iLabs Jalalabad concludes with 8 innovative solutions
JALALABAD (SW): Afghanistan Innovation Labs (iLabs) 2015 in Jalalabad wrapped up on Saturday after creating unique innovative technology solutions for Afghanistan’s most critical social problems.
iLabs, a social innovation program, covered a series of meetings of over 100 civil society and technology activists and experts in Jalalabad City September 6-10. The second round of the iLabs meetings is planned to be held in Mazar-e-Sharif between September 14 and September 17.
iLabs Jalalabad participants discussed social and environmental problems, in areas such as healthcare, education, agriculture, poverty, governance, justice, women and human rights and natural disasters. Following 8 issues and innovative solutions for them were identified:
- Education- The team has created an app prototype to help those who do not have access to schools. The project has been branded as “mSiwad.”
- Healthcare- The team has created an app prototype that differentiates between genuine medicines with the fake one through by its barcodes. The app has been branded as “Salaa.”
- Good governance- The group has created an app prototype for community oversight of the government construction projects– this project has been branded as “mHamkaar.”
- Transportation- The group created an app prototype that maps important locations such as police department, mechanic shops, hospitals and crowded roads for those driving around the city. This app has been branded as “Komak.”
- Poverty eradication- The group proposed a prototype app that helps create jobs for poor people, it connects unskilled labor with the persons in need of unskilled labor. The app has been branded as “Rozgar.”
- Agriculture- The team has created an app prototype to connect sellers of the agriculture products with the buyers, as well as listing different pests and machinery to help people in agro-business access them easily. The app has been branded as “mBazgar.”
- Security- The team has created an app prototype for personal security. The app enables individuals walk with their friends virtually and give alerts to police and friends, in case there is a threat. The app has been branded as “Tsaar.”
- Environment- A mobile app for putting scrap, trash, old household material online for the buyers and recyclers to collect. This helps with environmental protection and sustainability. The product has been branded as “Safaya.”
The Jalalabad iLabs program included one pre-Lab, where participants identify social problems and possible technology solutions, and one main-Lab, where participants were asked to create Prototypes on Paper and then computerized prototypes for the solutions they identified in the pre-Labs.
“iLabs provides a unique opportunity for Afghans to create amazing tech ideas, and once implemented these ideas can transform Afghanistan.” said Omar Mansoor Ansari, President at TechNation.
iLabs Jalalabad Closing and Awards Ceremony was held on Sep 10, 2015 at the SpeenaManai Hotel in Jalalabad. Three best prototypes were awarded with Best Prototype Awards after being selected by Judges and public voting by the participants. The 1st Place Best Prototype will be transformed into full-fledge software apps in two to three months timeframe. These software apps, once developed, would be made available for the participating NGOs and government institutions to use in their work.
ENDS
