enlivening ideas - undp.nase.co.ug

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Enlivening IDEAS

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Photo: UNDP Uganda

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NASE TEAMDennis AgumaFounder and Executive DirectorJimmy ByaruhangaProjects and Business Incubation ManagerManana BirabiAssociate CreativesNakiria BrendaProjects & AccountsIvy NteyeraCommunications & MediaMiracle ArikizaWeb & Digital Solutions Officer

Association of Student Enterprises (NASE) Ltd. Suite 507 / 508 5th Floor, Kisakye Complex Plot 67B Spring Road, Bugolobi P. O. Box 102963 KampalaTEL.: +256 708 080 008Email - [email protected]

FOLLOW US ONInstagram - @nase_256 Facebook - @NASEUganda Twitter - @NaseUG LinkedIn - @Nase Youtube - @NASE

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Agriculture is the backbone of Uganda’s economy and should be seen as a major avenue for sustainable income

Photo: UNDP Uganda

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CONTENTS06 Foreword

07 About UNDP Uganda

07 UNDP Uganda Accelerator Lab

08 Word from Founder & ED, NASE

09 About NASE

12 About Youth IDEAthon

13 Business Idea Categories

26 The Youth IDEAthon

28 Youth4business Innovation and Entrepreneurship Facility

32 Supporting Partners

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Foreword

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Uganda is proud to support the Youth IDEAthon as part of our broader agenda to empower the youth of Uganda as

catalysts for sustainable human development and socioeconomic transformation, through initiatives that promote youth skilling, innovation and entrepreneurship.

Uganda has one of the youngest and most rapidly growing populations in the world with a 3.7% population growth rate and 78% of Uganda’s population being under the age of 30. With more than 700,000 youth entering the job market each year, it is imperative that the opportunities created for youth improve and are adapting to the changing context of work within the digital revolution, technological advancement, and globalization, amongst others.

Uganda’s Vision 2040 has rightly prioritised youth skills development, innovation and entrepreneurship as enablers for the realization of the socio-economic transformation of the country. Vision 2040 anchors the Country’s human resource development strategy on maximizing the benefits of the demographic dividend – tapping into the Uganda’s youthful population.

As UNDP and NASE continue to engage youth through the Youth IDEAthon, we must also be mindful of the adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on society and the economy. UNDP is committed to empowering Uganda’s youth entrepreneurs to gain the skills and find the decent work they need to thrive while equipping youth with the tools required to drive Uganda’s socioeconomic transformation in response to the pandemic.

Uganda hosts one of the largest numbers of young entrepreneurs on the African continent, and these young people are Uganda’s hope. Youth are at the center of Uganda’s development agenda and we must continue to promote the role of youth in development as we support the country’s sustainable development agenda as we build forward better together from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Elsie G. AttafuahResident Representative, UNDP Uganda

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About UNDP UgandaThe United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the leading United Nations organization committed to ending injustices of poverty, inequality and climate change globally. Working with a broad network of experts and partners in over 170 countries, UNDP helps nations to build integrated and lasting solutions for people and the planet.

UNDP in Uganda is dedicated to supporting the Government to achieve sustainable development goals, create opportunities for empowerment, protect the environment, minimize natural and man-made disasters, build strategic partnerships, and improve the quality of life for all citizens, as set out in UNDP Uganda’s Transformative Country Programme (TCP).

UNDP is undertaking several initiatives designed to empower the youth of Uganda, with skilling, innovation and entrepreneurship serving as catalysts to enable UNDP’s broader development agenda in Uganda including the eradication of poverty, promotion of sustainable development, creation of opportunities for empowerment, and achievement of the 2030 Agenda and its central mission to leave no one behind. With more than one million young people entering the job market each year, the youth unemployment challenge is one that UNDP is committed to addressing through equipping youth with vocational skills, increasing the competitiveness of youth within the labour market, building capacities of national institutions to mainstream youth employment, and supporting youth-led enterprises to pilot innovative ideas.

UNDP Uganda Accelerator Lab is a dedicated learning space created to re-imagine development for the 21st century. Together with our core partner the Government of Uganda, the UNDP Uganda Accelerator Lab is part of UNDP’s global network of 90 Accelerator Labs serving 115 countries working together with global and national partners and local innovators to develop new approached to address the complexity of current development challenges.

A business-as-usual attitude to the way we approach development must change. The Center for Global Development has found that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are unlikely to be achieved by 2030 without rapid and ubiquitous innovation, meaning new and innovative approaches that effectively embrace the complexity of development challenges to enable transformative changes. This is why NASE is working with the UNDP Uganda Accelerator Lab to deliver the Youth IDEAthon to empower youth of Uganda through entrepreneurship and innovation.

UNDP Uganda Accelerator Lab

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Word from the Founder & ED NASE

Dennis AgumaExecutive Director, NASE

The UN adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the

planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. These SDGs unite nations, corporations, individuals, NGOs and allow the global community to rally around poverty eradication, clean energy, gender equality, education, sustainable cities, climate change and unemployment, among others.

Pursuant to these, the Government of Uganda, through NDP 3 and Vision 2040, has instituted national responses such as the Youth Livelihood Program and Emyooga. Despite these good and well-intentioned programs, young people continue to be affected by unemployment and poor living standards. The situation has not been helped by the current educational system which continues to produce over 700,000 youth from universities and vocational colleges every year, only for these to be met by around 9,000 jobs, and most lacking employability skills.

NASE works mainly with UK and Ugandan Universities, we focus on facilitating entrepreneurship and enterprise skills among youths before they leave school. Through our “co-curricular” programmes, students are assisted to work on live entrepreneurship projects that culminate into business expos, with some winning micro grants, and incubation support to bring their ideas to life. A typical expo at Makerere University (COBAMS) or Makerere University Business School (MUBS) attracts over 1,300 students. Imagine this happening at over 50 universities and vocational colleges every

year? We believe this hands-on and co-curricular approach, to be the most effective method for skills development and entrepreneurship education.

Leap Conferences: Since 2015, our most popular event has been the Leap Conference, which has inspired and rallied young people, especially those in universities to change their mindsets and initiate entrepreneurial projects, with winners going on to be embedded in various incubation centers, especially Makerere Innovation and Incubation Centre (MIIC) with whom, we have developed a model that is ready for replication across all partner Universities and colleges.

The Youth IDEAthon: Having successfully worked with young people, especially via the Leap Conferences, NASE was engaged by the UNDP to implement the Youth IDEAthon as a short, intensive, design sprint experience for multi-disciplinary entrepreneurs and other creative minds to work in teams, using design thinking and innovative learning practices to ideate, co-create and collaborate on possible solutions to real economic and social challenges under the priority sectors of Uganda’s NDP III - particularly in the wake of the COVID 19 Pandemic. The Youth IDEAthon was envisaged to be impactful in so far as awakening the entrepreneurial spirit in Uganda’s youth is concerned – and it has not disappointed. The IDEAthon has registered over 4,800 bright ideas, with most applicants still in school.

With grants of up to 100,000,000 shillings and incubation support, what’s Your IDEA?

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About NASE

CREATIVITY & INNOVATION

Accountability

Growth

Teamwork &Collaboration

Excellence

INSPIRING SKILLING MENTORING GRANTS/ FINANCE

OUR CORE VALUESAll our work is rooted in our core values as high-lighted in the framework below.

The Association of Student Enterprises (NASE) is a Social Enterprise registered and was launched in December 2015 with support from Kingston University, London. NASE focuses on facilitating entrepreneurship and enterprise skills among youths generally, with a laser focus on higher education institutions in Uganda and the region. NASE proposes to build a cohesive skills and enterprise ecosystem that will support and increase the capacity of students and youths all over Uganda by engaging in innovative and entrepreneurial business development activities before and shortly after they leave school. Our work covers various sectors including, agriculture, minerals, oil and gas, renewable energy, tourism, manufacturing, urban challenges and creatives, among others.

OUR VISIONLeveraging the Power of Entrepreneurship to achieve Sustainable Socio-economic Transformation.

OUR MISSIONInspiring and championing the most impressive pool of enterprising youths in Uganda through quality and innovative interventions in entrepreneurship and business related sectors.

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Up to 100 million UGX worth of grants, plus mentorship and technical support to bring your idea to life

The youths today need focus based approaches to ably sustain themselves in the changing world. Youth empowerment has been done through focusing on inclusive skilling and entrepreneurship to create equitable access and opportunities

Photo: UNDP Uganda

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The Youth IDEAthon is a short, intensive, design sprint experience funded by the UNDP for multi-disciplinary entrepreneurs to bring their ideas to life. What makes The Youth IDEAthon different is it presents an “entry-level” opportunity that helps to unearth and nurture creative early-stage and start-up ideas that can eventually feed into the Youth for Business Facility (Y4BF) pipeline and could become the next generation of transformative innovative and inclusive MSMEs.

It seeks to attract socially committed Ugandan youth, with entrepreneurial aspirations as innovators and problem solvers in a hybrid interaction and collaborative process. All participants are to develop and refine their ideas for products, services and solutions that ease the way of doing things during and post-COVID 19 Pandemic. It is a space for ALL passionate youth including creative designers, software developers, engineers, experts in agriculture, architects, health workers, among other fields to exchange ideas and work collaboratively to develop solutions. With mentorship, incubation support and hundreds of millions of seed investment to be won, the event is organized to Inspire, Skill, Mentor and Accelerate ideas from youth in Uganda.

About the YOUTH IDEAthon


Youth showcasing their skills in making charcoal briquettes Photo: NASE

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BUSINESS IDEA CATEGORIES

AGRICULTURE TOURISM MANUFACTURING

RENEWABLE ENERGY

URBAN DEVELOPMENT/SMART CITIES

CREATIVE ARTS INDUSTRY

MINING HEALTH CARE

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Nine idea categories were zeroed down to in order to guide the participants and avoid curating ideas that will not contribute to the growth of Uganda as a Nation. Uganda being a 3rd world country, a number of sectors are existent but are still struggling with solutions that can’t all be solved by the Government. So one way, you could look at the Youth IDEAthon is an opportunity to give back to the community or the nation at large. Working together to help is building your country and solving problems in various sectors. Sectors of focus for the business idea categories include but not limited to; Agriculture, Tourism, Manufacturing, Renewable energy, Urban Development/Smart Cities, Information Technology (IT), Creative Arts Industry, Mining and Health Care.

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Health Care

DR.MUGABE FRANK Ministry of Health Principal Medical Officer

DR. TOM K. MUTYABULE Chief Executive Officer, Pan Dental Surgery

DR. IAN CLARKEEntrepreneur & Retired Politician

MENTORS / SPEAKERS

OBJECTIVES• To identify the ways in which the Ugandan Health care system has had to and will continue to

adapt given the C-19 pandemic;

• To stimulate intellectual curiosity and identify a rough blueprint of what the future of Uganda’s Health Care looks like with young entrepreneurs at the fore front.

PHILLIPA NGAJU MAKOBORE Expertise is the design of elec-tronic devices for healthcare

The health sector without a doubt is one of the most respected and intimidating sector in Uganda. When looking out for opportunities anyone would limit their ideas to having studied Medicine or a course related to Health.

However, the youth are encouraged to start right where they are with what they have to make a contribution.

“Skilling never ends. Technology will keep evolving. Encourage everybody to walk with you and max-imize your resources.” Health Care Panelist (Dr. Ian Clarke).

The Youth IDEAthon is working towards growing an army of young people that use their different brilliant ideas to try and solve problems being faced by the Health Care sector. This session clearly highlighted how Uganda is gifted with good planners, talkers and critics but very few doers.

“If you want to get something going just do it!” Health Care Panelist (Dr. Mugabe Frank).

With the current situation (COVID-19), Ugandan has had one of the best reactions (Responses, Tracking and Tracing). This also applies to all the health related battles that we are fighting as a country. However, this new reality has highlighted major gaps in our health sector and this is where the youth should identify and find opportunities to exploit positively.

Some of the highlighted areas of opportunity are;

- Communication regarding the Health Care Sector; the messaging could do better with a lot more positive messaging to redirect citizens’ attitude towards the health sector.

- Technology; currently, the greatest percentage of the Health Care Sector imports required electronics and mechanical outputs. Innovation and creativity is needed to help make better the already existing equipment.

- Intellectual property needs.- Venture Capitalists and investors.

Needless to say, the Health Care Session educated all the viewers and participants through the breakdown of challenges and opportunities in and around the Health Care Sector.

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Agriculture

NOAH OWOMUGISHA Expert - Agribusiness Market Systems Development, Climate & Socially Responsible Invest-ing and Program & Project Management.

ANITTAH OWOMUGISHAElectrical Engineer Currently Working at Umeme Ltd as a Senior Engineer Planning and Design.

ROBERT KABUSHENGACoffee & bananas farmer & CEO of Rugyeyo Farm.

SANDRA NABASIRYE

MENTORS / SPEAKERS

OBJECTIVES • To identify the ways in which the Ugandan Agricultural sector has had to and will continue to

adapt given the C-19 pandemic;

• To stimulate intellectual curiosity and identify a rough blueprint of what the future of Uganda’s Agriculture looks like with young entrepreneurs at the fore front.

The Agriculture Sector has evidently stood out as one of the strongest sectors in Uganda. With an inspiring story behind each panelist’s sharing, their agricultural journey and passion was a cross cutting factor for all of them.

As colorful as the agricultural sector may look, it has an even greater potential to grow. There are unresolved challenges and gaps that are holding it back from thriving.

What makes this sector different is the nature of challenges individuals and groups face at both personal and societal levels; ranging from cultural and mental beliefs to physical infrastructural challenges.

Agriculture is our culture. But society has placed agricultural activities on a very low pedestal and this is one of the challenges that the Agricultural Sector is facing.

Without knowledge or money, youth were encouraged to have a passion and commitment first, because it is these two factors that push one into a hunt for knowledge and find existing gaps to solve with their brilliant business ideas and innovations. This is how panelists said they are transforming their passion for agriculture from a hobby to a profitable business.

Another one of the most outstanding challenges that the youth highlighted in the Q&A is the actual capital to fuel their agri-business ideas.

“The easiest way to raise money is to have a good idea.” Agriculture sector Panelist. (Gerald Otim)

Agriculture in most cases is looked at as tilling land, yet to grow a successful agricultural business is to provide a service. Focus should be spread to serving what individuals and many others are tilling.

Highlighting that, the panelists started by identifying gaps in the agricultural sector, concentrating their agri-business ideas to fill these gaps and solve a problem and finally making an income from the solutions they offer to the existing market.

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Photo: NASE

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JUSTUS KOJAX KOOJO Founder & Chief Executive Director at the Ultimate Group of Companies

AMOS WEKESAAmos Wekesa, Founder and CEO of Great Lakes Safaris Ltd.

NAMANYA BRIAN Founded Tubayo

Tourism

MENTORS / SPEAKERS

OBJECTIVES • To identify the ways in which the Ugandan Tourism Sector has had to and will continue to adapt

given the C-19 pandemic;

• To stimulate intellectual curiosity and identify a rough blueprint of what the future of Uganda’s Tourism looks like with young entrepreneurs at the fore front.

ALETI CRYSTALFounder of Jay fortune exports Company Limited

Identified as one of the leading contributors to the country’s economy, it is quite worrying to look at how much our new reality (COVID-19) is crippling the sector. Nevertheless, the tourism sector panel-ists ably helped participants to see the positive in the problems and challenges that have existed and are starting to suffice in the sector.

One of the opportunities seen beyond COVID-19’s effects on the sector is the open and greater mind to think outside of the box. With the new normal, a lot of the manner in which tourism has been conducted has changed, altered or stopped to protect the citizens and tourists.

Therefore, everyone in the tourism sector is working towards re-inventing the already existing sys-tems that are not being done the way they have always been. It is a great time for the youth to craft brilliant ideas to contribute to the growing tourism sector.

A snippet at how the panelists are tackling challenges the tourism sector is facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic included taking advantage of the social media platforms to communicate, market and reach different tourists and citizens.

They have also been able to borrow and apply some great ideas from the western world.

“There is no way we shall succeed without the outlook of the Nation or universe.” Tourism Session Panelist. (Amos Wekesa)

This goes to show that we can’t inform without positively comparing and sharing about our country.

The youth were encouraged to have a Vision that will grow their Strategies and with these on board, anyone will be able to create robust Tactics that will contribute to their business growth and profit making in the Tourism Sector.

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The creative industry according to UNCTAD has no single definition.

“It is an ever evolving concept which builds on the interplay between human creativity and ideas, intellectual property, knowledge and technology.

The industry consists of; advertising, architecture, arts and crafts, design, fashion, film, video, photography, music, performing arts, publishing, research & development, software, computer games, electronic publishing, and TV/radio which are the lifeblood of the creative economy.” - https://bit.ly/3xkgiaR

From the discussion held during the Creatives Industry session, it was highlighted that this sector has not been availed an adequate platform in Uganda so far.

However, in the Youth IDEAthon, Tourism is second to agriculture according to categories registered for, which does not make news given that agriculture has been trusted overtime.

This leaves a mark that with the positive support and data, the approximately 12,000 SMEs may live to celebrate more than their first birthday. The youth were encouraged to wait for the wave to pass but to catch it when they’ve got the chance.

From their experiences, panelists acknowledged that women in society are discouraged from being aggressive else they are rendered ‘not attractive’. But the one way that youth can overcome these societal myths is through supporting each other i.e. BUBU!

Challenges such as finances and positive support faced by most of the youth trying to start and build in the creative industry were attributed to the lack of exposure and further explained as low skills in pitching oneself.

“In the creative industry, you are your own marketer. Your work speaks for you but you also have to position yourself for opportunities.” Creative Industry panelist. (Rebecca Nangego)

Finally, the youth were also encouraged to persist and not give up quickly when one idea fails.

“Have your idea, stick to it and be unique.” Creative industry panelist. (Namanya Brian)

RACHEL BASHABEFounder and CEO of Veryldesigns

LOUKMAN ALIUgandan Film maker with vast knowledge in the arts.

DAVID OGUTUCo-Founder and Team Lead of Kafunda Kreative

Creative IndustryMENTORS / SPEAKERS

OBJECTIVES • To identify the ways in which the Ugandan Creative industry has had to

and will continue to adapt given the C-19 pandemic;

• To stimulate intellectual curiosity and identify a rough blueprint of what the future of Uganda’s creative industry looks like with young entrepreneurs at the fore front.

ARIHO KAMARACo-founder and Group C.E.O of Nomad Advertising Limited

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REBECCA NANGEGOFounder of Swap&Talk

HAMID IBRAHIM CG artist with lots of experience in visual entertainment

Photo: UNDP Uganda

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Manufacturing

BRUCE MPAMIZO Chief Executive Officer at Movit products Limited

DR MAGGIE KIGOZI Former ED of Uganda Investment Authority (UIA), Chancellor at Nkumba University, a medical doctor, and a business consultant

MOSES SSEBBAALEOccupational Health & Safety, Environment & Quality Assurance Manager for Coca-Cola Beverages Africa in Uganda

DANIEL BIRUNGI Executive Director Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA)

MENTORS / SPEAKERS

OBJECTIVES • To identify the ways in which the Ugandan Manufacturing Industry has had to and will continue

to adapt given the C-19 pandemic;

• To stimulate intellectual curiosity and identify a rough blueprint of what the future of Uganda’s Manufacturing looks like with young entrepreneurs at the fore front.

“Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there are a lot of adjustments that manufacturers have had to make within their production processes as a result of the disruption to supply chains”, said Daniel Birungi during the Youth IDEAthon thematic session on Manufacturing, hosted by NASE on 19th July, 2021.

The panel discussion included Dr. Maggie Kigozi; former ED at Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) & Chancellor Nkumba University, Robert Kitenda; Head of Marketing at Movit, Moses Ssebbaale; Occupational Health & Safety, Environment & Quality Assurance Manager at Coca-Cola and Daniel Birungi; ED, Uganda Manufacturers Association.

The panelists also acknowledged the fact that the pandemic has brought in new players such as Hand Sanitizer manufacturers and many innovations around face use related items such as locally made ventilators.

While there were more benefits noted, such as partnerships and collaborations with the team and distributors, Dr Maggie Kigozi emphasized how much the pandemic has also limited the market for manufactured products with many people losing jobs, changes in operational costs such as transport and delays at border points which directly affected sales.

The youth who are looking for capital were encouraged to continue looking out for opportunities like the IDEAthon even in other support entities like the UIA, Enterprise Uganda which trains youths and institutions and other incubation centres among others.

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Mining is the extraction of minerals from the earth. Uganda is well endowed with minerals although they are largely untapped.

The day’s panelists moderated by Mr. Aguma Dennis, the founder of NASE were; Ms. Naomi Nan-goku Mumoita, senior mineral dresser Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, Mr. Gilbert Kamuntu from the oil and gas sector, Mr. Bwesigye Don Binyuma, Executive Director Africa Centre for Energy and Mineral Policy and Mr. Tony Okao Otoa, CEO Stanbic Business Incubator LTD.

Tiles, cement and stone, while locally manufactured are essential construction materials. In the vil-lages and ‘birombe’, more women are employed but paid poorly. This is because they are not aware of the valuable contribution they make to the long chain of construction.

Currently, the oil and gas sector is the most promising mineral sector. The construction phase, which Uganda is in, provides a wide spectrum of jobs for the locals.

As a good entrepreneur, one should always recognize opportunity. There are many low hanging fruits in the mining industry as the food chain is a long one. It is important for our country that there is more value brought into the country than taken out of it.

The youth should be sensitized and their companies formalized to avoid over exploitation by their employers and have protection from the government. The technology required to start may be de-veloped, however, it is not accessible. With the right partners, the youth too can participate in this industry.

Before venturing into the industry, one has to be informed. While the development of the industry may be a danger to the environment, Uganda has the opportunity to learn from other countries.

For development to occur, it should be right and sustainable such that the future generations too enjoy the fruits of the earth.

Minerals, Mining, Renewables, Oil & Gas

OBJECTIVES • To identify the ways in which the Ugandan Minerals and Renewable’s Industry has had to and will

continue to adapt given the C-19 pandemic;

• To stimulate intellectual curiosity and identify a rough blueprint of what the future of Uganda’s Minerals and Renewables sector looks like with young entrepreneurs at the fore front.

TONY OKAO OTOAChief Executive of the Stanbic Business Incubator Ltd

BWESIGYE DON BINYINA Executive Director and founder of the Africa Centre for Energy and Mineral Policy

MENTORS / SPEAKERS

GILBERT KAMUNTU HAS rich experience in economic modelling, business analysis and commercial negotiations

NAOMI NANGOKU MUMOITA Senior Mineral DresserMinistry of Energy and Mineral Development

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Youth re-skilling and innovation are critical to driving Uganda’s socioeconomic transformation

Photo: UNDP Uganda

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Urban Development / Smart Cities

AMANDA NGABIRANO Acting Chairperson, National Physical Planning Board

MENTOR / SPEAKER

OBJECTIVES • To identify the ways in which the Ugandan Urban Planning and Development Sector has had to

and will continue to adapt given the C-19 pandemic;

• To stimulate intellectual curiosity and identify a rough blueprint of what the future of Uganda’s Urban Planning and Development looks like with young entrepreneurs at the fore front.

CHRISTOPHER EDEET OKWARE Founder of POSTMAN

DR. IAN SENKATUKAAn architect, urban and regional planner

INNOCENT F. EJOLUPartnerships, Innovation and Development Solutions Specialistat UNDP

Smart cities are characterized by cleanliness, functionality of the city, mobility and a social capital element. On a scale of 1-10, Uganda’s cities score an average of 3. It’s no surprise seeing that people leave the cleanliness of the city to authorities like KCCA yet it ought to start as a personal initiative.

With over 10 cities across the country, Uganda is witnessing rapid urbanization which has come with great chaos, even amongst law enforcers with cases such as traffic officers ignoring the presence of the traffic lights.

Urban development is also frustrated by many informal jobs such as hawking which hinders proper planning, a disorganized transport system which is famous for causing congestion and the rapid slum development.

These leave unanswered questions about the smartness of the cities.

On the 22nd July, 2021, the thematic session on Urban Development.Smart cities attracted over 250 youths. The day’s moderator, Mr. Ben Mwine; CEO of Celeste Media interacted with Ms. Amanda Ngabirano; Ag. Chairperson National Physical Planning Board, Mr. Innocent F. Ejodu; Development Specialist at UNDP, Christopher Edet Okwane; Founder Postman and Dr. Ian Senkatuka; architect and urban regional planner.

Smart cities are easier to see than explain. The more the problems, the more the solutions, hence more opportunities for the youth to participate.

The above rating of 3 provides room for development. With the UNDP, we aim at reducing poverty while eliminating inequality and exclusion. And working together with local communities, we can spearhead community work to improve on cleanliness.

We can use our knowledge together to promote innovations that will serve our people better. While policies are being made for our people to build better cities, the people should be informed to avoid the tag-of-war.

Together, the gap will be filled and our cities will be the beautiful green smart cities that we desire to live in.

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Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM) is a hot cake in today’s entrepreneurship. The youth are inventing day and night in order to bridge the gap between the locals and modern technology.

Working with several youth, the UNDP accelerator lab has been established in 173 countries to support them. Such incubation hubs have encouraged the youth to participate in STEM.

In Ugandan schools, science subjects are given priority so that students develop skills to solve problems in their communities. However, these youth lack protection for their innovations and inventions. This is why they need trademarks and patent rights.

2G, 3G, 4G and 5G are all forms of access to technology and speeds of internet. The more devel-oped, the easier it is for communication in real time which is essential for STEM.

Campaigns are underway to teach people that their local inventories can be registered across the country to ensure wide spread use of the knowledge we have in the community.

A challenge in STEM is the number of the girl child involvement which is low but slowly rising. The lack of a support system due to cultural barriers restricts girls from taking up such opportunities. In this male dominated field, empower girls so they too can bring more to the field.

The first step on a long journey is the hardest, but don’t give up! In case you need help, partner with like-minded people to achieve your goals. Incubation hubs such as the Youth IDEAthon are there to help develop ideas.

Information Technology

GERALD OTIMTechpreneur and founder of Uganda-based leading Fintech, Ensibuuko.

ALLAN RWAKATUNGUCEO /Co – Founder – Xente

PATRICK JORAM MUGISHA (MOOGY)Commissioner, in-charge of innovation and intellectual property management, with the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation

SOLOMON ALVIN KITUMBAFinancial Technology

MENTOR / SPEAKER

OBJECTIVES To identify the ways in which the Ugandan STEM & ICT industry has had to and will continue to adapt given the C-19 pandemic;

To stimulate intellectual curiosity and identify a rough blueprint of what the future of Uganda’s STEM & ICT industry looks like with young entrepreneurs at the fore front.

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JUDGING CRITERIA• Originality & innovativeness of the idea: The idea doesn’t have to be novel, but we want to

support someone that is addressing a real challenge differently & creatively.• Potential impact: Of what benefit or impact would the idea be to the equitable social-economic

development of Ugandans. How many people’s livelihoods could be improved by your idea?• COVID 19: Of what contribution is your Business Idea to the recovery & resilience of Ugandan

businesses in the wake of the Covid 19 Pandemic.• Scalability: Does your proposed solution have the potential to be scaled at different geographical

levels, preferably at the community level, sub- nationally or even nationally? Could your idea have additional spin offs?

COMMERCIAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR WHICH SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS WILL ALSO GET HELPCommercial Viability & Feasibility: The ability of your business idea – product or service – to compete effectively and to make a profit in the long-run. Is there a sustainable business in the idea?Business model: Do you have a clear implementation plan?

We will be running online MASTER CLASS sessions to help applicants best articulate how their idea fits into the above criteria.

THE YOUTH IDEAthonNASE has organized the YOUTH IDEAthon in an integral and transparent manner which offers a fair chance to every participant to win, if their idea is good enough. To achieve this, NASE in liaison with the UNDP developed and adopted the criteria below.

ADDED ADVANTAGE• Multi-sectoral collaboration: Participation of both the public and private sectors is

fundamental and collaboration of multi-disciplinary sectors such as finance, water, clean energy and humanities will be an added advantage.

• Environmental conservation: Harnessing the power of the business solution while conserving the natural ecosystem e.g. switch to green energy sources for power production and digital/e-commerce solutions.

• Youth & Women: The empowerment of young people and women is key to addressing developmental challenges. Therefore, ideas that support these two demographics are greatly encouraged.

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Photo: NASE

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Youth4Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship Facility The Youth4Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship Facility consists of three separate, but interlinked windows designed to boost the economic empowerment of youth. They include:

• Innovation Challenge Fund and Growth Accelerator that provides competitive matching grant awards necessary to spur impact-driven innovation by the youth and MSMEs in sectors where growth leads to jobs. The winners will each receive up to $40,000 in grant resources.

• Enterprise Challenge Fund which provides competitive blended finance (grant awards and concessional debt finance from partner financial institutions) to MSMEs with commercially viable businesses that address a defined key development challenge.

• Youth Entrepreneurship and Innovation Ecosystem platform which will revitalize youth networks including the Youth Connekt Uganda, to collectively identify and tackle systemic issues impeding the social economic empowerment of young people.

Photo: UNDP Uganda

Quest Digital Finance LimitedSector: ICT and Agriculture

Idea Supported: Quest Digital Finance has proposed a solution named Akellobanker, a mobile and web platform that facilitates easy access to farm inputs, expert-extension services, agro-advisory services, and equipment for farmers.

Early Successes: With support from UNDP, Quest Digital Finance is investing in marketing and procuring additional vehicles to connect more smallholder farmers to agricultural service providers.

Supported by Youth4Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship Facility

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Ecoplastile Limited is a Youth4Business grantee producing plastic timbers as an alternative manufacturing material

Ecoplastile LimitedSector: Manufacturing

Idea Supported: EcoPlastile has developed a chemical-free and energy conserving plastic extrusion technology to recycle and transform post-consumer plastics and packaging materials into durable and long-lasting plastic timbers. Plastic timbers are a strong, durable and affordable manufacturing material.

Early Successes: With support from UNDP, Ecoplastile has procured machinery to scale up production as well as building new partnerships within the manufacturing sector.


Photo: UNDP Uganda

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Photo: UNDP Uganda

Mlima Safaris and AgritoursSector: Tourism and Agriculture

Idea Supported: Mlima Safaris and Agritours is working with over 400 farmers in Eastern Uganda to prepare appropriate travel itineraries for tourists interested in agritourism and develop agritourism skills to offer a quality tourism experience.

Early Successes: With support from UNDP, Mlima Safaris and Agritours is developing a resource centre of agritourism knowledge and exposing more farmers and multi-sector stakeholders to agritourism opportunities.


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Photo: UNDP Uganda

PAAT Soil Clinic LimitedSector: Agriculture

Idea Supported: PAAT Soil Clinic provides farmers with soil testing facilities, soil repair services and training opportunities on climate-smart agricultural technologies in a bid to improve their soil quality and increase yields.

Early Successes: With support from UNDP, PAAT Soil Clinic have expanded the reach of their training programme and designed a soil databank to assist with soil fertility management.


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MAKERERE INNOVATION AND INCUBATION CENTERMIIC nurtures startup ideas across major sectors like Agriculture, Edu-Tech, Fin-Tech, Health, Tourism & Hospitality, Transport & Logistics, Software services, Energy among others.

NASE has worked with MIIC since the latter’s inception to support some of NASE’s incubatees. Our relationship has helped to cocreate an effective Business Incubation and Co-Curricular model of Entrepreneurship Education that we plan to roll out across all universities and colleges in Uganda.

In the IDEAthon Program, MIIC will offer services like infrastructure, human resource, entrepreneurial guidance and entrepreneurship equipment to direct and teach the upcoming entrepreneurs while they grow their ideas.

START HUB AFRICAAlongside NASE, Start Hub is fostering innovation across 10 universities in the Country. They guide students right from developing ideas to launching their businesses. Start Hub Africa is one of the partners that has contributed to the creation of content for the IDEAthon, and will also be supporting NASE and other partners to prepare participants to pitch their ideas.

PENDA CAPITALPenda Capital is a Social Enterprise which offers financial services with a focus on women who wish to start businesses, those running businesses, as well as those that wish to tap into new markets. In addition to that, Penda Capital aims to create value for the youth that are 18+ years and have a keen interest in entrepreneurship.

As well as Supporting NASE in grant management, Penda Capital will be delivering modules on Financial Literacy to all participants, ensuring that all grants go to the intended beneficiaries and that those beneficiaries are using them for the purpose for which the judges envisage.

TEESA ADVISORYTeesa Advisory Services an online Business Advisory firm that creates business resources and offers business coaching for African Female Entrepreneurs. Teesa has supported NASE in organising the IDEAthon’s Thematic Sessions.

INNOVATION VILLAGE The Innovation Village is a key player in the startup ecosystem in Uganda. In the IDEAthon program, Innovation village has made its regional venues available for our rural participants to access during the six months Incubation programme.

SUPPORTING PARTNERS

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YOUTH CONNEKTYouthConnekt is a multi-dimensional programme which aims at connecting youth to their role models, peers, resources, technologies, skills and economic opportunities by filling the gap between youth and opportunities for an economically empowering environment. Our partnership with the Tony Elumelu Foundation, launched in 2019, focuses on youth entrepreneurship and empowerment in Africa and plans to support 100,000 African entrepreneurs over 10 years.

The programme provides opportunities for the African youth to unleash their creativity and leadership in civic, economic and political spheres aiming at a mindset change and transformation. To this end it ensures greater access to capital and markets; skills development, and a sustained investment in training; apprenticeship and education through partnerships, in particular in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and more dynamic TVET schemes for industrialization of Africa. It coordinates and nurtures collaboration between existing youth empowerment initiatives, hubs and a continental network of youth empowerment experts across Africa.

INNOVENT LABS AFRICA Innovent Labs Africa is a growing firm offering a range of bespoke innovation and Intellectual Property management services to startups, MSMEs, Academic and Research Institutions and Governments across Africa. ILA has partnered with the youth Ideathon to provide IP advisory and follow on services to all participating innovators and ideators taking part in the competition. Our support shall be tailored towards highlighting the role of IP in ideation, identifying, protecting and commercialization of your Intellectual Property, maximizing your value proposition leveraging on IP and building a brand and consolidating a customer base around your IP. This shall be accompanied with free IP tools that can be customized to your enterprise! ILA can be found on our website www.innoventlabsafrica.com and on our social media platforms on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. CELESTE MEDIA Celeste Media is a conceptualized company blending the best creative and planning forces. They provide expertise for an organization’s information, marketing and event’s needs.

As well as supporting the Youth IDEAthon media campaign, Celeste media will offer guidance to participants in Media/Advertising, Audio/Video production, Corporate Team Building, Official Events Management and Public Relations.

HOSTALITEHostalite is a web hosting, design and software development company in Uganda that builds custom websites and Software for the modern web. NASE has worked with Hostalite to offer web solutions and develop the grants management platform.

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CENTRAL

60.29%

WESTERN

17.82%

NOTHERN

8.76%

EASTERN

11.99%

PARTICIPANTS PER REGION

UGANDANS FROMDIASPORA

0.42%

0.73%DIDN’T CHOOSEREGION

REGION

REGION REGION

REGION

The Youth IDEAthon has attracted

4,819 business ideas

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UP TO to 100 million Ugx worth of grants, mentorship and technical support to bring your idea to life

For More information abouth the Youth IDEAthon VISIT:

www.undp.nase.co.ugwww.nase.co.ug www.ug.undp.org

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www.undp.nase.co.ugwww.nase.co.ug www.ug.undp.orgFor More information abouth the Youth IDEAthon Visit:

Association of Student Enterprises (NASE) Ltd. Suite 507 / 508

5th Floor, Kisakye Complex Plot 67B Spring Road, Bugolobi

P. O. Box 102963 Kampala+256 708 080 008

Email - [email protected]

FOLLOW US ONInstagram - @nase_256

Facebook - @NASEUganda Twitter - @NaseUG LinkedIn - @Nase Youtube - @NASE

enlivening ideas - undp.nase.co.ug

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