August)
• Mark, can you reach out to Maker Faire/Reilly people?
• Call next week to scope some concrete next steps

Also the notion of MFA as part of a "pipeline": educate, incubate and initiate. In other words, find the innovators (MFA), help them develop workable prototypes (IDDS), and then provide business support (NED?).

Glad to hear the chat with Amy/Emeka went well.

>>Mark, can you reach out to Maker Faire/Reilly people?<<

Will do.

I may not be able to be on this weeks African Emerging Market Technology & Innovation call, I'll be at the Criterion Convergence event and not sure what is planned for 11:30AM ET that day. If I can be on the call, I will be.

Also, if all goes well, Emeka and I will get the chance to spend some time together Tuesday in NY.

Ashesi university very open to working with us on the Maker Faire event. They will be assigning a point person to work with us on the logistics.